Job Description:
We are Warner Music Group, home to a broad roster of new stars and legendary artists through a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Asylum, Atlantic, Big Beat, Canvasback, East West, Elektra, Erato, FFRR, Fueled by Ramen, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Sire, Spinnin’, Warner Records, Warner Classics, and Warner Music Nashville, as well as Warner Chappell Music, one of the world’s leading music publishers, with a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide.
We currently have a fantastic opportunity to join our innovative and highly sought-after Artist Frontline Royalty Reporting team at WMG’s Center of Excellence for Shared Services.
A little bit about our team:
The U.S. Shared Services organization is based in WMG’s Center of Excellence for Shared Services in Nashville, Tennessee (the “Center”). The Center consists of five departments: Analysis, Finance, Legal, Licensing, and Reporting. Employees of the Center provide services to all of WMG’s U.S. record labels, Warner Chappell Music Publishing, WEA Corp. and Alternative Distribution Alliance (WMG’s distribution companies), and WMG’s other U.S. business units.
Why this could be your next big break:
The candidate hired to fill this position will be responsible for entering and maintaining record royalty rates for the applicable royalty recipient and rendering record royalty statements for the Group’s record label clients. The candidate will analyze output from the various royalty and financial systems to respond to questions and communicate results to internal and external departments and clients.
Here you’ll get to:
- Review and analyze recording agreements, producer agreements and other similar agreements (and any corresponding deal summaries or deal memos) for the purpose of identifying and summarizing the applicable royalty rates, related terms and payee information for a given record or recording and then enter those terms into WMG’s artist royalty system;
- Analyze output from the various royalty systems to respond to questions and communicate results to WMG Labels Business Affairs Departments;
- Perform Fund Calculations for Business Affairs based on Artist contractual language.
- Perform Recoupment analyses for 3rd party recipients;
- Assist with WMG’s monthly, quarterly and annual financial close processes as needed by responding to information requests from WMG’s Corporate and Royalty Finance Departments and the Finance Departments of WMG’s U.S. Record Labels;
- Create and maintain royalty accounts information for royalty recipients in WMG’s artist royalty system, including by updating the recipient’s contact information and tax identification numbers as needed;
- Link individual record products to the applicable contractual terms as they have been set-up in WMG’s artist royalty system in a timely manner;
- Perform and review adjustments to existing royalty rate set-ups in WMG’s artist royalty system, as needed;
- Process and review semi annual, quarterly and monthly artist royalty statements to ensure the accuracy of both the royalty rates applied and the underlying earnings on which royalties are being paid;
- Ensure that artist royalty statements are issued in a timely manner;
- Provide the Income Tracking Team in the Revenue Assurance Group with direction regarding the contractual terms to be applied to third party licensing income, to ensure that royalty recipients are paid properly with respect to third party licenses.
- Perform any other duties and tasks related to the Department’s role and responsibilities that might be assigned by the Team’s senior management from time to time.
Rockstar candidates will have the following:
- Must be able to work well independently and as part of a team;
- Have strong computer skills, including strong data entry and data analysis skills (with an emphasis on accuracy and problem-solving) and strong proficiency using Microsoft Office’s Excel, including pivot tables and vlookups, Word and PowerPoint applications; familiarity with Microsoft Office’s Access application is strongly preferred, but not required;.
- Possess excellent verbal and written communication skills;
- Possess excellent analytical, mathematical and organizational skills;
- Meet deadlines consistently and effectively while working under pressure; and
- Must be able to manage multiple assignments at any given time and prioritize them effectively and appropriately.
It would be music to our ears if you also had:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Candidate should possess 0 to 2 years’ experience working in a position or positions involving the administration and analysis of artist royalties.
- Candidate should be prepared to work overtime toward the end of each quarterly or semi annual royalty statement cycle; candidate should be prepared to schedule vacation days at times that will not conflict with these deadlines, so that their absences do not interfere with their ability to meet royalty statement deadlines.