The Great Escape 2011

TGE Previews: A&R is dead, long live A&R

By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 13 April 2011

Every day in CMU this month we are previewing a different session taking place at this year’s CMU-programmed Great Escape convention, which takes place from 12-14 May at the Brighton Dome.

Let’s start delving into the panel debates programme now, shall we? And a particularly fine panel is being presented by the Music Publishers Association on the Friday of the convention, looking at the artist development side of that all important discipline that is A&R. Of course there have been many articles in the last year or so writing off this whole part of the industry, but surely many artists still need expert help developing their sound?

But who is fulfilling this role, and how, in the new music business? Is the artist development role of the music publishers becoming ever more important? If so, how does the A&R approach of a publisher differ from that of a record label? How much support can the record companies afford to offer? And who else can play an artist development role – managers, agents, providers of direct-to-fan platforms?

Joining the debate will be Universal Music Publishing’s Mark Gale, Powis Music’s Tim Medcraft, KIDS Records’ Dave Fawbert and Malcolm Dunbar, formerly of V2 and now MD of Pledge Music. Journalist and media industry consultant Emmanuel Legrand will moderate.

To get into this, plus to attend all the other great panels, sessions, parties and gigs taking place at The Great Escape this year, get your delegates pass from escapegreat.com.

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