Every record company has an A&R department whose job it is to sign and nurture new talent. Each month we put the spotlight on an A&R boss and ask if there's hope for aspiring acts.

PETER ROBINSON (40), A&R DIRECTOR, RCA
(RCA is part of BMG Records UK, which also includes Arista Records.)

BMG's MARKET SHARE (Apr-June 1987): Albums 9.8% (fifth place; Phonogram leads with 16.5%); singles 15.6% (first place).

SIGNED BY RCA IN 1987: The Painted Word (Scottish band based around singer-songwriter); Glen Goldsmith (black male singer produced by new dance team Brian Harris/Mark Jolley); Rick Clarke (black male singer produced by Brian New); Hothouse (soul group with black female singer Heather Small); Imagination (first RCA album in October); Perfect Alibi (south London 'quality pop' duo working with new production team Jon Powell/Gavin Greenaway); The Raingods (currently working with producer Alan Shacklock); Anne Turner (ex-singer of Endgames).

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? "We have very few 'working bands', so a rock band with a degree of following would be a good addition, maybe coming up through the indie route. But we do tend to think worldwide, which sometimes rules out bands of that type."

ADVICE TO TAPE-SENDERS: "Be ruthless about choosing your best songs: there's no point putting your best songs at the end of the tape; and ideally you shouldn't put more than three on anyway."

WHAT DO YOU LISTEN FOR PERSONALLY? "A song. A distinctive voice. Something distinctive about instrumentation. I hate me-too tapes, deliberately cloned from a successful artist."

FAVOURITE RECORD TODAY: PetShop Boys with Dusty Springfield 'What Have I Done To Deserve This' — "A nice marriage of old and new, and well produced."

TAPES TO: Korda Marshall (A&R manager) or David Donald (talent scout), A&R Department, (Contact Details) (main BMG switchboard — ask for RCA A&R department).