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: Nic D on Building a Profitable Music Career Without a Manager

Inside the Playbook: Nic D on Building a Profitable Music Career Without a Manager

What does financial independence really look like for an artist with no label, no manager, and no team?In this clip, Nic D breaks down the real numbers behind being an independent artist, from how muc...

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Inside the Playbook: Nic D on His Winning System - You Don’t Need a Record Label

Inside the Playbook: Nic D on His Winning System - You Don’t Need a Record Label

What if success in music had less to do with talent, and everything to do with mindset?In this conversation, Nic D breaks down the discipline, self-awareness, and consistency that helped him build a t...

7 Nov 202518min

The Manager’s Playbook 043: Nic D – 1.5B Streams, Independence, Content Strategy, Streaming Revenue, Mindset, No Label, No Manager & The New Music Business Model

The Manager’s Playbook 043: Nic D – 1.5B Streams, Independence, Content Strategy, Streaming Revenue, Mindset, No Label, No Manager & The New Music Business Model

What if you built a billion-stream music career, without a label, manager, or industry connections?That’s exactly what Nic D did. From Culpeper, Virginia, he turned $250-per-song releases and short-fo...

4 Nov 20252h 9min

Inside the Playbook: Nick Jarjour on Why Songs Became More Valuable Than Ever

Inside the Playbook: Nick Jarjour on Why Songs Became More Valuable Than Ever

Nick Jarjour shares the inside story behind Hipgnosis Songs Fund, the company that redefined how the world values music.From his work alongside Merck Mercuriadis to building one of the most innovative...

13 Okt 202518min

Inside the Playbook: Nick Jarjour on The Genius Behind Rihanna’s ‘Needed Me’

Inside the Playbook: Nick Jarjour on The Genius Behind Rihanna’s ‘Needed Me’

Nick Jarjour shares the story of Starrah, one of the most transformative songwriters in modern music. From crafting Rihanna’s “Needed Me” to shaping global hits for Camila Cabello and Maroon 5, Starra...

12 Okt 202518min

Inside the Playbook: Nick Jarjour on The Real Laws of Music Management

Inside the Playbook: Nick Jarjour on The Real Laws of Music Management

Nick Jarjour takes us inside the real world of music management.In this conversation, Nick breaks down what it truly means to manage artists and songwriters at the highest level: protecting their visi...

11 Okt 202515min

 Inside the Playbook: Nick Jarjour on The Real Story Behind Kanye’s Documentary

Inside the Playbook: Nick Jarjour on The Real Story Behind Kanye’s Documentary

Nick Jarjour opens up about the making of In Whose Name, a powerful and deeply human documentary on Ye that explores the intersection of mental health, creativity, and control.In this conversation, Ni...

10 Okt 202511min

The Manager’s Playbook 042: Nick Jarjour - Rihanna, Kanye West, Starrah, Max Martin, Songwriter Rights, Mental Health, Artist Advocacy, Hipgnosis, Blockchain & The Business of Music

The Manager’s Playbook 042: Nick Jarjour - Rihanna, Kanye West, Starrah, Max Martin, Songwriter Rights, Mental Health, Artist Advocacy, Hipgnosis, Blockchain & The Business of Music

Nick Jarjour has built his career around one mission: protecting the storytellers.From managing Starrah, the songwriter behind Rihanna’s “Needed Me,” to executive producing In Whose Name, one of the h...

8 Okt 20251h 50min

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