Inside the Playbook: Rich Castillo on The Harsh Truth About A&R at Major Record Labels

Inside the Playbook: Rich Castillo on The Harsh Truth About A&R at Major Record Labels

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Rich Castillo breaks down what the role of A&R really looks like in 2025. From identifying and developing talent to balancing data, instinct, and marketing, Rich shares how decisions actually get made inside labels.

We also discuss the traits that separate great A&R executives from the rest, the misconceptions around the job, and the pitfalls artists face when signing to majors.

Whether you’re an artist, manager, or aspiring exec, this conversation delivers real-world insight into the music industry today.

A conversation like this doesn't come cheap.


Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2XcP1p1vnPO2a5DHDnJzVO?si=XnodX5FcQIWW59yzWRaWfg


Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Episoder(270)

Inside the Playbook: Machel Montano & Che Kothari on How the King of Soca Designs World-Class Shows

Inside the Playbook: Machel Montano & Che Kothari on How the King of Soca Designs World-Class Shows

In this conversation, Machel Montano opens up about what truly goes into crafting a great live performance, not just the music, but the presence, discipline, and attention needed to make a crowd feel ...

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Inside the Playbook: Machel Montano & Che Kothari on the Real Cost of Success

Inside the Playbook: Machel Montano & Che Kothari on the Real Cost of Success

In this conversation, we dig into one of the most important parts of an artist’s journey: learning how to invest in yourself long before the world believes in you.Machel Montano and Che Kothari break ...

30 Nov 202515min

Inside the Playbook: Machel Montano & Che Kothari on Why Most Artists Can’t Keep Up

Inside the Playbook: Machel Montano & Che Kothari on Why Most Artists Can’t Keep Up

In this conversation, we dive into one of the most demanding parts of the Caribbean music ecosystem: the race to create a Road March hit for Carnival. Machel Montano and Che Kothari walk through the p...

29 Nov 20259min

Inside the Playbook: Machel Montano & Che Kothari on the ONE Quality Every Artist Needs in a Manager

Inside the Playbook: Machel Montano & Che Kothari on the ONE Quality Every Artist Needs in a Manager

In this conversation, we unpack one of the biggest turning points in Machel Montano’s career, choosing the right partner to help him grow, evolve, and carry the weight of being the King of Soca.Machel...

28 Nov 202522min

The Manager’s Playbook 046: Machel Montano & Che Kothari - The King of Soca, Trinidad & Tobago Culture, Creative Reinvention, Team Alignment & Long-Term Success

The Manager’s Playbook 046: Machel Montano & Che Kothari - The King of Soca, Trinidad & Tobago Culture, Creative Reinvention, Team Alignment & Long-Term Success

For over 40 years, Machel Montano has been the heartbeat of Soca and one of the most influential voices in Caribbean music. But behind the longevity, the reinvention, and the cultural leadership is a ...

25 Nov 20252h 49min

Inside the Playbook: Snow Tha Product on The Independent Artist System That Actually Works

Inside the Playbook: Snow Tha Product on The Independent Artist System That Actually Works

Snow Tha Product has been building on YouTube long before most artists realized how powerful the platform could be. In this clip, she breaks down what it’s really like to juggle multiple channels, und...

24 Nov 202510min

Inside the Playbook: Snow Tha Product on What Every Music Manager Can Learn from Snow Tha Product

Inside the Playbook: Snow Tha Product on What Every Music Manager Can Learn from Snow Tha Product

In this clip, Snow Tha Product opens up about what it really takes to stay ahead in the music industry, and why being early isn’t always as glamorous as it looks from the outside. We get into the pres...

23 Nov 202512min

Inside the Playbook: Snow Tha Product on Why the Music Business Keeps Failing Artists

Inside the Playbook: Snow Tha Product on Why the Music Business Keeps Failing Artists

Snow Tha Product has one of the most unique creative processes in the game, and in this episode she walks us through all of it, from building songs completely from scratch to blending genres in ways t...

22 Nov 202511min

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