Director, Music Affairs

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025. This is a Versant role. 

The Role:

Preferably based in Los Angeles, this role is ideal for an experienced music executive, who thrives in a fast-moving environment and is excited to roll up their sleeves, solve novel challenges, and create smart, scalable processes. At its core, the role will oversee music matters across Versant’s businesses, including building internal policies and processes, negotiating music clearance and library agreements, creating new ways to exploit owned music, and servicing Versant’s business units with their music needs. This role reports to the SVP, IP & Music.

The Responsibilities:

• Establish and implement strategy for clearing, licensing, and exploiting music across the Versant enterprise.
• Draft, negotiate, review, track a wide array of music agreements including work-for-hire agreements, record label and music publishing waivers, sync and master agreements, and long form blanket agreements ranging from production music libraries to composer deals, AV licenses, bill back agreements and similar documents.
• Assess copyright risk and advise content creators on music usage and licensing implications, fair use, ephemeral use, parody, and union issues.
• Clear or oversee clearance of master recordings and musical compositions, licensing and payment for applicable music uses across the Versant enterprise.
• Conduct client and staff trainings in the areas of music, copyright, cue sheets, and general business processes
• Administer and/or oversee the administration of the company-owned music catalogue, including maintaining all databases of musical assets and administering internal or external use of such assets.
• Maintain tracking grids, cost charts, databases, etc. for all music usage, and licensing
• Cue sheet review, analysis, revision, and submission

• Partner with senior business executives, as well as colleagues in the Legal Department, to discuss and implement best practices and formulate new processes in connection with business needs.

The Qualifications:

• A minimum of 8 years of music business and legal experience, preferably in-house.
• Deep knowledge of and relationships within the music industry.
• Tech-savvy, with knowledge of cutting-edge databases, AI, and software that can create efficiency in music workflows.
• Highly motivated and effective self-starter with strong track record of successful project execution.
• Excellent and pragmatic business judgment that considers non-legal factors.
• Ability to develop strong relationships with multiple business units and their key stakeholders.
• Big picture, out-of-the-box thinker, who is excited to experiment with new tech, tools and strategies.
• Ability to see around the corners, and experience evaluating risk with imperfect information and have the confidence to make quick decisions.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively cross-functionally, thing pragmatically and be solution-oriented. 

Key Details

• Versant offers a hybrid work model, with a minimum of three days per week in-office. Los Angeles is the preferred location.
• This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), and access to a range of other employee perks.
• We’re moving fast and encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
• Salary range: $115,000 - $130,000

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].

Although you'll be hired as an NBCU employee, your employment and the responsibilities associated with this job likely will transition to Versant in the future. By joining at this pivotal time, you'll be a part of this exciting company as it takes shape.