How do A&R executives evaulate talent? MUBUTV’s Ritch Esra sits down with one of the leading Major Label A&R Executives in the Business – Pete Ganbarg – President of A&R at Atlantic Records. They discuss a myriad of topics on the subject of A&R today, including what has changed in A&R, What is his personal criteria for signing acts, How important does an artists story factor into his signing decision, How has the expanded number of platforms and outlets for music affected his A&R process, Beyond just having “Hit Records” what other factors are important in an artist having a successful career today, When an artist fails to meet initial expectations, what determines keeping them for a second and third album, How important is an artists ability to perform live in determining whether to sign them or not among other things. Don’t miss it. Pete Ganbarg is President of A&R for Atlantic Records, a position he’s held since late 2017. He joined Atlantic as EVP, A&R in late 2008. At Atlantic, among the artists and projects that Pete has signed and/or A&R’d are Grammy Award-winning artists twenty one pilots, Halestorm and Jason Mraz; Platinum and multi-Platinum artists Christina Perri, Melanie Martinez, Skillet, Brett Eldredge, Matchbox Twenty & Rob Thomas, Theory Of A Deadman and Icona Pop; as well as the Original Broadway Cast Recordings of Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen and the Billboard No.1 album The Greatest Showman soundtrack, the latter two of which he also co-produced. Pete began his A&R career in 1989 at SBK Records. In 1997, he joined Clive Davis at Arista Records, where, as Senior Director of A&R, he conceived and A&R’d Santana’s 30x platinum worldwide, nine-time Grammy-winning Supernatural. Prior to joining Atlantic, Pete headed Pure Tone Music, one of the industry’s leading A&R consulting firms, whose success stories included Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, Chaka Khan, Santana, Train, Donna Summer and others.
