At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage digital music releases and optimise for voice-search and algorithmic discovery.
- Company: Join Animaj, a leading digital-first kids’ entertainment company.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, creative environment, and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that shapes the soundtrack of millions of lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in digital music distribution and strong organisational skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with potential for significant impact in the kids' music space.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Animaj is one of the largest digital-first kids’ entertainment companies in the world. Our music isn’t just "background noise" – it’s the soundtrack to millions of lives. You will manage the end-to-end lifecycle of our digital releases – from coordinating distribution with partners to optimising metadata for voice-search and algorithmic discovery. The Associate Label Manager is a key pillar of our Music Label team, ensuring Animaj’s world-class IPs (such as Pocoyo and Maya the Bee) are perfectly positioned across all global music streaming platforms. This is a high-impact role requiring a blend of extreme organisational discipline and a deep passion for the digital music ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
- Distribution & Product Delivery
- Partner Coordination: Manage the timely delivery of albums and singles via our distribution partner, The Orchard.
- Creative Workflow: Oversee design tickets for cover art and craft SEO-optimised album titles to maximise click-through rates.
- Deadline Management: Implement and monitor rigorous workflows to ensure all releases meet strict global street dates.
- Metadata Management & Best Practices
- Algorithmic Optimisation: Implement SEO best practices to enhance discoverability and trigger algorithmic support across DSPs.
- Catalogue Hygiene: Oversee the delivery of new assets to the label, maintaining and auditing deliveries to ensure all metadata remains accurate and up to date across the catalogue.
- Smart Delivery: Optimize assets for voice utterances (Alexa/Siri) and "Owned & Operated" (O&O) playlisting to ensure our music is the first choice for families.
- Rights Management
- Track the use of our copyright and trademarks across digital platforms, maintaining and optimising workflows to identify, report, and support claims against any unauthorised usage.
- Data Analytics & Market Intelligence
- Use audience, performance and competitor insights to monitor trends, identify opportunities, and continuously refine music distribution and marketing strategy within the Kids & Family category.
2–4 years in Digital Music Distribution and Operations. Solid understanding of the global music streaming landscape (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music). Foundational knowledge of digital music distribution, ISRC/UPC coding, and metadata standards is a significant plus. Advanced skills in Google Workspace (Sheets, Drive, Docs) and/or Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint). Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple moving parts without dropping the ball. Fluent in English; additional languages are a major plus.
Our Music Tech Stack
The ideal candidate should already have some experience with, or be ready to learn, the specialised software that sits at the core of Animaj’s music operations.
- The Orchard (Workstation): This is our primary distribution portal. The Label Manager will use it to upload master files, set release dates, manage ISRC codes, and track global sales/royalty data.
- Linkfire (Marketing): Used to create "Smart Links." When a new Pocoyo album drops, one link directs parents to their preferred platform (Spotify, YouTube Music, or Amazon).
- Spotify for Artists / Apple Music for Artists: These are "backend" dashboards used to monitor real-time listener data and, importantly, to pitch songs to editorial playlists.
- YouTube CMS (Music): Unlike the standard YouTube Studio, this is used to manage Art Tracks (static videos for music) and protect music rights via Content ID.
After 30 Days at Animaj
- Operational Integration: Successfully navigate The Orchard’s dashboard and internal creative ticketing systems. Finalise a first cycle of release deliveries (Singles/Albums) with zero metadata errors or missed deadlines.
- Catalogue & Hygiene Audit: Complete a comprehensive audit of the top 20 most-streamed tracks across Pocoyo and Maya the Bee. Identify and fix metadata "leaks" (e.g., missing lyrics, incorrect artist tagging, or outdated bios).
- Voice & Search Optimisation: Update the creative metadata for selected tracks to optimise them for voice-search utterances (Alexa/Siri) and traditional search intent.
- Baseline Reporting: Establish a weekly "Streaming Health Snapshot" for the Director of Label Sales and Operations, highlighting top-performing tracks, playlist additions, and any delivery bottlenecks.
After 90 Days at Animaj
- Release Lifecycle Ownership: Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of at least XX new digital releases, ensuring 100% on-time delivery to DSPs and the creation of optimised Linkfire assets for the marketing team.
- Editorial Pitching & Placement: Successfully led the editorial pitching process for a new release, securing at least one organic placement in a Kids & Family editorial playlist on a major platform (e.g. Spotify, Apple, or Amazon).
- Playlist Growth Strategy: Implement a refresh strategy for Animaj’s "Owned & Operated" (O&O) playlists, resulting in a measurable increase in "Followers" or "Monthly Active Listeners" for the branded profiles.
- Artist Profile Refresh: Fully overhaul the "front-facing" profiles for selected IPs across DSPs (Spotify for Artists, etc.), ensuring high-quality imagery, updated bios, and the use of features like "Artist Pick" to drive engagement.
- Efficiency Milestone: Reduce the "Creative-to-Distribution" lead time by 15% through improved coordination of cover art design tickets and metadata preparation.
After 180 Days at Animaj
- Data-Driven Release Planning: Build and present a 6-month Music Programming Calendar that aligns with seasonal trends (e.g., Back-to-School, Christmas) and Animaj's wider content/YouTube release schedule.
- Competitive Gap Analysis: Deliver a Market Intelligence report identifying 3 key gaps in the Kids & Family music space (e.g., specific genres or moods currently underserved) with a recommendation for potential new IP development(s).
- Market Share Growth: Achieve a 10%+ increase in total streams for the assigned catalogue (vs. the same period the previous year) through a combination of catalogue hygiene and aggressive algorithmic optimisation.
- Advanced Workflow Implementation: Pilot an automated metadata or tracking tool to further streamline the delivery process, ensuring Animaj remains the most efficient digital-first label in the kids' space.
Interview Process
- First interview with our Label Manager (45’)
- Interview with Animaj’s Director of Label Sales and Operations (60’)
- Final Interview with Animaj’s Co-Founder/CBO (60’)
Associate Label Manager - London employer: Animaj
Contact Detail:
Animaj Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Label Manager - London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Animaj's music catalogues, especially their big hits like Pocoyo and Maya the Bee. This will help you speak their language during interviews and show your genuine interest in their work.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with people in the digital music scene on LinkedIn or attend industry events. You never know who might have a lead on that Associate Label Manager role or can give you insider tips about the interview process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews by practising common questions related to digital music distribution and metadata management. Think about how your skills align with the responsibilities listed in the job description, and be ready to share specific examples.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Animaj and ready to dive into the world of kids' entertainment.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Label Manager - London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Music: When you're writing your application, let your love for music shine through! Talk about your favourite artists or how music has impacted your life. We want to see that you’re not just applying for a job, but that you genuinely care about the digital music ecosystem.
Be Organised and Detail-Oriented: Since this role is all about managing multiple tasks, make sure your application reflects your organisational skills. Use bullet points to highlight your experiences and achievements, and don’t forget to proofread for any errors. We appreciate attention to detail!
Tailor Your Application: Make your application stand out by tailoring it to the Associate Label Manager role. Mention specific responsibilities from the job description that excite you and explain how your background aligns with them. We love seeing candidates who take the time to connect their experience with our needs.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about Animaj and what we do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Animaj
✨Know Your Digital Music Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the global music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music. Understand how they operate and what makes them tick, as this knowledge will be crucial in your role as an Associate Label Manager.
✨Master Metadata Management
Brush up on your skills regarding ISRC/UPC coding and metadata standards. Be prepared to discuss how you would optimise metadata for voice-search and algorithmic discovery, as this is a key part of the job.
✨Showcase Your Organisational Skills
Demonstrate your ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively. Bring examples of how you've successfully coordinated tasks in the past, especially in high-pressure environments, to show that you can handle the demands of this role.
✨Be Data-Driven
Prepare to discuss how you would use audience insights and performance data to inform your strategies. Think about specific metrics you would track and how you would apply this information to improve music distribution and marketing efforts.