Manager, Music Production

Job Description

Your New Role:
• Key member of the WBTV Music Production team , handling union/guild issues (AFM, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, UBCP, ACTRA, MU, EQUITY, PACT) as well as non-union music personnel hires across scoring, pre-record and on-camera Music Production activities for Warner Bros. Television shows. Will interpret union agreements and apply knowledge of music production trends to determine best strategies for musician/singer and other personnel hires. Facilitates payment of union contracts, manages the smooth processing of payroll and other 3rd party vendor invoices, and provides feedback to WBTV Labor Relations on changes and trends for union/guild negotiations. Will be available nights and weekends to producers and music executives to accommodate fast-changing international production schedules.

Your Role Accountabilities:
• Prepares/ oversees 3rd party preparation of session reports, contracts, timecards, etc. for SAG-AFTRA, AFM, IATSE and non-union performers. Submits paperwork and contracts to payroll, processes invoices from third-party payroll companies and vendors, and ensures proper coding is applied to Fiori/SAP payment uploads.
• Acts as the point-person on assigned projects for questions from Labor Relations, Production, Post-Production, music executives, music supervisors, music producers, composers, and music contractors pertaining to guild-covered performances. Handles labor issues on recording sessions, scoring sessions, and on-camera performances, including those related to musicians, singers, recording studio personnel, engineers, arrangers, etc. E nsures that the work is performed according to studio policy and guild agreements. Must be available outside of standard business hours to facilitate planning for international production schedules.
• Coordinates with the WBTV Music COVID-19 Compliance Officer and Administrator re: COVID-19 safety protocols across music sessions and performances . Stays up to date with current AMPTP and Warner Bros. Discovery return to work protocols. Communicates COVID-19 protocols to Music Supervisors, Composers, Music Producers, Music and Vocal Contractors, and show staff.
• Consults with music executives to determine the most strategic and cost-effective scenarios to carry out recording sessions and/or on-camera performances during pre-production, production, and post-production stages. Creates budgets for the various scenarios based on applicable union/guild rates and regulations after assisting in the negotiation of fees with talent and third-party vendors. Tracks costs in alignment with the Director of Music Production and Music Estimating and Accounting team to facilitate the timely reporting of EFCs
• Manages the planning and execution of on- and off-camera recording sessions and performances. Serves as liaison with third-party musician and vocal contractors. Participates in the selection and hiring of musicians and singers for on- and off-camera sessions. Negotiates fees for non-union music services as directed.
• Provides a checklist of start paperwork to music executives, production coordinators, contractors, and other show staff. In coordination with music executives, ensure that productions comply with guidelines for obtaining employment documents . Manages the preparation, distribution and tracking of start paperwork, including submission to payroll companies. Consults with Legal to verify employment documentation.
• Researches and evaluates New Use claims brought by AFM and SAG-AFTRA. Processes, reports and responds to AFM and SAG-AFTRA on rejected claims and elicit the participation of Labor Relations when necessary. Informs music executives of AFM clip fees and process such fees when uses are confirmed. Works with Clearance and Licensing executives to process union fee invoices received from signatory record labels. Generates quarterly reports required by unions.
• Researches requests from other company divisions (i.e. Home Video, Publicity and Marketing) involving re-use of previously recorded material for use in promos, recaps, supplemental markets, etc. Evaluates potential union fees and provide promotional guidelines and recommendations for the use of union-covered material.
• In conjunction with music executives, works with the Legal and Labor Relations departments to evaluate language in various union agreements concerning re-use of musical performances. Ensures that SAG-AFTRA clip reuse payments are pre-negotiated with vocalists when shows use soundtrack that was originally recorded under a SAG-AFTRA agreement (Television, Theatrical, etc.).
• Prepares and collects Record Riders from SAG-AFTRA singers for soundtrack purposes. Works with Legal department to revise soundtrack terms as may be requested by singers' representation. Provides union paperwork as requested by WaterTower Records, and advises re: union re-use obligations for potential soundtrack releases
• Maintains a schedule of due dates for Main Title Reuse payments across WBTV shows, ensuring timely and appropriate payment of re-use fees for original Main Title recordings (per air dates and amount of usage).
• Stays abreast of Production and Post Schedules, ensuring AFM session reports are collected & reducible items from Composer/Master recording packages are accounted for with the Music Estimating and Accounting team prior to the release of contractual completion payments
• Works closely with Director, Music Production on the streamlining Music Production workflows. Contributes to the centralization of information, maintenance of a department manual, and documentation of key Labor decisions or milestones. Actively contributes to ongoing efforts to achieve synergies with the rest of the music department.
• Handles special projects as directed that relate to the overall Music functions (i.e. researching main titles for soundtrack compilations, handling outside commercial advertising requests, etc.).
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience:

Work Experience
• 3-5 years in Music Contracting, In-house Studio Music Production or other related experience.
• AFM and/or SAG-AFTRA contract application required, especially TV prod.
• 1-3 years' experience in television production.
• Experience in accounting/budgeting required, especially in television production.

Education, Professional Training, Technical Training or Certification

High School diploma or equivalent required. College degree preferred.

Knowledge/Skills
• Written and verbal communication skill to convey and receive detailed and complex information.
• Extremely detail-oriented and strong focus on follow through.
• Accounting and budgeting knowledge.
• Knowledge of Accounts Payable and Payroll.
• Knowledge of SAG-AFTRA terms for singers and AFM terms for musicians. An understanding of the IATSE Sound Technicians agreement helpful.
• Ability to meet deadlines when under pressure and while keeping accuracy.
• Ability to multitask.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision, to set own priorities and to track own deadlines.
• Must be organized and maintain files, both hard copy and computerized accurately, for reference and audit purposes.

How We Get Things Done…

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insight

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Jobcode: Reference SBJ-gknzyp-18-219-22-169-42 in your application.