Rihanna’s A&R REVEALS Why Music Feels So Average Right Now!

Want your music everywhere, properly? DistroKid is a straightforward way for independent artists to distribute globally and keep momentum moving. https://distrokid.com/ If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://form.typeform.com/to/JNELnGw9... Omar Grant joins The Manager’s Playbook to reveal why modern A&R is broken, what it really takes to make timeless records, and why artist development still matters in today’s music business. As Rihanna’s longtime A&R, former Roc Nation co-president, and founder of Chapter A.R.T. Music Publishing, Omar breaks down how great songs are found, shaped, and finished, from writing camps and global sessions to honest feedback, creative trust, and building records that last beyond trends. In this episode, Omar Grant and Mauricio Ruiz discuss Rihanna’s creative process, the lost art of A&R, why hit records feel harder to find, how artist managers and music executives should think about development, and how AI tools like Who’s Your A&R/WYAR may change the future of music creation. Subscribe for more conversations on the music business, artist development, A&R, management, publishing, marketing, and building long-term careers in the industry. Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap. Book a 1:1 Strategy Session with Mauricio Ruiz, host of The Manager's Playbook, with over 16 years of experience for tailored advice for artists and managers. Consultation Fees Apply https://calendly.com/themanagersplaybook Chapters: 00:00 Rihanna Raises the Bar 00:40 Meet Rihanna’s A&R Omar Grant 01:49 Why Hit Records Feel Rarer Today 03:22 Global Sessions, Songwriting Camps and Creative Briefs 07:41 Inside Rihanna’s Anti Era 10:55 A&R Quality Control and Honest Feedback 13:07 Homework for Songwriters and Producers 14:48 What Makes a Classic Record 16:58 Modern A&R and Artist Development 22:16 Building Artist Trust in Competitive Rooms 26:54 A&R Taste, Instinct and Superpowers 31:58 Why Producers Are the Foundation 32:16 Keeping the Music First 32:48 Hearing Hit Records in Demo Form 34:35 Finishing Records the Right Way 36:10 Giving Artists Notes They Trust 39:02 Why Every A&R Needs a Clear “Why” 41:29 Omar Grant’s A&R Book 47:11 How Writing Camps Really Work 49:19 Why A&Rs Should Never Stop Collecting Songs 50:55 Mobilizing the Label Building 52:44 Leading Roc Nation 55:38 Music Marketing Beyond Templates 01:01:38 Omar Grant’s Tour Management Origins 01:05:05 Hearing Hits Before They Release 01:05:51 How TikTok Revives Classic Records 01:06:22 Big Jon Publishing Lessons 01:07:44 Jay Brown’s Leadership Style 01:08:49 Relationships, Honesty and Trust 01:11:11 Where Great Songs Really Go 01:13:57 Release Cadence vs. Song Quality 01:18:46 Is It Bad Marketing or a Bad Song? 01:23:59 How A&R Meets AI 01:28:35 Who’s Your A&R / Wire App Explained 01:33:24 Chapter A.R.T. Music Publishing 01:37:29 Rihanna, Patience and the Future of A&R The opinions shared by our guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or The Manager’s Playbook. Follow The Manager's Playbook Newsletter https://www.the-managers-playbook.bee... Instagram   / mauroisruiz   TikTok   / managersplaybook   Facebook   / mngrsplaybook   X   / mngrsplaybook   LinkedIn   / the-managers-playbook   Snapchat   / bcaz8cvw   Website https://mngrsplaybook.com Host: Mauricio Ruiz Executive Producer: Mauricio Ruiz Director of Photography: Austin Bourdages On Location Sound: Francisco Sabio Editors: Madison Lair & Sunil Chitolie Co-Editor: Mauricio Ruiz Colourists: Austin Bourdages Sound Engineer: Madeline Currie Project Manager: Erica Kongvongxay Marketing Coordinator: Melanie Letra-Frade Production Company: 8 Til Faint #themanagersplaybookpodcast #musicbusinesspodcast #musicbusiness #musicindustry #artistmanagement #musicbusinesstips #TheManagersPlaybook #OmarGrant #ArtistDevelopment #Rihanna #AandR