I know people who could have nailed the 10 songs that BELONGED in the top 10.. but with mass opinion, it's rarely going to match because a group of people never think the same as 1 person. And an A&R person has to hear BEYOND the public. The public has the freedom to make a rash decisions and if they change their mind drastically the very next time they hear the song (for better or worse) no big deal. An A&R person has to predict what the masses might like across the spectrum from short, mid and long term listening cycles. And they have to take other issues into consideration like marketing strengths of a band, predictable listener groups as well as target listener groups (whereas Top 40 radio might be predictable but 18-22 year olds might be target etc..). Now, am I saying that all A&R people are even that bright or have that ability? No. But some have, on more occassionas than not, been able to do that successfully and have great track records. Some just get lucky and many miss the boat completely.

It's the reason why I don't do their little "A&R" game because I know I can pick the best song.. but I also know that often the mass public voted differently.. it doesn't make me wrong by any stretch.. because if the public heard that song 10 more times, they'd feel differently and closer to what I predict than they probably did after 1 listen.

Brian

Brian Austin Whitney
Founder
Just Plain Folks
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"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney

"It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney

"Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney