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

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Inside the Playbook: Snow Tha Product on the Harsh Reality of Record Deals

Inside the Playbook: Snow Tha Product on the Harsh Reality of Record Deals

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Inside the Playbook: Austin Dunn on the Marketing System That Broke Victoria Monét

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Victoria Monét didn’t just have a viral moment, she built one.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin Dunn breaks down how Victoria’s journey from songwriter to star was powered by smart sto...

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Inside the Playbook: Austin Dunn on Why Most Artists Will Never Go Viral

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The way artists connect with fans is evolving, and Austin Dunn has been studying the shift in real time.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin breaks down the new rules of content in the mu...

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Inside the Playbook: Austin Dunn on The New Rules of Music Marketing

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The rules of digital marketing in music have changed, and Austin Dunn has lived every version of them.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin breaks down how music marketing has evolved from...

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Inside the Playbook: Austin Dunn on Cracking SoundCloud Before It Blew Up

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Before algorithms ran the music business, Austin Dunn was already building his own.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin breaks down the SoundCloud era, from bot networks and repost hacks ...

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The Manager’s Playbook 044: Austin Dunn – Storytelling, Digital Strategy, Content Seeding, Music Marketing, Faceless Pages, Artist Growth & The Future of Music Promotion

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Most artists are chasing the algorithm.Austin Dunn built systems that outsmart it.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook Podcast, I sit down with Austin Dunn, digital strategist, cultural curator, ...

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Inside the Playbook: Nic D on the Content Strategy That Actually Works for Artists

Inside the Playbook: Nic D on the Content Strategy That Actually Works for Artists

What if the key to building a real music career wasn’t luck, playlists, or connections, but how you show up online?In this clip, Nic D breaks down how he turned content into a career. No label. No tea...

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