Senior Manager, Business Affairs Administration - New York, 10019
Universal Music Group
Job Description
Senior Manager, Business Affairs Administration - New York, 10019, United States of America
How we LEAD:
As a member of the Business & Legal Affairs team, you'll play a key role in helping bring new music and video releases to market by managing rights clearances and licensing activities across a diverse roster of artists. You'll partner with teams across Business & Legal Affairs, A&R, Marketing, Production, Revenue, Licensing, Artist Management, and external rights holders to ensure releases move forward efficiently while mitigating legal and business risks.
This role is ideal for a highly organized, solutions-oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys solving complex rights issues, and is passionate about the music industry. The successful candidate will have 3-5 years of music licensing, legal, or business affairs experience and be eager to expand their expertise in artist, sample, synchronization, and content clearances.
How you'll CREATE:
Rights Clearance & Release Support
- Coordinate and manage music and video clearances by working with third-party labels, publishers, licensors, clearance agencies, artist management, and internal stakeholders to secure all required approvals for commercial releases.
- Manage the end-to-end clearance process, tracking requests, monitoring timelines, and helping resolve complex rights issues that could impact release schedules.
- Advise internal teams on clearance requirements, ownership splits, and licensing considerations for samples, side artists, compilations, soundtrack projects, and synchronization opportunities.
Contract Drafting & Administration
- Draft, review, and administer a variety of music agreements, including Sample Agreements, Side Artist Agreements, Label Waivers (including Profit Split arrangements), and Soundtrack and Synchronization License Agreements.
- Manage agreement execution, maintain accurate contract records, distribute finalized agreements to appropriate stakeholders, and coordinate supporting documentation for payment processing.
Risk Assessment & Cross-Functional Partnership
- Review music video treatments and final content to identify potential copyright, trademark, publicity, and reputational risks, partnering with Legal executives to resolve issues before release.
- Collaborate closely with Business & Legal Affairs, A&R, Marketing, Production, Revenue, Licensing, Artist Management, and Legal teams to support artist releases and commercial licensing initiatives.
- Partner with synchronization and catalog licensing teams to facilitate soundtrack placements and other licensing opportunities.
Process Management
- Maintain organized tracking systems and documentation to ensure visibility into project status, contractual obligations, and clearance milestones.
- Recommend and support process improvements that increase operational efficiency and enhance cross-functional collaboration.
Bring your VIBE:
- 3-5 years of experience in music industry licensing, business affairs, legal administration, or a related field.
- Working knowledge of music copyright, licensing, publishing, and recording agreements.
- Experience drafting and administering music-related agreements is strongly preferred.
- Exceptional organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines.
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills and sound judgment when navigating complex rights issues.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and collaboratively across departments.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment while maintaining confidentiality.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Familiarity with UMG systems is a plus.
- Passion for music and the evolving entertainment landscape.