Director, Global A&R

Warner Music Group • Toronto, ON

47d • Onsite

About The Position

At Warner Music Group, we’re a global collective of music makers and music lovers, tech innovators and inspired entrepreneurs, game-changing creatives and passionate team members. Here, we turn dreams into stardom and audiences into fans. We are guided by three core values that underpin everything we do across all our diverse businesses: Curiosity: We do our best work when we’re immersing ourselves in culture and breaking through barriers. Curiosity is the driving force behind creativity and ingenuity. It fuels innovation, and innovation is the key to our future. Collaboration: Making music and bringing it to the world is all about the power of originality amplified by teamwork. A great idea, like a great song, travels globally. We ignite passions and build connections across our diverse community of artists, songwriters, partners, and fans. Commitment: We pursue excellence for our team and our talent. Everything in music starts with a leap into the unknown, and we’re committed to keeping the faith, acting with integrity, and delivering on our promises. WMG is home to a wide range of artists, musicians, and songwriters that fuel our success. That is why we are committed to creating a work environment that actively values, appreciates, and respects everyone. We encourage applications from people with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Consider a career at WMG and get the best of both worlds – an innovative global music company that retains the creative spirit of a nimble independent. This role works closely with WMG's Global A&R team, local A&R teams in different regions, artists, producers, and internal teams to tailor the release of new music via Artist Features and Remixes. The role will work to craft and execute a roadmap for new artist signings at WM Canada / ADA Canada and work across different countries and regions to identify emerging talent for the frontline labels. This role requires a combination of creative vision, deep industry knowledge, and the ability to drive innovation in both talent acquisition and overall artist development.

Requirements

• A minimum of 8 to 10 years in A&R or related roles, with a strong track record of discovering, developing, and successfully managing artists in various music genres.
• A passion for music with an excellent ear for emerging talent, trends, and sound innovations.
• Ability to translate an artist’s creative vision into actionable strategies that drive commercial success.
• Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to inspire and manage a diverse team.
• Comfortable working with cross-functional teams and external partners to execute complex projects.
• Well-established relationships with music professionals, including artists, producers, managers, agents, and label executives. An ability to leverage this network to secure opportunities for the company and its roster.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present ideas, negotiate deals, and build relationships effectively at all levels of the industry.
• Ability to balance creative instincts with business acumen, making decisions that align with the company’s goals while supporting the long-term growth of the artist.
• Flexibility to be able to travel on short notice.

Nice To Haves

• Post-secondary education in Creative Arts, Music, or Business Management is an asset.
• Deep understanding of the digital commerce space including the DSP artist portals and the key artist development and feeder playlists

Responsibilities

• Talent Identification & Acquisition: Work across different countries and regions to identify emerging talent to bring to frontline labels. Lead the identification and signing of exceptional artists across various genres, with a focus on long-term career development and market impact. Develop and maintain strong relationships with key industry influencers, managers, agents, and other music professionals in the creative community.
• Creative Development & Artist Strategy: Collaborate with producers, songwriters and artists to shape and execute their musical vision. Provide creative guidance, mentorship, and support throughout the recording process, ensuring that each artist’s sound is unique and resonates with global audiences. Set up periodic Songwriter Camps. Work with the music publishing community to solicit and review songs for artists on our labels.
• Project Management & Oversight: Oversee the development and execution of projects by managing the selection of producers, songwriters, and other collaborators, monitoring recording budgets, and ensuring timelines and milestones are achieved efficiently. Preserve the artist’s ideas and integrity throughout the project, act as liaison between labels and the musicians, producers, songwriters, management, and attorney network. Partner with the Marketing team to develop and execute innovative strategies and release schedules that showcase our artists and roster. This includes crafting compelling narratives, highlighting talent through creative storytelling, and leveraging diverse channels to drive awareness and engagement. Work with frontline A&Rs to support creative, evaluate overall quality of artist work and determine how to maximize it. Oversee the rollout from pre-planning to completion of our artist video shoots, recording sessions, production, and other artist centric projects. Spending time in studios with our current artists and artists in consideration for partnerships.
• Market Analysis & Industry Trends: Stay ahead of emerging trends in music and entertainment, identifying potential opportunities for the company and artists to engage with new audiences. Regularly review market performance and recommend adjustments to the artist development strategy. Monitor and engage with social media and other platforms to identify trends, discover talent, and stay connected to innovative developments across music and non-music spaces.
• Global Impact & Branding: Build and execute strategies for artist exposure and growth on a global scale. Collaborate with marketing, public relations, and other departments to ensure the success and global reach of artists and their releases. Pursue talent to bring to our frontline labels, maintaining relationships and credibility with artists, managers and the broader industry.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed