Artists can now reach the entire world with the click of a button, so it's probably the best time in history to make music independent of a label or publisher. Yet A&Rs still wield influence over who gets signed and how their careers develop creatively, and the competition for talent is fierce. On this panel, A&Rs from both labels and publishers talk about their view of the nature of their jobs and the industry; how they find and sign artists; and how labels and publishers can still contribute value to artist development in 2019 when artists have more control over their fate than ever.

Panelists are:

– Amanda Samii, Senior Director, Creative at Kobalt Music
– Carlos Cancela, A&R at Interscope Records
– Carrie West, A&R at Atlantic Records
– Greg Katz, A&R at Defend Music



Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.