How Major Label A&R Has Evolved and How Hit Songs Are Written

How Major Label A&R Has Evolved and How Hit Songs Are Written

From The New Music Business with Ari Herstand by Ari's Take

July 15, 2026 · 55 min · Season 7 · Episode 18

About this episode

Ari Herstand interviews Pete Ganbarg about the evolution of A&R and the songwriting process in the modern music industry.

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with legendary A&R executive, publisher, and educator Pete Ganbarg. With more than three decades in the music industry, Pete has helped shape the careers of artists, songwriters, and hit records across multiple generations. In this conversation, he breaks down how A&R has evolved from the days of artist showcases and long-term development deals to today's algorithm-driven landscape. Pete explains why great A&R is still about connecting great artists with great songs, even as technology and discovery platforms continue to change. Follow Pete Ganbarg: https://substack.com/@peteganbarg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peteganbarg/ Check out Ari’s Take: https://aristake.com 04:21 – The True Role of A&R: What Has Changed and What Hasn't 09:00 – Artist Development vs. Chasing Quick Hits 13:20 – Why Live Performance Still Matters to Labels 16:05 – TikTok Stars, Viral Songs, and Building Careers 20:50 – The Difference Between a Song, an Artist, and a Career 25:55 – How Pete Discovers and Develops Songwriters 30:10 – Michael Pollack's Journey to Writing "Flowers." 35:15 – Songwriting by Committee, Sampling, and…

People in this episode

Host: Ari Herstand

Guest: Pete Ganbarg

Topics covered

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ari's Take, Brassroots District

Books & works: Flowers

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