Traditionally A&R executives were composers, arrangers and producers – Atlantic Records's heads Jerry Wexler and Ahmet Ertegun were producers and composers respectively – but an A&R with musical ability and knowledge has become a rarity, with Ron Fair and Martin Kierszenbaum being notable recent exceptions.
In 1991 the band caught the ear of Jim Powers, an A+R rep for Zoo Records.
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At a Seattle spot on the tour, an A&R executive from Tooth & Nail Records spotted them, subsequently bringing them to the attention of the label and getting them signed.
His vision—influenced by his relationship with Jerry Moss—was that producers would manage artists and repertoire in the same way as in the music business, and Hawkins brought in record producers from A&M Records to help train those first producers.