Director - Music Publishing Licensing (London)

SoundCloud empowers artists and fans to connect and share through music. Founded in 2007, SoundCloud is an artist-first platform empowering artists to build and grow their careers by providing them with the most progressive tools, services, and resources. With over 400+ million tracks from 40+ million artists, the future of music is SoundCloud.

SoundCloud is looking for a commercial leader in music publishing and partnerships with a good understanding of copyright and music licensing, an aptitude for technology, and a strong familiarity with the current developments in the “creator economy” to lead global negotiations with publishers, collecting societies, performing rights organizations (RPOs), and songwriters directly across the globe. This is a rare opportunity to work right at the cutting edge of digital media, technology, and music. You will face unique challenges, work with an amazing and diverse team, and take on a role that will ultimately shape how music is created, consumed, and shared worldwide.

As the Content Music Publishing Licensing Expert, you will renew and manage agreements with music publishers, collecting societies, and PROs globally while also handling new licensing requests. You will play a key role in leading the music publishing strategy, focusing on negotiating commercial terms, managing partnerships, and driving revenue opportunities for SoundCloud. Your focus will be on driving business growth through successful partnerships that align with the platform's goals and provide a solid foundation for future business opportunities with key stakeholders in the music industry, primarily focused on Europe. This role will emphasize the commercial aspects of music publishing, supporting our distinctive business model and value proposition.

As part of the Content Licensing & Partnerships team within Business & Legal Affairs, you’ll be based in either Berlin or London.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and negotiate complex commercial licensing agreements in the digital music and streaming space, especially with collecting societies, music publishers, and PROs to drive SoundCloud’s business growth and revenue generation by managing the costs and cost-effective reporting.
• Identify and secure new licensing opportunities with music publishers and societies to align with SoundCloud’s strategic goals.
• Manage key external relationships, acting as the primary contact for commercial negotiations.
• Collaborate with internal teams (Content Licensing Leadership, Finance, Royalties & Reporting, Business Development, Strategy, Music, Marketing, and Product) to optimize licensing agreements, drive growth, and manage risks.
• Develop strategies to enhance market position and maximize revenue from music publishing.
• Lead negotiations for bespoke partnerships and joint ventures to strengthen SoundCloud’s industry position.
• Advise on business strategies, licensing opportunities, and contractual obligations.
• Assess and mitigate business risks related to music distribution, including reputational, commercial, and operational risks.
• Align product development with commercial licensing strategies to enhance music distribution and royalty operations.
• Represent SoundCloud in industry discussions, public forums, and events to foster partnerships and drive commercial interests.

Experience and Background:

• 7-8+ years of relevant experience with preferably a legal or business background, ideally 4+ years coming from a music publisher, streaming platform, or any other company at the intersection of music and tech handling transactions with music publishing rights.
• Good understanding of the digital music rights landscape in the US, the UK, and Europe and a deep understanding of digital music rights and experience with DSPs or UGC platforms.
• Experience in negotiating complex rights deals in multiple territories with excellent negotiation skills.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to manage costs in licensing strategies.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally (Music & Tech teams) to drive business success.
• Strategic thinker and creative problem solver.
• Comfortable dealing with uncertainty and ambiguity.
• Pragmatic risk-based approach to problems.
• Resilient, self-aware, and values-driven.
• Strong network within the music, media, and/or consumer tech industry.
• Fluent in English and, ideally, one or more other European languages.
• Experience working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

About us:

We are a multinational company with offices in the US (New York and Los Angeles), Germany (Berlin), and the UK (London). We provide a flexible work culture that offers the opportunity to collaborate and connect in person at our offices as well as accommodating work from home. We are deeply committed to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of our organization and fostering a community where everyone’s voice, perspective and experience is respected and heard. We believe a strong team is made by investing in employees through mentorship, workshops and enrichment opportunities.

Not located in Berlin? No worries, we offer extensive relocation support including allowances, one way flights, temporary accommodation and, by partnering with Expath, on the ground support on arrival. Interested in a gym membership, photography course or book? We have a Creativity and Wellness benefit! Employee Equity Plan. Generous professional development allowance. Flexible vacation and public holiday policy where you can take up to 35 days of PTO annually. 16 paid weeks for all parents (birthing and non-birthing), regardless of gender, to welcome newborns, adopted and foster children. We offer free German courses at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. Various snacks, goodies, and 2 free lunches weekly when at the office.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at SoundCloud

SoundCloud is for everyone. Diversity and open expression are fundamental to our organization; they help us lead what’s next in music by understanding and empowering our creators and fans, no matter their identity. We acknowledge the challenges in the music industry, and strive to influence an inclusive culture where everyone can contribute respectfully and thrive, especially the historically marginalized communities that many of our creators, fans and SoundClouders identify with. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment at SoundCloud for everyone, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, migration background, national origin, age, disability status, or care-giver status.

At SoundCloud you can find your community or elevate your allyship by joining a Diversity Resource Group. Diversity Resource Groups are employee-organized groups focused on supporting and promoting the interests of a particular underrepresented community in order to build a more inclusive culture at SoundCloud. Anyone can join, whether you share the identity or strive to be an ally.