Sr. Manager, Business Affairs

UMT - Internal•New York, NY

6h•$120,000 - $145,000

About The Position

UnitedMasters is seeking a Senior Manager, Business Affairs to join their team. This role is responsible for leading the day-to-day execution of music Business Affairs and clearance matters. The position will provide expert ownership of side-artist agreements, label waivers, sample and interpolation clearances, producer-related documentation, and release readiness. The Senior Manager will work closely with Artist Operations, Legal, A&R, Finance, Marketing, and external partners to ensure releases are properly structured, documented, negotiated, and cleared before release.

Requirements

5+ years of Business Affairs experience within a record label, music company, or comparable music industry environment.
Demonstrated experience with side artist agreements, label waivers, sample and interpolation clearances, producer agreements, and music release workflows.
Strong understanding of master and publishing rights from a Business Affairs and clearance perspective.
Experience negotiating with record labels, artist management, attorneys, publishers, and other external rights holders.
Experience working cross functionally with Artist Operations, A&R, Legal, Finance, and external business partners in a music release environment.
Excellent communication and relationship management skills across internal and external stakeholders.
Highly organized, detail oriented, and capable of independently managing multiple high priority matters simultaneously.
Ability to balance legal, operational, and commercial considerations within a fast-paced release environment.
Excellent communication and relationship-management skills across internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end execution of music Business Affairs and clearance processes, ensuring releases are legally and operationally ready prior to release.
Negotiate and manage side artist agreements, label waivers, and related deal terms (including NAR, PPD, market share, and other commercial provisions).
Identify potential sample and interpolation issues and coordinate clearance efforts with internal stakeholders and external clearance vendors.
Support producer and featured artist agreement matters as they relate to clearance and release readiness.
Serve as the Business Affairs validation checkpoint within the release process, helping to confirm required approvals, documentation, and clearance terms before release.
Partner closely with Artist Operations, Legal, A&R, Marketing, Commerce, Finance, and external managers, attorneys, labels, and rights holders to resolve Business Affairs matters.
Act as the subject matter expert on music clearance mechanics, providing guidance across Artist Operations, Legal, and Finance.
Develop, maintain, and continuously improve standardized Business Affairs documentation, templates, and operating procedures.
Partner with Artist Operations to support and continuously improve the company's release gate and clearance workflow.
Identify operational risks and proactively resolve clearance issues before they impact release timelines.