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Legal & Business Affairs Executive

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Universal Music Group

1mo ago

  • Job
    Full-time
    Junior & Mid Level
  • Legal
    Business, Operations & Strategy
  • London
  • Quick Apply

AI generated summary

  • You should be passionate about music, have legal experience, strong communication skills, excellent organization, attention to detail, and proficiency in Microsoft tools. Ability to work under pressure is key.
  • You will provide legal guidance, negotiate agreements, manage legal databases, support artist contracts, respond to queries, ensure compliance, and offer legal advice across departments.

Requirements

  • Passionate about working within music
  • Reasonable knowledge of how a record company functions, and an understanding of the music industry as a whole
  • Proactive and articulate approach to work
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an approachable manner
  • Excellent time management skills
  • Lateral thinking with the ability to grasp the overall picture of legal projects
  • Highly organised and self-motivated, with an energetic and enthusiastic approach
  • Ability to work under pressure and to meet tight deadlines
  • Ability to work as part of a team and alone
  • Ability to work on own initiative
  • High attention to detail
  • Post Qualification approach to work
  • Experience of working in a Legal & Business Affairs department or music solicitor’s company
  • Experience in commercial, contracts and copyright work
  • Excellent word, excel and other Microsoft packages and databases skills and Docu-Sign

Responsibilities

  • Reporting to the Head of Central Label Legal Team, the Legal and Business Affairs Executive will work alongside all departments across all UK labels to provide legal guidance across all aspects of decision making within the business (using their legal analysis and commercial intuition).
  • Alongside this they will be negotiate and finalize all manner of deals to ensure that the label’s commercial releases (from singles, videos, albums and more) are fully cleared ahead of deadline.
  • Negotiating & drafting featured/guest vocalist agreements, sample agreements, producer and mixer agreements, other clearance paperwork and agreements for videos, photography and artwork using precedents and standard form agreements.
  • Drafting side letters and other general correspondence to managers and Artist lawyers.
  • Assisting with negotiating deal memos and recording agreements for new Artist signings, negotiating and documenting amendments to Artist agreements.
  • Responding to legal and rights-based queries from across the label including marketing, A&R and from across the wider company.
  • To notify relevant Company personnel on all pertinent terms of such agreements, in particular any restrictions relating to the exploitation of recordings/videos.
  • To assist with managing the legal databases (GRS and Rights Workspace), ensuring the data is accurate and up to date at all times (including analysing and interpreting contractual rights).
  • Archiving and logging signed contracts.
  • To ensure compliance with all Group legal directives and internal guidelines.
  • To negotiate and implement all other necessary agreements with third parties of whatever nature relevant to the company.
  • To undertake any project and ad hoc work as directed, including the research and drafting of legal correspondence and contracts.
  • To provide support from time to time for Head of Central Label Legal Team in respect of Artist audits and litigation.
  • To assist with managing Universal’s Uniport budget and payment system for Legal and Artist contract payments.
  • To provide day to day business point of contact to managers and lawyers on behalf of the company.
  • To notify the Royalties Department and keep accurate records of all contracts entered into and any amendments made, supplying copies to them at all times.
  • To respond to the Royalties Department, Catalogue Department and synch/brands/licensing, and metadata/production/supply chain teams on any queries.
  • To supervise arrangements with Producers, Mixers and Remixers in conjunction with outside legal counsel.
  • To refer any instances of alleged piracy or parallel imports to the necessary teams.
  • To spot potential infringements (such as trade mark or passing off in marketing materials) or breaches or company policy around exploitations of music.
  • To provide general legal advice to marketing, digital, video and promotions departments, for example, the viability and risk of the use of certain content for artwork, fan prize and competitions, social media channels and initiatives.
  • To provide legal and general business support on the new growth areas of the industry such as new technology/digital media (e.g. “virtual branding”, apps etc.), merchandising, “D2C” retail, branding and sponsorship.

FAQs

What is the main responsibility of the Legal & Business Affairs Executive?

The main responsibility is to provide legal guidance across all aspects of decision-making within the business and negotiate and finalize various deals to ensure that the label’s commercial releases are fully cleared ahead of deadlines.

Is there a focus on diversity and inclusion in the hiring process?

Yes, Universal Music is committed to diversity and ensures that no applicant or employee receives less favorable treatment based on gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, age, marital status, background, pregnancy, or caring responsibilities.

What kind of agreements will the Legal & Business Affairs Executive be involved in negotiating?

The executive will negotiate and draft featured/guest vocalist agreements, sample agreements, producer and mixer agreements, as well as deal memos and recording agreements for new artist signings.

What skills are necessary for this role?

Necessary skills include a passion for music, reasonable knowledge of the record company functions, excellent verbal and written communication, time management skills, and the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Is prior experience required for this role?

While not strictly necessary, desirable qualifications include experience in a Legal & Business Affairs department or a music solicitor's company, as well as experience in commercial, contracts, and copyright work.

How does the company accommodate employees with different needs?

Universal Music is committed to making appropriate adjustments to recruitment, workplaces, and work processes to be fully inclusive to people with different needs, including the option to email for reasonable adjustments during the application process.

What tools and platforms will the Legal & Business Affairs Executive need to be familiar with?

The executive should have excellent skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and other Microsoft packages, as well as proficiency with databases and Docu-Sign.

Will the role involve providing legal advice beyond contracts?

Yes, the role involves providing general legal advice to various departments, including marketing, digital, and promotions, as well as support in new growth areas of the industry like digital media and merchandising.

What kind of projects will the Executive be expected to undertake?

The Executive will undertake any project and ad-hoc work as directed, including research and drafting of legal correspondence and contracts, as well as assisting with artist audits and litigation as needed.

What is the work environment like at Universal Music?

Universal Music offers a collaborative and commercial environment where the executive will work alongside various departments, emphasizing teamwork and open communication.

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Universal Music Group

We are Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company.

Entertainment & Media
Industry
5001-10,000
Employees
1934
Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

Universal Music Group (UMG) is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. Featuring the most comprehensive catalog of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. Universal Music Group's labels include A&M Records, Astralwerks, Blue Note Records, Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol Records, Capitol Records Nashville, Caroline, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, EMI Records Nashville, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Harvest, Interscope Records, Island Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor Records, Republic Records, Universal Music Latino, Verve Label Group, Virgin Records, Virgin EMI Records, as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. UMG's catalog is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). UMG also includes Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's premier music publishing operations worldwide and Bravado, the leading provider of consumer, lifestyle and branding services to recording artists and entertainment brands around the world. Universal Music Group is a Vivendi company.