Helienne Lindvall as song writer has written on the Guardian music blog an interesting, if a little dispiriting article (here) about how she gets emails asking her to write and pitch songs in a particular style modelled on specific hits and artists (e.g. “Estelle’s American Boy and Duffy‘s Mercy, with an Amy Winehouse flavour to it.”).  The situation is comically tragic to hear A&R working in such a manner, and as Helienne says its not surprising that EMI have suggested sacking (or shooting) their A&R department.