A&R is tougher than ever, sez the Guardian. The man who brought us the Ordinary Boys and Kaiser Chiefs explains his secrets:

But with the scramble for hits becoming ever more cutthroat, an A&R’s ability to spot a hit becomes ever more important. All agree there’s no surefire formula for a smash. “Bands have approached me saying, ‘My song scored 98% on [the computer game] Hit Machine,’” says Harris. “It’s like doing well on Championship Manager and thinking you can manage Arsenal.” His formula is simple: if a song can be sung by a load of drunken lads in a pub on a Friday night, “it’s got a chance”.

By article’s end you too will be close to tears at the decline in respect for this noble profession. How have we let ourselves come to this - that the judgement of men who believe the Libertines were “the most important band of the 21st century” may be marginalised?