10 A&Rs Behind Your Favorite Artists of 2014

On paper, the role of an A&R seems pretty self-explanatory. Short for old-timey term “artists and repertoire” (a throwback to a time when most artists didn’t write their own songs, and had to be matched with songs and musicians by their label), it’s the division of a record company that’s responsible for scouting new talent, giving artistic direction, matching artists with producers, and generally overseeing the working relationship between artist and label.

In a nutshell, an A&R finds what’s hot, and makes it hotter. Of course, not just anybody with an entertainment business degree has what it takes. There’s an art to the job of an A&R—individual taste, as well as an understanding of broader trends, is just as crucial as business savvy. But the A&R role becomes even more complicated in an age where social media platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram have all but eclipsed major labels in terms of launching an emerging artist’s career.

What does an A&R look like in 2014, then, when artists are transitioning toward kick-starting their own music careers, and when a viral video (or Vine) may be more integral to a young artist than a record deal? While A&R divisions of labels are still essential, the face of A&R has changed a bit. A&R teams for major music groups like Def Jam are still intact, using industry gurus with years of first-hand experience to seek out new faces and sounds. But for many A&Rs, the focus has shifted toward what’s buzzing on the Internet. For some companies, like relatively young Atlantic imprint 300 Entertainment, data collection is just as crucial as boots-on-the-ground talent scouting. And for some new artists, a co-sign from a high-profile tastemaker (*cough* Drake *cough*) removes the middleman entirely.

Here, we’ve rounded up 10 A&Rs behind some of the biggest artists and releases of 2014. Read on to see how the year’s biggest breakthroughs got jump-started.

38-year-old Michael Clervoix, better known as Sha Money XL, is currently the executive vice president of Urban A&R of Epic Records. Clervoix got his start as a producer and was integral to launching 50 Cent’s career; he produced hits for 50 like “Poor Lil Rich,” “Beg for Mercy,” and “This Is 50,” and was president of G-Unit Records from 2003-07. After serving as senior vice president of A&R at Def Jam from 2010-13 (signing Big K.R.I.T. in 2010 and 2 Chainz in 2012), Clervoix joined Epic Records in 2013, where he orchestrated Bobby Shmurda’s 360 deal this August. The value of the deal remains undisclosed, but Clervoix noted the following: “There’s no such thing as overpaying a young black man.”

DJ Drama (or 36-year-old Tyree Simmons) is arguably the most renowned mixtape DJ of the 2000s, thanks to his long-running Gangsta Grillz series and his Dedication mixtapes with Lil Wayne. That’s not all. As of January, he’s a member of the A&R staff for Atlantic Records, and his Means Street Studios serve as the Atlanta studio base for Atlantic recording artists. Since joining their A&R team, Drama has signed a whole squad of 2014 rising stars, including Que (the Atlanta rapper of “OG Bobby Johnson” fame), Spenzo (the Chicago rapper whose single “Wife Er” made waves this year), and Mexican-American rapper Kap G (who released his debut tape, Like a Mexican, this year).

Jeff Vaughn is the director of A&R at Artist Partners Group (or APG), an imprint of Atlantic Records dedicated to signing buzzing artists who would be a higher risk for its parent company. The exact narrative of Young Thug’s convoluted history of record deals is hard to pin down, but Vaughn helped ink Thug’s 360 deal with APG last fall (unaware of his pre-existing deal with Gucci Mane). Whether that deal is still in place is unclear, as Thug insists that he is currently signed to YMCMB. Regardless, Vaughn helped bring Thug out of Atlanta and into the mainstream in 2014.

Ernest Dion Wilson, better known as No I.D., got his start as a DJ, producer, and rapper; he released a solo album, Accept Your Own and Be Yourself (The Black Album), in 1997, and became famous for his production work with Common (“I Used to Love H.E.R.”), among others. Wilson acted as a mentor to a young Kanye West, introducing him to Roc-A-Fella A&R Kyambo Joshua. After serving as president of West’s G.O.O.D. Music label until 2011, he became executive vice president of A&R for Def Jam, and announced his joint venture label deal with Def Jam called ARTium Recordings. Since then, Wilson has been responsible for signing artists like Jhené Aiko, Common, and Vince Staples. Wilson said of Aiko’s 2014 debut album: “The immediate success of Souled Out confirms our belief in Jhené as the flagship artist of ARTium/Def Jam.”

JR Lindsey currently serves as senior director of A&R for Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment. He signed Earl Sweatshirt in 2012, working with the rapper for his debut album, Doris, and was instrumental to the solo success of Juicy J, particularly with the single “Bandz a Make Her Dance.” Lindsey signed rising star Raury this August, right before the young Atlanta rapper opened up for OutKast’s fall tour. Lindsey spoke on what drew him to Raury: “His outlook on life and music is very refreshing…. He doesn’t give a damn about what people think.”

Launched in 2013 by Lyor Cohen and ex-Warner Music/Def Jam colleagues Todd Moscowitz and Kevin Liles via a distribution deal with Atlantic, the “content company” aims to mold the role of A&R to the industry’s current needs in the Internet age, where artists can essentially kick-start their own careers through platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. The company is backed by Google, among other big-name investors, and has a partnership with Twitter through which they have full access to the platform’s music data. The company essentially uses big data as their A&R in order to find emerging artists in the early stages of their careers. Since launching, 300 has recruited over 20 artists for varying types of deals, including distribution partnerships with Shy Glizzy and Mad Decent’s RiFF RAFF. The company also signed Atlanta collective Quality Control Music, which includes Migos, Rich the Kid, and Johnny Cinco.

As of this year, Karen Kwak is the executive vice president of A&R for Universal Music Group; she formerly served as head of A&R for Island Def Jam. Kwak’s first major move as an A&R was discovering the song “Umbrella” and bringing it to Rihanna. (She went on to sign the song’s writer and producer, The-Dream.) Her album credits include Rihanna’s Loud and Big Sean’s Finally Famous. She oversees Def Jam A&R Vice President Don Cannon, the Grammy-nominated DJ and producer instrumental in signing new hip-hop acts, including Logic (whose Def Jam debut, Under Pressure, recently entered the Billboard Rap charts at No. 2). Kwak played a role in signing Iggy Azalea to Island in 2013, leading to The New Classic becoming the highest-charting female rap album since Nicki Minaj’s sophomore album and spawning five singles, including “Fancy.”

Wendy Goldstein has worked in A&R at Republic Records since 2009, currently serving as executive vice president of Urban A&R. She came up in the ’90s working in A&R at Geffen Records, signing artists such as the Roots, Common, Mos Def, and GZA. In her time at Republic, Goldstein played a major role in orchestrating Ariana Grande’s 2013 debut album. This year she worked with Grande for her massive single “Problem” featuring Iggy Azalea. She also signed Bay Area crossover Sage the Gemini (whose 2014 debut, Remember Me, featured hits “Red Nose” and “Gas Pedal) and helped arrange super-producer DJ Mustard’s joint venture deal with Roc Nation.

Shawn Barron is the senior director of A&R at Atlantic Records. He got his start at Koch Records, where he scouted Degrassi-era Drake in 2007 while working in the mailroom. At Atlantic, Barron was responsible for signing singer-songwriter Ty Dolla $ign in 2012 after discovering him in a Hollywood studio several years prior. In 2014 alone, Ty had feature, production, or songwriting credits on some of the year’s biggest releases, including YG’s My Krazy Life, Wiz Khalifa’s Blacc Hollywood, and Chris Brown’s “Loyal,” in addition to releasing his own Beach House EP.

OK, so Drizzy isn’t technically employed as an A&R, but for all the artists he’s broken on a national level over the past year, he’s the best unofficial A&R in the game. A rundown of the emerging artists whose profiles were significantly raised through his co-sign this year is proof enough. He signed eccentric Atlanta rap-singer Makonnen to his OVO Sound label, boosted Tinashe’s already-buzzing single “2 On” with a surprise remix, reinvigorating Soulja Boy’s waning career with his take on “We Made It,” and put Detroit newcomer Dej Loaf on the map by quoting her single “Try Me” on his Instagram.