Amanda Darling is a music business student who seeks a career as an A&R executive. She has a passion for music and wants to help artists achieve success. Her goals are to obtain an entry-level A&R assistant job after graduation in 2023, then advance to an A&R coordinator role by 2028. Ultimately, she aims to become a VP of A&R by 2043. Amanda has outlined plans to build her professional network and online brand through attending industry events, establishing a mentor, and creating a blog and podcast. She will also pursue a master's degree to further her education.

1. PERSONAL BRAND EXPLORATION
AmandaDarling
Project & Portfolio I: Week 1
October 2, 2021

2. I am an ambitious and creative woman who seeks to further
her education and gravitate towards entrepreneurship
within the music business. All my life, music has been a
substantial motivational drive. From a young age, music
has been my motivational force to get me through tough
times. It saved me during the death of my mother. I have
the dedication to bringing that light to others. The talents
that others possess should be showcased, which I inspire to
help put on display. Music can change and save lives. I want
to make sure I can enhance my artist development by
coming up with innovative strategies. My ultimate goal is
to become a music manager/A&R and work under a major
label.
Identity

3. Profession
Potential Job Titles:
• Talent Directors
• Agents and Business Managers of Artists,
Performers, and Athletes
• Public Relations Specialists
MAVERICK ARCHETYPE - I want to be
powerful and revolutionary so that I can
change the lives/careers of my artist for the
greater good by
fi
xing what is not working
and implementing better ways of achieving
goals.
Music Industry for Music Business

4. Music BusinessManagersandExecutives
EmmaHicks
Outreach Plan:
• I will make sure that I have done an internship and have graduated
with my BA for Music Business.
• I will apply for an entry level position as an A&R assistant and
reach out to her on LinkedIn once I have done so.
• If I do not hear a response within two weeks time, I will follow-up.
A&R Manager at Sony Music
Entertainment
Walter Jones
Outreach Plan:
• I will make sure my resume is up to date.
• I will apply for an A&R manager position and reach out to him on
LinkedIn once I have done so.
• If I do not hear back within two weeks time, I will follow-up.
Co Head Of A&R at Universal Music
Publishing
MariaArangio Outreach Plan:
• I will have ful
fi
lled roles as an A&R assistant and coordinator.
• I will apply as an A&R Manager and connect with her on LinkedIn.
• If I do not hear back within two weeks time, I will follow-up.
VP of A&R at Columbia Records
Target Audience

5. Goals
Short Term: (2023)
• Obtain an entry level job as Assistant A&R.
‣ My LinkedIn connections will be 500+ by the time I graduate in May 2023.
‣ My brand A. Darling will be established before I graduate on May 1, 2023.
‣ My online awareness will increase before December 1, 2023 as I will have purchased a domain and
my personal brand’s vanity URL across all major social networks.
‣ My social media site and website will have multiple sources of content developed and published by
October 31, 2027.
Mid Term: (2028)
• Obtain a senior job as A&R Coordinator.
‣ My online volume will increase so that my domain website and social media accounts appear on the
fi
rst search page by January 15, 2028.
‣ Additional content including blogs and/or podcast on tips and tricks on how to navigate the music
business will be available on my website by the end of the year, prior to December 1, 2028.
‣ My social media following will increase to at least 10,000 followers by the end of the 2030 year.
Mainly on Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.
‣ Tra
ffi
c to my domain website will increase by 30% by January 1, 2040.
Long Term: (2043)
• Obtain executive position as head/VP of A&R.
‣ My online recommendations/testimonials will increase by June 1, 2043 with the achievements I have
made. Mainly recommendations from hire-ups that I have worked/collaborated with.
‣

6. SkillsAnalysis
Notable Skills & Current Pro
fi
ciencies:
Notable Skills REQUIRED in TRADE & Current Pro
fi
ciencies:
Written Comprehension
SOFT
HARD
Novice / Adept / Expert
Microsoft O
ffi
ce Novice / Adept / Expert
Critical Thinking Novice / Adept / Expert
Time Management Novice / Adept / Expert
Sales and Marketing
SOFT
HARD
Novice / Adept / Expert
Fine Arts Novice / Adept / Expert
Persuasion Novice / Adept / Expert
Negotiation Novice / Adept / Expert

7. I promise to help independent artist enhance their
careers by creating innovating strategies to become
successful artists.
Promise

8. Credentials
Work Experience:
• Experience working with artists in A&R, marketing, music
production and publishing.
• Assistant A&R.
• Artist Development.
Education:
• Music Business, B.S., Full Sail University (2023)
Awards:
• The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS)

9. Competition
KaylaFlores
Noteworthy Experience:
• A&R Intern
Atlantic Records - Jun 2019 – Aug 2019
• President
Songwriting at Berkeley - Aug 2016 – May 2020
Amanda Darling
Industry Experience:
• A&R Assistant at Atlantic Records
Education:
University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor's Degree (Mass Communication/Media Studies) - 2016 – 2020
Skills and Pro
fi
ciencies:
• Marketing - 5 endorsement
• Social Media - 7 endorsements
• Event Planning - 5 endorsements
Overall Online Presence:
• 500+ connections, banner is tailored to music profession, headshot is not
professional but nice and related to industry.
• She does have personal branding website, as well as social media like
YouTube and an Instagram account. Her LinkedIn pro
fi
le URL is customized
and tailored to her name.
• Does not have recommendations/testimonials.
• Grade: Great, 85 out of 100
Industry Experience:
• Full-time Music Business Student
Education:
Full Sail University
Bachelor of Science - BS, Music Business - 2021 – 2023
Leadership Experience:
• None
Skills and Pro
fi
ciencies:
• Creative Problem Solving
• Microsoft O
ffi
ce
• Industrial Sales
Overall Online Presence:
• Only 8 connection, headshot is not professional and banner is not detailed.
• LinkedIn not customized and no brand social medial accounts attached.
• No recommendations/testimonials.
• Grade: Poor

10. Competition
Mario Lyte
Industry Experience:
• Senior Manager, A&R Administration - Universal
Music Group
Education:
Full Sail University
Bachelor of Science (BS), RECORDING ARTS - 2011 – 2013
Full Sail University
Master of Science (M.S., Entertainment Business - 2015 – 2016
Leadership Experience:
• Project Coordinator - Def Jam (Marketing)
• Senior Manager , A&R Administration - Def Jam Recordings / Republic
Records
Skills and Pro
fi
ciencies:
• Music Industry - 118 endorsements
• Audio Engineering - 96 endorsements
• Music Production - 88 endorsements
AmandaDarling
Overall Online Presence:
• 500+ connections with personal banner re
fl
ecting entertainment company
and professional headshot.
• Detailed pro
fi
le which showcase resume, past and present job history,
licenses and skills.
• Active on Twitter, and has personal domain for business. LinkedIn is also
customized.
• Has recommendations/testimonials.
• Grade: Superior, 100 out of 100
Industry Experience:
• Full-time Music Business Student
Education:
Full Sail University
Bachelor of Science - BS, Music Business - 2021 – 2023
Leadership Experience:
• None
Skills and Pro
fi
ciencies:
• Creative Problem Solving
• Microsoft O
ffi
ce
• Industrial Sales
Overall Online Presence:
• Only 8 connection, headshot is not professional and banner is not detailed.
• LinkedIn not customized and no brand social medial accounts attached.
• Grade: Poor

11. BrandPosition
For Music Business Managers and Executives who need A&R
specialist, I provide innovating and creative strategies
because every artist deserves to shine in a new light.
“A.DARLING”

12. Networking& Marketing
Industry Events & Organizations
• NY:LON CONNECT 2022
‣ January 18-22, 2022 | Home (Virtual)
• Music Biz 2022
‣ May 9-12 | Nashville, TN
• Music Managers Forum US: Guiding Growth into 2022 - Managers and their Artists
‣ October 12 2021 | Home (Re-Watch Seminar)
Digital Marketing
• Primary Content: Podcast and/or blogs regarding my experience in the Music
Business. Slideshare and personal brand website that displays the raw authentic
truth. I will speak on situations that can help future clients and artist.
• Primary Tools: My main social media outlets would be my personal blogging
website, YouTube and Instagram. I would make sure I post one blog/video podcasts
a month and stay active on my Instagram on a daily basis on pictures and updates
on what I am currently working on.
• Website: I will use my digital portfolio to build my online brand awareness moving
forward by posting actively pushing out content and promoting my social media
accounts. I will exude my brand by being unapologetic and liberating others.

13. Professional Development
Mentor
• I will seek a mentor that works in the music industry that works either with
a label or multiple artist. They will have the skillset of artist development. I
will establish this mentor by January 2022.
Formal Education
Full Sail University
Bachelor of Science - BS, Music Business - 2021 – 2023
Full Sail University
Master of Science (M.S., Entertainment Business - 2024 – 2025
Technical Skills
• Familiarity with AFTRA/AFM session reports, May 2023
• Microsoft O
ffi
ce, May 2023
• Project Management, May 2023
Soft Skills
• Communication, May 2023
• Networking, May 2023
• Creative Problem Solving, May 2023

14. AmandaDarling
You know how most musicians coming into the industry have no
clue how to get started? Well, what I do is provide tips and tricks on how to tackle the music
business. In fact, I have written dozen of blogs and recorded numerous podcast which have
enhanced the careers of many small time independent artist.
“

15. References
13-1011.00 - Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes. (n.d.). Agents
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27-2012.04 - Talent Directors. (n.d.). Talent Directors. Retrieved October 3, 2021, from https://
www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-2012.04
27-3031.00 - Public Relations Specialists. (n.d.). Public Relations Specialists. Retrieved October
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Admin Assistant, A&R Administration. (n.d.). Admin Assistant, A&R Administration. Retrieved
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Arangio, M. (n.d.). Maria Arangio - VP of A&R at Columbia Records. LinkedIn. Retrieved October
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Capitol Christian Music Group is looking for A&R Director. (n.d.). A&R Director. Retrieved
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ff
wC
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Events. (2021, July 28). MMF-US. https://www.mmfus.com/events
Flores, K. (n.d.). Kayla Flores - A&R Assistant at Atlantic Records. LinkedIn. Retrieved October 2,
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fl
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Jones, W. (n.d.). Walter Jones - Co Head Of A&R at Universal Music Publishing. LinkedIn.
Retrieved October 2, 2021, from https://www.linkedin.com/in/walter-jones-1a52a1118/
Lyte, M. (n.d.). Mario Lyte - Senior Manager, A&R Administration - Universal Music Group.
LinkedIn. Retrieved October 2, 2021, from https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariokinglyte/
Manager, A&R Administration. (n.d.). Manager, A&R Administration. Retrieved October 3, 2021,
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Maverick Brand Archetype - Kaye Putnam | Psychology Brand Strategy. (2019, August 19). Kaye
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archetype-maverick/
Music Biz Annual Conference | JW Marriott Nashville. (2021, September 22). Music Business
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Online Reputation Management (2020 Guide) | BrandYourself. (n.d.). BrandYourself.Com.
Retrieved October 3, 2021, from https://brandyourself.com/online-reputation-management
Senior Director, A&R / Provident Label Group. (n.d.). Senior Director, A&R / Provident Label
Group. Retrieved October 3, 2021, from https://boards.greenhouse.io/sonymusic/jobs/
5374965002
Stein, T. (2021, August 23). Music Marketing: 11 Ideas for How to Promote Your Music. Music
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