Job Overview
The Senior Director, Digital Legal Affairs, is responsible for drafting and negotiating digital license agreements with new and existing digital partners (e.g., subscription streaming, ad‑supported streaming, social media platforms, services at the intersection of music and AI, gaming, fitness, and other emerging technologies), creating new licensing schemes to offer flexibility to digital partners and new opportunities for WCM songwriters, and advising on international legal and regulatory affairs that may impact the business. The role reports directly to the VP, Digital Legal Affairs, and ultimately to the EVP, Global Digital, and EVP and Chief Digital Officer. The position demands high‑speed collaboration with a sophisticated in‑house team of experts.
About the Team
The Warner Chappell Digital team is part of WMG’s corporate Digital team, responsible for growing revenues through all forms of digital exploitation and finding new and innovative ways to grow the business in support of WCM’s catalogue. The team identifies and negotiates with DSPs, drafts contracts, and works with Operations and Finance to ensure repertoire licensing, reporting, and payments are completed across all territories.
Responsibilities
- Negotiate agreements for the digital exploitation of music content with digital service providers, social media platforms, app developers, emerging tech companies, and AI platforms
- Draft agreements, ancillary documentation (e.g., summaries, presentation decks) and advise internal departments to ensure compliance with contractual obligations
- Collaborate with internal departments to develop operational efficiencies and tax‑favorable licensing and payment structures
- In charge of regulatory and government matters relating to digital exploitation of WCM’s compositions
- Provide reports and present on complex digital licensing matters to senior executives
- Contribute to the global digital strategy for Warner Chappell, emphasizing regulatory or legislative impacts
Requirements
- Minimum four years of relevant transactional legal experience
- At least two years of direct work experience negotiating digital licensing agreements in‑house at a music, media, or technology company or at a law firm
- J.D. (or equivalent if not based in U.S.) and an active license to practice in the relevant jurisdiction
- Understanding of content licensing, digital media and intellectual property law and the legal implications of AI
- Strong negotiation skills and the ability to lead and manage multi‑party negotiations
- Strong analytical, organizational and drafting skills, especially for evolving legal guidance
- Attention to detail and ability to manage a high‑volume workload efficiently
- Familiarity with new technology developments, including AI, and related legal issues
- Effective and confident communication skills
- Experience working across multiple time zones
Preferred Qualifications
- Passion for the intersection of music, business, law and technology
- Experience negotiating license agreements with generative AI platforms
- Experience at a major publisher, record label or digital service provider
- Understanding of music publishing and rights flow, particularly in the digital landscape
- Familiarity with international society networks (e.g., ASCAP, BMI, PRS, SACEM)
- Ability to design high‑quality decks and visual materials using presentation platforms such as Canva or Google Slides
- Proactive approach to integrating Generative AI (e.g., Gemini) into daily work to support productivity
Equal Opportunity Employment
WMG is committed to inclusion and diversity in all aspects of our business. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and will evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, religion or belief, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, disability, pregnancy, childbirth or any other characteristic protected by law.
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