Senior Manager, Business Affairs - Alfred Music

Company Information

Join Alfred Music and Help Inspire the Next Generation of Musicians.
At Alfred Music, we believe that music is for everyone. As the world’s leading educational music publisher, we’ve been helping musicians learn, grow, and express themselves for over 100 years. Our extensive catalog of high-quality sheet music, method books, and instructional resources serves educators, students, and performers across all levels and genres—from the first piano lesson to professional concert halls.

We are dedicated to supporting music education and making it accessible to all. Our products are used in classrooms, studios, and homes around the world, empowering teachers and inspiring students to develop their musical voices. Whether it's our popular method series like Alfred’s Basic Piano Library or innovative performance pieces, our goal is to nurture a lifelong love of music in every learner.

If you're passionate about music education and want to make a meaningful impact on the lives of teachers and students around the world, Alfred Music offers the opportunity to combine purpose with creativity. Come help us write the next chapter in music learning.

General Summary

As Senior Manager, Business Affairs, you’ll oversee the Business Affairs department which encompasses licensing, permissions, royalties, and contracts. You will be the centralized owner of all Music Brands royalties, and have a comprehensive understanding of our financial obligations to rights holders. You will be the facilitator of all licensing of Alfred and our designees’ intellectual property, and will ensure rights clearance for Alfred and MakeMusic Cloud content. You will be responsible for reviewing, preparing, negotiating and recording business contracts on behalf of all of Music Brands, and interface with outside legal counsel when appropriate. You possess a strong leadership presence, attention to detail, are highly driven, and excel at managing multiple priorities while consistently meeting deadlines.

You are a continuous learner with a hunger for knowledge. You approach challenges as opportunities to improve. You value team members’ input from all levels and you actively seek ways to support your colleagues.

You will sit directly with the Business Affairs team, work in close collaboration with General Manager, Music Brands, Director of Licensing, Editorial, Production, Sales and Marketing, and will report to the Sr Director, Production & Distribution. 

Core Functions:

• Manages the day to day responsibilities of the department including overseeing and managing Business Affairs Administrators, administration and management of all agreements, contracts, briefs and licensing 
• Take ownership of, and ensure rights and publisher split information is accurately tracked in  the royalty system
• Create and maintain copyright schedules and coordinate clearance for all products
• Research and obtain 3rd Party subin licenses for publication clearance
• Create and execute reversion of rights agreements for authors 
• Copyright and PRO Registration for original content
• Direct, review, prepare and issue royalty statements in compliance with contract terms.

• Research and resolve royalty inquiries including advances, adjustments and Letters of Direction (LOD’s).
• Manage royalty database regarding rates for products, song splits and client balances.
• Provide support to the Accounting Department with regard to royalty reconciliation, setting reserves, and forecasts.
• Interface with external auditors as necessary.

• Coordinate with IT regarding online licensing and royalty system upgrades

• Create, prepare, review and edit all contracts as needed
• Ensure the organization's internal contract documents are accurate and well maintained, verifying that they are in compliance with data privacy and other related statutory requirements
• Provide advice and guidance to other departments relating to contract generation and compliance as well as ensuring compliance throughout the duration of each contract
• Communicate to internal staff on changes in legal and compliance landscape that impact the business
• Review and collaborate with executive team on various types of contracts and documents (both from own agreement and those originating from third parties) such as print license agreements (i.e., print catalog agreements, sub-in licenses, and sub-out licenses), single song license agreements, author/arranger agreements, image and likeness agreements, trademark/logo/branding agreements, distribution agreements, video artist/producer agreements, “sideman” agreements, synchronization license agreements, co-production (joint venture) agreements etc.

• Execute copyright infringement take down notices and work with the Music Publishers Association regarding various larger copyright infringement efforts. 
• Assist in summarizing executed agreements; performs general administration relative to contracts
• Work with outside counsel if necessary regarding any third party claims or actions. Negotiate settlements and prepare settlement agreements (if applicable).

Requirements

Required Qualifications: 

• 7+ years of music publishing experience in relevant positions including, contracts, business affairs, royalties, licensing or a combination of. 
• 3+ years of management experience.
• Firm understanding of copyright, royalties and the print music industry
• Ability to perform contract research, review and general contract administration 
• Demonstrate an understanding of legal terminology
• Capable of professionally managing confidential information
• Ability to discuss matters related to copyright, ownership, and related laws 
• Strong proficiency in Excel, including analyzing and manipulating large datasets, including advanced functions such as VLOOKUP, PivotTables, and complex formulas.
• Ability to think both strategically and analytically 
• Strong communication skills

• Must have great attention to detail, organized with the ability to multitask 
• Must professionally communicate on a high level (both written and oral) Possess superior organizational skills and attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects with shifting deadlines

Desired Qualifications: 

• Strong knowledge of copyright/intellectual property, preferably in a publications/music environment.  
• Previous contract management experience or paralegal certification preferred 

Don’t meet every single requirement? Don’t worry. We still want to hear from you and encourage you to apply.

The work characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

Benefits

Compensation:

We are committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The annual salary range for this role in Colorado is $71,593-$119,321. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate’s relevant work experience, skills, and certifications. This role is eligible for variable compensation including bonus.

Benefits and Perks:

Health

• We offer comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance; health savings and flexible spending accounts, paid parental leave; and an employee assistance program.
• Additional coverage options including Accident & Critical Illness insurance as well as Hospital Indemnity are also available.

Disability and Life

• We offer several company paid options including Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, as well as Basic Life Insurance and AD&D.
• Additional coverage options including Employee-paid Supplemental Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and/or Child are also available.

Additional

• We offer a 401(K) including a company match.
• We observe 12 paid holidays annually and provide discretionary Flexible Time Off. Employees also receive free access to our products, corporate discounts, and professional development resources.
• Access to the Performance and Recovery Center (PARC), our on-site fitness facility, as well as employee only access to on-site locker rooms and showers. 
• Employee only access to secure, indoor bike storage and access to e-bikes exclusively to Peaksware employees.
• Access to our onsite Music and Podcast Studio.

Please contact [email protected] if you require a reasonable accommodation to review our website or to apply online.

Peaksware adheres to the FLSA Exemption Threshold for minimum wage in all states.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment that is well-lighted, heated, and/or air-conditioned with adequate ventilation and a noise level that is usually moderate. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers and filing cabinets.

All employees must comply with all safety policies, practices and procedures. Report all unsafe activities to your manager and/or Human Resources.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and move about the facility; use hands to handle, or feel; talk by expressing ideas by means of the spoken word; and hear by perceiving the nature of sounds. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

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