Job Title: Commercial Affairs Manager
Place of work: London, Kings Cross
Department, Division: Business Affairs
Reports to: General Counsel, UK
About Sony Music Publishing
Sony Music Publishing, established in 1995, is the world’s leading music publisher. The company owns or manages a diverse catalog of songs by iconic songwriters, including the Beatles, Queen, Motown, Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and the Rolling Stones, as well as contemporary songwriters such as Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna and many more.
About the department
Sony Music Publishing’s established and efficient business affairs department is fundamental to the company’s success. The department is primarily responsible for supporting all A&R activities from a legal perspective and ensuring that negotiated agreements are commercially viable and legally enforceable.
The objective is to ensure that the company continues to acquire rights to musical compositions through legal assignments and licenses and, in addition to drafting standard publishing and administration agreements, to help the company to structure new types of agreements such as Master Performance Rights and Artist/Producer Management Rights, Production Agreements and PPL Representation Agreements.
The Commercial Affairs Department also supports the Synch and Licensing team in their granting of licenses to third parties on the rights held by the company.
The department handles copyright disputes, licensing issues, and sample releases (either where the company’s copyrights are infringed/incorporated by a third party, or where our editors have infringed/incorporated the copyright of a third party).
About the role
Work within a team of professionals to provide effective in-house legal service to the company. The role holder will
provide support to the General Counsel and senior members of the BA team, as well as offer advice and expertise to junior members of the team.
The role holder will provide advice, prepare legal documents, support negotiations and provide solutions in all aspects of the department’s work. Collaborate regularly with the UK A&R and Sync teams, colleagues from other SMP territories, external advisors and our artists.
What you will do: (professional responsibilities)
- Play an important role in priority signatures.
- Drafting and negotiation of exclusive songwriter agreements, product-based agreements (non-exclusive), assignments, printing agreements, administration agreements, co-publishing agreements (such as joint venture), film and television agreements, amending agreements, musical licenses, neighboring rights agreements, library music agreements and new media agreements.
- Advise colleagues on legal and business issues related to contract interpretation, royalty/financial issues and copyright issues.
- Management of certain contentious issues (pre-litigation) and drafting and negotiation of settlement documentation
- Advising foreign subsidiaries on various commercial transactions.
- Non-editorial matters, for example master use licenses, registration agreements, software licenses, confidentiality agreements and investment agreements.
- Drafting and negotiation of controlled composition clauses.
- Due diligence in relation to possible acquisitions of catalogues/companies.
- Dealing with copyright infringement in conjunction with outside attorneys (including attending overseas arbitration proceedings if necessary).
Who you are: (skills/experience/qualifications in order of importance)
The required kit:
- Be a qualified lawyer with excellent negotiation and drafting skills (including experience in negotiating and drafting music publishing agreements, as well as agreements and licenses related to synchronization, digital licensing, major rights, production music, main rights, neighboring rights and producer management).
- Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels of the business
- An excellent understanding of the music industry – ideally from previous experience working in-house at a music publishing company
- Good judgment in streamlining arguments, excellent attention to detail and a proven track record in negotiating and closing deals in a pressured environment
Desirable requirements:
- Effective at working with internal colleagues and external agencies to ensure the company acquires, licenses and protects rights on a sound commercial basis.
- Open-minded and motivated to recommend changes to processes and procedures where this would result in more efficient service.
- Ability to effectively prioritize workload to ensure all responsibilities are met and executed in a timely manner and open issues are tracked and satisfactorily resolved.
- Consult with the UK Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs as appropriate to communicate issues, ideas or solutions, resolve issues and ensure customer service levels are maintained.
- Flexible, efficient and enthusiastic approach to the role.
- Continually strive to provide efficient service, seeking new opportunities and approaches for improvement.
- Individual prepared and motivated to be part of a changing environment with an interest in developing role, skills and relationships.
What we offer you
- You join an inclusive, collaborative and global community where you have the opportunity to fuel the creative journey
- A modern office environment designed to foster productivity, creativity and teamwork.
- An attractive and comprehensive benefits package including medical coverage, life and income protection coverage, interest-free subscription loans and a comprehensive retirement package.
- Self-funded voluntary benefits such as dental, travel and critical illness.
- We invest in your professional growth and development.
- Summer Fridays.
- Employee Assistance Program.