Director, A&R Operations - Columbia

About Sony Music Entertainment

At Sony Music Entertainment, we fuel the creative journey. We’ve played a pioneering role in music history, from the first-ever music label to the invention of the flat disc record. We’ve nurtured some of music’s most iconic artists and produced some of the most influential recordings of all time.

Today, we work in more than 70 countries, supporting a diverse roster of international superstars, developing and independent artists, and visionary creators. From our position at the intersection of music, entertainment, and technology, we bring imagination and expertise to the newest products and platforms, embrace new business models, employ breakthrough tools, and provide powerful insights that help our artists push creative boundaries and reach new audiences. In everything we do, we’re committed to artistic integrity, transparency, and entrepreneurship.

Sony Music Entertainment is a member of the Sony family of global companies.

As the Director, A&R Operations you will be responsible for full delivery of songs/projects from A&R standpoint across half the Columbia roster. This includes working closely with A&R, Release Planning, Sales, Marketing and the BA teams to make sure deadlines are met from a clearance perspective for both sample/ side artist clearances.  

• Spearheading full song credit ingestion, sample clearances, side artist clearances, audio delivery (masters, alts, stems, session files) for half the Columbia roster. Also working through sample replacements/ removals with artists teams if/when samples are denied or clearances are taking longer than expected. This also includes negotiating artist tagging for DSPs with Sony’s BA team and external labels/management teams and making suggestions to Columbia’s Marketing + Sales teams on product set-up based on tagging rights granted
• Maintain consistent and clear communication between the A&R staff and Release Planning/BA/BAA/etc around all upcoming single/project releases. Build trust with all players involved to achieve success
• Attend and often lead artist-specific meetings with A&Rs + management teams to spearhead releases from delivery side
• Communicate with artist managers + attorneys on the status of clearances as they relate to deadlines
• Make sure all delivered audio is to spec and make artist teams aware of any potential QC issues on digital audio
• Archiving and managing all unreleased + released Columbia music and sending it internally + externally when necessary, via SME’s Promo Portal

• 4-6 years of experience in A&R operations, music production management, project management or a related role at a record label, music publisher or management company
• Strong knowledge of audio technology, music recording processes, sample/ side artist clearance and industry contacts. Experience working directly with artists, producers, songwriters, lawyers and managers.
• Exceptional organizational, problem-solving, and multitasking skills
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to manage stakeholders
• Have a profound understanding of the entire roster, the A&R staff, the key players outside of the label (managers + attorneys) and uphold rapports with all to execute releases with the least resistance and greatest efficiency
• Always keep deadlines top of mind and often remind A&Rs/Managers/Attorneys of what work needs to be done to meet said deadlines
• Multi-tasker, works with urgency, understands prioritization based on both deadlines and projects at hand
• Exercises judgment and makes decisions well under pressure
• Action oriented and solution-driven

• You join an inclusive, collaborative and global community where you have the opportunity to channel your passion every day  
• A modern office environment designed to foster productivity, creativity, and teamwork empowering you to bring your best 
• An attractive and comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life & disability coverage, and 401K + employer matching 
• Voluntary benefits like company-paid identity theft protection and resources for pets, mental health and meditation resources, industry-leading fertility coverage, fully paid leave for childbirth or bonding, fully paid leave for caregivers, programs for loved ones with developmental disabilities and neurodiversity, subsidized back-up child and elder care, and reimbursement for adoption, surrogacy, tuition, and student loans 
• Investment in your professional growth and development enabling you to thrive in our vibrant community.  
• The space to accelerate progress, positively disrupt, and create what happens next  
• Time off for a winter recess

Sony Music is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, veteran or military status, marital and civil partnership/union status, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic information or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.