Senior Manager - Legal & Business Affairs

Penguin Random House; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 90,000

Job description

Come As You Are.

As the great Kurt Cobain once said, “Come as you are.” BMG is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and we celebrate diversity in all forms. Equal opportunity runs deep in our core value of fairness and we are determined to create a truly inclusive work environment, where everyone can flourish. If you’re good at what you do, come as you are.

All applicants to BMG will receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, color, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

BMG is the proud representative of Kurt Cobain’s publishing catalogue, including the 1992 single ‘Come As You Are’.

Senior Manager – Legal & Business Affairs

Join BMG’s dynamic team as a Senior Manager - Legal & Business Affairs and take on a crucial role in delivering comprehensive legal support to the UK LBA team. You will be instrumental in addressing all legal facets of BMG’s recorded music and music publishing operations, ensuring our business thrives in an ever-evolving industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Negotiating new offers and drafting, reviewing and negotiating long-form agreements across recorded music and music publishing business divisions, including:
  • Exclusive song writing agreements, administration agreements, side letters & amendments, novation agreements, writer buy-out agreements, joint venture agreements and sub-publishing agreements.
  • Exclusive recording agreements, producer, mixer and featured artist agreements, video agreements, artwork & photographer agreements.
  • Assisting with more complex synch agreements.
• Advising on intellectual property rights for recorded music, compositions, and other creative assets.
• Reviewing and negotiating controlled compositions’ provisions.
• Assisting Legal and Business Affairs team with new areas of business as and when necessary.
• Assisting various departments with day-to-day queries, such as:
  • Royalties and Copyright: interpreting contracts, assisting with disputes, drafting side letters;
  • Finance: verification and approval of invoices, payment of advances etc;
  • A&R: assisting with formulation and structuring of new deal proposals;
  • Investments: working closely with the Investments Team on structuring deals to meet BMG’s investment requirements and assisting with the BMG investment approval process;
  • Operations: providing contractual information, agreement templates and interpreting contracts.

Your Profile

• Experience working as a music lawyer (whether in-house or in private practice) in a wide variety of areas relating to the music industry.
• Extensive experience negotiating and drafting complex recording and publishing agreements.
• A strategic thinker and creative problem solver, with the ability to persuade and build consensus.
• A candidate who has the ability to have a local focus, whilst understanding the bigger global strategic vision.
• Extensive contacts and strong relationships within the music industry is advantageous.
• We’re seeking a candidate with strong interest in music and the music business, and a keen interest in law concerning the music industry.

It’s a plus if you have experience working in dispute resolution, and/or you’ve previously worked at a major music publisher or large independent record label.

Now, what's in it for you?

• 25 days pro-rated annual leave, plus 3 days between Christmas & New Year and an extra day for your birthday!
• Flexible working opportunities.
• Subsidised gym membership.
• Private Health Insurance.
• Competitive pension scheme.
• All parents, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, will receive 6 months of fully paid parental leave.
• Annual gig allowance.
• Artist showcases.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Season Ticket Loan.
• Workplace Nursery Scheme.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Give As You Earn Scheme.
• A fun and sociable office environment.

Are you interested? Follow the link to apply!