"When something is good there's a word of mouth attached to it."
Simon Cowell is A&R at BMG UK and his signings include internationally selling acts Five, Westlife and Girl Thing, to name a few. Here he tells us how he finds new talents and why the record companies are in trouble at the moment...
How did you get started in the music business and what has been your route to becoming an A&R?
I started out in music publishing and then after a couple of years I became a song plugger. I promised myself the last job in the world I would do was A&R, since every single A&R man I had met was the rudest I’ve ever met in my life! Then I left and started a very small label in the early 80’s. Because I owned half of the label, I was sort of forced to do A&R. One of the first artists I worked with was a girl named Sinitta, whom we had a lot of success with in the 80’s and 90’s. In 1990, I was approached by BMG and they offered me a label deal, which I accepted. And I have now been with BMG for eleven years. I own part of the label here and I have the freedom to pretty much sign whatever I like. But it’s all based in pop music.
Which experiences have been important for you in developing your A&R skills?
The most important thing that ever happened to me in my working life was meeting Pete Waterman. Pete taught me two things; the value of the song and never deviate from the kind of music you understand best. Those two lessons are without question the most important things I’ve ever learned.
Which acts are you currently working on?
Five, Westlife and a new television project, which is the follow-up to Popstars, called Pop Idol. It’s a television show I developed with Simon Fuller, where the object is to find the number one singer in the country, and that person will be signed to my label.
How were you approached by these acts?
Five we decided to put together ourselves, because we felt there was a gap in the market. So I paid the manager to do it. Westlife, I met as a six piece band called IOU and I suggested to the manager he got rid of some of them and replaced others, which he did.
Do you work only with finish productions or do you take part in the development?
I always start from the bottom, and my involvement is mainly choosing the songs and the producers, and sometimes mixing the records as the producer.
How do you find songs for your acts?
What you hope for is to find a talented, new production team, early on in their career, in which case you can form a much stronger bond with them. Sometimes it’s a new record I hear, which I love and I phone up the producers to see if they would like to work with us. Sometimes it’s more established teams.
I tend mainly to use the producers and writers I know, because we have a mutual understanding. The songs we use are normally songs written by those teams especially for that particular project.
What proportion of your time is spent looking for new acts to sign in comparison with already established?
Looking for new artists probably takes one percent of our time. Because working with an artist like Westlife, is almost a full time job in itself. Timing is important as well. When we feel it’s time to find something new, that’s when we will start.
How do you find new talent?
It’s a combination, sometimes we put together stuff ourselves and sometimes we’re offered projects by managers, we know.
There was a time when I would listen to most stuff sent in to us. And to be honest with you, 99 times out of a 100, it’s rubbish. This job nowadays, A&R, means you have to be much more proactive in what you’re doing, you are the person who has to instigate your next artist. You can’t just wait for someone to walk in who is amazing. It’s too competitive now. You have to be the creator.
Timing is important. You can look at the current state of the market and see where there’s a potential gap. Then you do something a year in advance. You pay someone to put together an artist specifically for your requirement.
The first time I met Five and Westlife, I knew within 30 seconds that both artists would be successful. I signed them on the spot. It’s just a feeling you have.
Do you take risks with your new releases?
... to read the continuation of this article, click here.
_____________________________________________
How to benefit from HitQuarters
HitQuarters is the world's most extensive directory of A&Rs, managers, publishers and producers, based on their track records. We also publish the weekly World Top 20 A&R Chart and in-depth interviews with people in the music industry. As a HitQuarters member, you can send your music to our A&R Panel, which includes several of the world's most successful A&Rs, and present it on your own web page at www.HitQuarters.com/TheNameYouChoose.
Artist
Find the contact information to the world's most successful A&Rs, managers and producers in the HitTracker (top left of the site). You can also send your music to our A&R Panel, which includes several of the world's most successful A&Rs, and present your music and photos on your own web page.
Reading the in-depth interviews we regularly publish will provide you with a great deal of knowledge on the music industry. You can also discuss the issues that concern you with other members in the HitQuarters Forum.
To become a HitQuarters member for only USD15 per half year, please click here. To gain a better understanding of how HitQuarters works, please read the Advisory Text.
Producer
Find the contact information to the world's most successful A&Rs, managers and producers in the HitTracker (top left of the site). You can also present your music and photos on your own web page.
Reading the in-depth interviews we regularly publish will provide you with a great deal of knowledge on the music industry. You can also discuss the issues that concern you with other members in the HitQuarters Forum.
To become a HitQuarters member for only USD15 per half year, please click here. To gain a better understanding of how HitQuarters works, please read the Advisory Text.
Songwriter
If you are a songwriter, we suggest you use SongQuarters, our music publishing and songwriting service. In it we present the recording status of the world's 500 most successful artists, including who is currently looking for songs, in what style, whom to contact and their contact details. SongQuarters also features information on newly signed and developing artists who are currently looking for songs, and samples of these artists' songs.
The SongQuarters membership includes HitQuarters membership, which gives you access to in-depth interviews that will provide you with a great deal of knowledge on the music industry. You can also present your music and photos on your own web page and discuss the issues that concern you with other members in the HitQuarters Forum.
Manager
Find the contact information to the world's most successful A&Rs, managers and producers in the HitTracker (top left of the site). You can also send your music to our A&R Panel, which includes several of the world's most successful A&Rs, and present your music and photos on your own web page.
By reading the in-depth interviews we regularly publish, you can gain further knowledge of the music industry. You can also discuss the issues that concern you with other members in the HitQuarters Forum.
To become a HitQuarters member for only USD15 per half year, please click here. To gain a better understanding of how HitQuarters works, please read the Advisory Text.
A&R
If you are an A&R, find a wide range of artists presenting their music at HitQuarters: you can either search for an artist or view the artists that have previously been chosen by our A&R team as Artists Of The Week.
If you are a HitQuarters member, you will find the contact information to the world's most successful A&Rs, managers and producers in the HitTracker (top left of the site). By reading the in-depth interviews we regularly publish, you can gain further knowledge of the music industry. You can also discuss the issues that concern you with other members in the HitQuarters Forum.
To become a HitQuarters member for only USD15 per half year, please click here.
Music Publisher
If you are a music publisher, we suggest you use SongQuarters, our music publishing and songwriting service. In it we present the recording status of the world's 500 most successful artists, including who is currently looking for songs, in what style, whom to contact and their contact details. SongQuarters also features information on newly signed and developing artists who are currently looking for songs, and samples of these artists' songs.
The SongQuarters membership includes HitQuarters membership, which gives you access to in-depth interviews that will provide you with further knowledge on the music industry.
SongQuarters - Songwriters & Publishers!
Get your songs recorded by record releasing artists. SongQuarters is the most extensive song pitching service around.
SongQuarters gives you constant updated information on which of the world's Top 500 artists are currently looking for songs, including contact info, deadlines, song samples and more. SongQuarters average more than 50 quality leads per month to high-profile, newly signed and developing artists worldwide.
Other Useful Links
HitQuarters
SongQuarters
Submit your songs to an A&R Panel (with dozens of platinum credits)
World Top 100 A&R Chart
Record Label Vote
A&R Interviews - Read 100's of interviews with the most successful A&Rs, managers and music producers.
Advisory Text for artists and musicians - Get professional advise for free when building your music career.
Music Record Companies
Songwriter Submissions
Clive Davis, A&R
1000 Record Labels
Bobby Creekwater Interview
Contact Record Labels.biz
Contact Record Labels.info
Contact Record Labels.name
Contact Record Labels.net
Contact Record Labels.ws
Songlocation.com
Song Tip Sheet
All Songwriting Contests
Music Publishers Resource
Song Pluggers
Song Pitching
Songs Wanted
Songs Wanted.net
Diane Warren, Songwriter
Songwriters, Music Publishers
Songwriters Wanted
Songwriting Contest Links
Submit Music
Wanted Songs
Songwriting
Address Atlantic Records
Address Def Jam Records
Address EMI Music
Address Interscope Records
Interscope Records Contact
Address Jive Records
Address J Records
Address Sony BMG
Address Syco
Address Universal
Address Warner
Record Label Contacts
Record Label Contacts
Music Publisher
Music Publisher
Music Publisher Directory
Music Publisher Directory
Music Publishing Info
Music Publishing Info
MySpace Artists
MySpace Artists
MySpace Bands
Songwriter Competition
Songwriter Competition
Songwriter Competitions
Songwriter Competitions
Songwriter Contest
Songwriter Contests
Songwriter Contests
Songwriter Songwriter
Songwriter Songwriter
Songwriters Wanted
Songwriters Wanted
Songwriter Wanted
Songwriter Wanted
Songwriting Competition
Songwriting Competitions
Songwriting Competitions
Songwriting Contests
Songwriting Contests
Songwriting Songwriting
Songwriting Songwriting
Submit Songs
Submit Songs
Song Dealer
Song Dealer
Song Market
Songwriter Forum
Songwriter Forum
Songwriters Market
Songwriters Market
19 Records Contact
19 Records Contact