As the music industry advances with new technology Record Company A’n’R still prefer the traditional way to find bands, hands on through Live Shows, a visual strong fan base, not just numbers on a website, and snail mail press kits..

Warner Canada have a quality roster of artists but are always open to find new, exciting and creative artists to take the next step in the music industry.
Ella Lehaf spoke with Steve Blair of Warner Canada to touch base on his job over the years, the current industry and the future of A’n’R departments.

How many demos do you receive weekly? 50

How many artists/bands do you sign a year? 1 to 2

What do you look for in a band/artist? Star Quality and great songs

Do you aim to sign a variety of genres or does it depend on the trends and/or quality?

We aim to sign quality talent and have never chased trends.  I think if you are chasing the trend, you are already too late. The trick is to create the trend.

Warner has many sub-labels- are they responsible for different genres-do you play a role in the sub labels?

Our role with sub-labels varies with each deal.  Some are set up with upstream possibilities and some are set up just as distribution deals. Genres vary from blues, alt country to hardcore punk. A&R involvement is minimal.

What is a unique way an artist/band has got you to notice them?

Probably the best story is a band driving up infront of my window at work on a flatbed truck and started to play.  Clever, but I still did not sign them.

Have you ever had an album cross your desk that you had the urge to listen to just from the look of their Press Kit/Cd?

Sure, it the package is creative and unique, I will always listen.

How is Warner adjusting to the increase of music sales on the world wide web and DIY artists using tools such as Myspace?

Adjusting as fast as we can.  We are trying to constantly create content from our Artists that is not necessarily in synch with the album cycle as well as create content that expands past music during the album cycle.

Are you attending less gigs due to the emergence of easy access to online music/videos/live performances?

No, I am a big believer in live music and I am not interested in Artists that cannot perform live.  To me that is the best tool a band can have.  A great live show creates fans of a band not just a 3:30 minute song.

Are there particular websites you frequent to look for music or is it mainly through recommendations?

My Space, pure volume, sonic bids, but with technology these days, it is very hard to use this as anything  but a reference.  It is easy to make your space look populated and in demand

Are Electronic Press Kits becoming more prevalent?

Not for me.  I think  that music, a photo and a music video (if available) will tell me if I want to see the band live.  Although I will say that it does make the initial contact more convenient.

Do you find Warner signing more artists/bands off the back of Reality TV shows?

No, I do not believe in the Reality TV shows.  I think you are creating TV stars, not developing music careers, obviously with a couple of exceptions.

Do you attend Trade Shows – have you signed an artist/band “on the spot” at a show?

I do attend the Canadian music trade shows as well as SXSW.  I have not signed a band on the spot at one of these, but have signed a band to a demo deal prior to leaving a show.

When you sign acts to the label do you also sign them to publishing or are more artists holding onto their publishing now?

We certainly make Warner Chappell aware of the bands we are interested in if they do not already have publishing deals, but it is not a make or break.

What artists are currently putting Warner on the map in Canada and how did you find them (ie. Jim Cuddy)?

Billy Talent is the current Canadian Flag waver.  The band is now doing arena shows in Germany, just finished playing the MTV awards in Australia and sold out the Brixton Academy in London. Buck 65 is another Canadian signed with Warner who is critically acclaimed around the world. 

Do you work closely with Warner Music in other countries- if Warner Australia sign a band/artist will you consider it for signing in Canada?

Generally, if another territory signs a band, it is for the world and we would have the right to release the cd if we thought it worked well in the marketplace.  We  work very closely with the major territories; US, UK, Germany, Australia and especially France since we have a very large French population.  It is the mandate of WM to sign artists that  travel globally.

Are there any bands/artists you develop from the ground up or do you mainly consider artists that have a loyal fan base and cd sales behind them?

Generally from the ground up, but we did sign Collective Soul for Canada after the relationship with Atlantic ended.  I guess a loyal fan base can be defined on many levels, but even with baby bands we look for bands that have some kind of a base out there.

Over the recent years major labels have been merging- why do you think this has occurred, do you think it’s a positive or negative move in the music industry?

Finances is the biggest reason.  Ways to cut costs and make the shareholders more money is the driving force.  I think it is difficult to merge art with commerce.  Is it positive or negative. Not sure we have had enough time to see how it plays out.

How many years have you worked in A’n’R- what are the major changes of the job description that have occurred during your reign?

I have been in A&R for 9 years.  Changes have been pretty drastic.  Smaller rosters, more jobs to do, tougher competition, new delivery systems have offered the creation and sale of more content and more global thinking.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your job as A’n’R?

Developing the bands and being part of the creative process with the artists.  The good ones are very special people. I believe creative people are wired different than most.  They see and look at the world differently.  I like to be around people who have different outlooks and different opinions for reasons that I may never have thought of.

What advice would you give an artist/band aiming for attention from a major label?

Do not try to get the major’s attention.  Do what you need to do to build a following locally, regionally, nationally and then globally.  There are tools now that eliminate borders.  If something is going right, believe me, the majors will be knocking on your door.

END