In this interview with Loyola University, New Orleans Professor George Howard, former rock journalist, longtime A&R man, and music industry consultant Peter Lubin discusses the challenges that one faces when switching careers – especially from a field so specialized as A&R — and how to successfully build a skill set that will allow you to move gracefully into new positions or industries without requiring a great deal of training. He also speaks in specifics about how the industry has changed the way the jobs he has held are done — how blogs have changed music journalism, and how the demise of major labels means that A&R reps are no longer the gatekeepers of recording studios, and what these changes mean for people getting their start in any area of the music business today.