Associate Director, Business and Legal Affairs

Job Description

A little bit about our team:
At Warner Music Group, we are a global collective of music makers and music lovers, tech innovators, and inspired entrepreneurs. The ADA Business & Legal Affairs team is a close-knit group of passionate music attorneys who handle the legal issues relating to the distribution, monetization, and marketing of independent music. As the global distribution company for independent artists and labels at WMG, ADA provides the creative spirit of a nimble independent with the innovative reach of a global leader.
Your role:
As the Associate Director of Business & Legal Affairs for ADA, you will be a key player in structuring and executing the deals that drive our global distribution business. You will act as a primary legal partner to our A&R, marketing, and finance teams, providing expert counsel on a wide range of transactional and intellectual property matters. We are looking for a high-performing attorney who is ready to take full ownership of their deals, from the initial term sheet to the final signature, while thriving in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Here you'll get to:
• You will structure, negotiate, and draft a variety of complex industry agreements, including distribution agreements and amendments, label service deals, license agreements, NDAs, commercial vendor agreements, and termination agreements, among others.
• You will provide day-to-day legal and business counseling to ADA's A&R, finance, marketing, label management, commerce, and international departments regarding contractual obligations and rights.
• You will take full ownership of the deal lifecycle, ensuring all contracts are executed accurately and efficiently while maintaining a high standard of attention to detail.
• You will investigate and resolve claims and disputes, including copyright, audit, and breach of contract matters, in coordination with WMG's corporate legal and litigation departments.
• You will liaise with the finance and accounting departments to ensure accurate interpretation of complex deal terms and compliance with financial obligations.
About you:
• You have a J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school and are a member in good standing of the New York State Bar.
• You have at least 3-5 years of post-bar experience as a practicing transactional attorney.
• You are a ''Type-A'' professional with extremely high attention to detail and a commitment to precision in drafting and negotiation.
• You are ready to take complete ownership of your deals and drive them to completion independently while remaining a team-oriented collaborator.
• You are a proactive problem-solver who can manage multiple high-priority assignments simultaneously under tight deadlines.
• You are deeply passionate about music, innovation, and the independent label community.
We'd love it if you also had:
• Experience working in-house at a music distributor or record label, or within the music/entertainment practice of a major law firm.
• In-depth knowledge of copyright, trademark, and rights of publicity (NIL) as they pertain to the recorded music industry.
• A strong understanding of the evolving digital landscape and its impact on music distribution and monetization.
As the home to 10K Projects, Asylum, Atlantic Music Group, East West, FFRR, Fueled by Ramen, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Rhino, Roadrunner, Sire, Warner Records, Warner Classics, and several other of the world's premier recording labels, Warner Music Group champions emerging artists and global superstars alike. And our renowned publishing company, Warner Chappell Music, represents genre-spanning songwriters and producers through a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide. Warner Music Group is also home to ADA, which supports the independent community, as well as artist services division WMX. In addition, WMG counts film and television storytelling powerhouse Warner Music Entertainment among its many brands.
Together, we are Warner Music Group: Independent Minds. Major Sound.

This position requires a minimum of 4 days per week in the office. We value in-office collaboration, which is essential for talent development and strong working relationships. #LI-Onsite Salary Range: $100,000 to $135,000 Annually Salary ranges are included for job postings where required by law. The actual base pay is dependent upon many factors, such as work experience and business needs. The pay range is subject to change at any time dependent on a variety of internal and external factors.
Warner Music Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Links to relevant documents:
2026 Benefits At A Glance final.pdf
EVerify Participation Poster.pdf
Right To Work .pdf

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-wp7oq2-216-73-216-105-42 in your application.