Legal Counsel, Business Affairs

Create Music Group•Nashville, TN

About The Position

Create Music Group’s Legal and Business Affairs team is expanding. We are seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to support the company’s growing music, publishing, and digital media operations. This role is designed for a seasoned attorney with strong music industry experience who can independently handle complex matters, provide senior-level legal judgment, and support deal execution at scale. The ideal candidate brings significant prior law firm experience, has worked extensively with record labels, music publishers, and digital media companies, and is comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy. Experience in music is required. This role will partner closely with internal business teams and senior legal leadership to ensure efficient deal execution, risk mitigation, and legal process consistency across the organization.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Admission to at least one U.S. state bar (active and in good standing).
Minimum eight (8) years of experience practicing law.
Required prior strong law firm experience, including significant experience drafting and negotiating music related agreements.
Demonstrated experience working with record labels, music publishers, and/or digital media companies.
Strong working knowledge of music industry practices and copyright principles.
Ability to independently manage complex matters and high-volume deal flow.
Excellent legal writing, negotiation, and analytical skills.
Experience mentoring junior attorneys or legal staff and reviewing work product.
Strong experience with Google Suite, Word, Adobe DC, Excel, Formstack, and CRMs.

Nice To Haves

Prior in-house experience at a music, media, or technology company.
Experience supporting fast-paced, high-growth organizations and managing competing priorities.
Comfort advising senior business stakeholders and translating legal concepts into practical guidance.
Highly organized and detail-oriented.
Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
Solution-oriented with sound judgment.
Clear and effective communicator, both written and verbal.
Self-starter capable of operating independently.
Comfortable handling sensitive matters with discretion.
Able to manage a high volume of projects without sacrificing quality.

Responsibilities

Agreement Drafting, Negotiation & Execution
Independently draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of complex music and digital media agreements, including, without limitation:
Distribution and content monetization agreements
Recording, administration, and co-publishing agreements
Master use, synchronization, and mechanical license agreements
Channel partnership, marketing, and promotional agreements
Employment, contractor, and consulting agreements
Acquisition, joint venture, and other strategic agreements
Producer, side artist, sample, and other clearance agreements
DSP and other licensing agreements
Production agreements
Network / MCN Agreements
Talent Agreements
Creator & Influencer Agreements
Brand Partnership Agreements
Sponsorship & Advertising Agreements
Advertising Sales Representation Agreements
Technology Agreements
Vendor & Professional Services Agreements
Marketing & Promotion Agreements
Confidentiality / Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
Data Protection & Information Security Agreements
Transition Services Agreements
Termination & Wind-Down Agreements
Review and respond to counterparty comments and redlines with minimal oversight.
Manage negotiations from initial draft through execution, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with company standards.
Deal Flow & Business Support
Manage and take ownership of deal flow across multiple business units.
Serve as a primary legal partner to internal teams, including Accounting, Finance, Culture, A&R, Distribution, Publishing, Marketing, Data, and Digital.
Coordinate final deal points with internal stakeholders and external counsel.
Track deal status and proactively follow up on open items to ensure timely execution.
Help manage and partner with outside counsel.
Risk Management & Legal Advisory
Identify legal risks and provide practical, business-focused guidance to mitigate exposure.
Advise internal teams on deal structure, rights, and obligations.
Escalate novel, high-risk, or enterprise-level issues to senior legal leadership as appropriate.
Support dispute prevention through clear drafting, early issue spotting, and proactive guidance.
Provide legal support, including managing conflicts and claims, and handling pre-litigation matters.
Team Leadership & Process Support
Review and provide feedback on agreement drafts prepared by other attorneys and legal team members.
Serve as a senior resource within the Business Affairs team.
Assist in developing, maintaining, and improving legal templates, playbooks, and internal processes.
Support implementation of legal systems and tools to improve efficiency and visibility.
Administrative & Operational Support
Organize and manage deal terms, client information, and legal documentation.
Coordinate execution of agreements, including use of electronic signature platforms.
Assist with termination, takedown, and clearance requests as needed.
Maintain accurate records within internal tracking systems and databases.