How Noise Discovers New Artists: Our A&R Process Revealed
We listen to hundreds of submissions every month. Here's exactly how we find and select the artists we champion — transparency is kind of our thing.
TL;DR
Noise's artist discovery process combines human listening (every submission gets heard), data analysis (engagement metrics and growth trajectory), and community recommendation (local scene knowledge). We prioritise artistic distinctiveness, genuine engagement, and artist-first values.
Behind the Curtain
Transparency is a core Noise value. We believe that demystifying the processes behind music — whether it's recording, A&R, or production — empowers artists to navigate the industry more effectively. When you understand how things work, you make better decisions.
The music industry has historically thrived on mystique. Studios were closed worlds. A&R processes were opaque. Decision-making was inscrutable. This opacity served gatekeepers, not artists. By pulling back the curtain, we shift information balance toward the people who make the music.
What you'll find behind most curtains is less glamorous but more instructive than the mystique suggests. Professional processes are built on preparation, communication, and iterative refinement — skills that any artist can develop with knowledge and practice.
The Process in Detail
Every professional process in music follows a similar pattern: preparation, execution, refinement, and delivery. The specifics vary depending on whether you're recording an album, discovering an artist, or producing a show, but the fundamental structure is consistent.
Preparation involves understanding goals, gathering resources, and planning the approach. This is where most of the work happens and where most shortcuts lead to problems. Professional outcomes come from professional preparation.
Execution is where the plan meets reality. Flexibility is essential because no plan survives contact with the creative process intact. The ability to adapt while maintaining direction is what experience provides.
Refinement is the iterative process of improving the output until it meets the standard. In recording, this is editing and mixing. In A&R, this is deepening research and building relationships. In production, this is polishing and mastering.
What We've Learned
The most important lesson from years of behind-the-scenes work: the people matter more than the process. A great team with a mediocre process will produce better results than a mediocre team with a great process. Invest in relationships, communication, and trust.
Consistency beats brilliance. The occasional flash of genius is wonderful, but reliable, high-quality work sustained over time builds careers and reputations. Show up, do the work, maintain standards, and trust that consistency compounds.
Transparency builds trust, and trust builds everything else. When artists understand our processes, they trust our decisions. When audiences understand how music is made, they appreciate it more deeply. When the industry operates transparently, everyone benefits.
This commitment to openness is why Noise exists and how we operate. Behind every piece of content, every artist feature, and every industry analysis is a team of music lovers working to make the industry fairer, more transparent, and more accessible. That's our behind the scenes — and we're proud of it.
Insights for Your Own Practice
Whatever your role in music, the principles of professional behind-the-scenes work apply. Prepare thoroughly. Execute with flexibility. Refine with patience. And always, always prioritise the people and relationships that make the work meaningful.
Document your own processes. Keep notes on what works in your recording sessions, your release strategies, your live performances. Over time, this documentation becomes a personalised playbook that accelerates your development and maintains your standards.
Share what you learn. The music community grows stronger when knowledge is shared freely. When you discover a technique, a strategy, or a tool that works, tell other artists about it. The abundance mindset — the belief that another artist's success doesn't diminish yours — is the foundation of a healthy music ecosystem.
At Noise, sharing is not just what we do — it's why we exist. Every guide, every feature, every behind-the-scenes look is our contribution to an industry where knowledge empowers artists rather than gatekeepers. Keep learning, keep creating, and keep sharing. The music world needs you.