On Thursday 3rd February, the Sixth Form Speaker Programme was privileged to have Amber Davis, Head of A&R at Warner Chappell Music UK, give a fascinating talk on her career so far.

Davis spoke compellingly about her journey as a woman of colour, from an internship at 14 to working her way up through EMI Music Publishing and Sony/ATV before joining Warner Chappell in 2014, where she now heads A&R and manages her own team. Artists and Repertoire (A&R) is the division of a record label or music publishing company that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists and songwriters.

We received tips on how to get into tough, often male-dominated industries like music, and learned about some of the processes that songs go through before reaching audiences. Davis’s diligence and passion were clearly highlighted as she explained what her typical day consists of, surprising some pupils by the unusual and very long hours! The Sixth Form were further impressed by the big names that she has signed, and immensely enjoyed watching several videos highlighting the broad range of artists, writers and producers that Davis has worked with, even singing along at points. We ended the session with an engaging Q&A, which resulted in several funny stories and some sage advice for young women entering the workforce, with several girls staying behind to inquire further. The confidence and enthusiasm Davis radiates had the students buzzing as we left the talk, inspired to think more deeply about the work that culminates in bringing us the music we enjoy.

Caley Collins, Lower VI