A&R: Past, Present & Future -- a Deep Dive into the Recording Industry
MUSC 270
Spring 2025
| Section:
01
|
This class explores the history and evolution of A&R, examining its origins, key pioneers, and the impact of technology on its development. Students will learn about early A&R figures like Ralph Peer, Don Law, and John Hammond, as well as lesser-known pioneers who shaped the industry. The course will highlight how these individuals, often coming from unrelated fields, navigated uncharted territory, leading to both ethical and unethical practices. It will also cover the evolution of music publishing, rooted in the necessity of early A&R professionals to secure copyrights. The second half of the course transitions from theory to practice, with students taking on the role of adjunct A&R representatives for Pure Tone Records, studying contemporary A&R methods and applying lessons from the past. The course culminates in students discovering and pitching new artists for potential signing. |
|
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA MUSC |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
|
Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
|
Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Readings will come from a selection of the below titles:
1. The Producer: John Hammond and the Soul of American Music - Dunstan Prial
2. A&R Pioneers: Architects of American Roots Music on Record - Brian Ward and Patrick
Huber
3. Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers (Music
in American Life) - John Broven
4. Let's Do It: The Birth of Pop Music: A History - Bob Stanley
5. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! (The Story of Pop Music from Bill Haley to Beyonce) - Bob Stanley
6. Ralph Peer and the Making of Popular Roots Music - Barry Manor
7. Hound Dog: The Leiber & Stoller Autobiography - David Ritz, Jerry Leiber, and Mike
Stoller
8. Off the Record: An Oral History of Popular Music - Joe Smith
9. The Soundtrack of My Life - Clive Davis
10. Motown's First A & R Man Presents The A & R Man - William Mickey Stevenson
11. Rhythm and the Blues: A Life in American Music - Jerry Wexler and David Ritz
12.Cowboys and Indies: The Epic History of the Record Industry - Gareth Murphy
13. Hit Men: Power Brokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business - Fredric Dannen
14. A&R: A Novel - Bill Flanagan or Kill Your Friends ¿ John Niven
15. Movie: Begin Again (directed by John Carney, 2013)
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/begin-again
16. TV Show: Daisy Jones & The Six on Amazon Prime
(https://www.amazon.com/Daisy-Jones-Six-Season-1/dp/B0B8NRNTSM). Podcast: Rock & Roll High School (link: https://lnk.to/rrhspodcastWE)
|
Examinations and Assignments:
There will be multiple quizzes as well as multiple papers on 1) A&R pioneers and 2) issues focused on A&R in the modern-day. Students will also scout and present A&R pitches to my own record label, Pure Tone Music as final projects.
|
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
A fanatical interest in 1) the history of contemporary music and 2) why and how songs become hits and artists become superstars is essential for students enrolling in this class.
This course will be taught by music industry A & R executive Pete Ganbarg.
|
| Instructor(s): Ganbarg,Pete Times: ...W... 11:50AM-02:40PM; Location: MST301; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 25 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: 0 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 4 | JR non-major: 4 | SO: 4 | FR: 4 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 10 | 1st Ranked: 5 | 2nd Ranked: 3 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 1 | Unranked: 0 |
|
|