This job has expired, please see additional jobs below
VP, MML (Music Media Licensing)
Viacom
Santa Monica, CA, United States
Job Details - this job has expired, please see similar jobs below
Overview and Responsibilities
Oversee music and media licensing and rights clearance matters for Viacom Media Networks Music and Entertainment Division.
Lead and motivate a West-Coast based team of 4-5 at various levels, primarily based in LA.
The VP will ensure that the rights secured in the clearances for our content meets our multiplatform needs, and that the team negotiates favorable rates and meets deadline. Acts in an advisory role to internal client groups and third party production companies regarding clearance issues, clearance costs/budgeting with a heavy focus on music.
Deep understanding of the current content distribution landscape including TV Everywhere and social.
Expertise in licensing and business affairs concepts connected to content production with a heavy focus on music licensing, and also able to license clips, photos, conduct script review etc. Must be comfortable working within Production deadlines, and must be comfortable working on site at Production when required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Partner with Creative Music team to develop music licensing strategy custom tailored for each individual production.
Negotiate terms and fees with music publishers, record labels, movie and tv studios, photo houses.
Collaborate frequently with Production Attorneys, IP/Litigation teams on clearance strategy and risk.
Work closely with SVP and Department Leaders to establish strategic & effective clearance policies for the full department, and on building and maintaining excellent working relationships within the licensing community.
Participate in greenlight meetings, budget meetings, music strategy meetings. Create and present Workshops to client groups.
Draft licenses/releases for client groups on an as-needed basis. Review and interpret license agreements and provide rights analysis.
Work with Production to ensure that licensing related show deliverables are received and reviewed in a timely manner, flag issues as necessary.
Ensure that team is maintaining information for the company’s Rights Management System in real time. Alert channel programmers about expiring programs and facilitate reclearance decision-making meetings.
Manage the day-to-day departmental operations of the team: weekly team meetings, pass information on from Senior Management meetings, conduct weeklies, reviews, development plans for team members.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervise, grow and motivate a team. Prioritize and delegate workloads. Mentor, train and develop staff. Conduct and participate in educational workshops and team building efforts with Department Leaders. Disseminate information from SVP to team.
Be an active, visible and motivating leader within the department. Champion the company initiatives and champion department’s own initiatives and goals. Be accountable and hold direct reports accountable for following through on goals.
Basic Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Must function on an independent basis with little supervision. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Minimum of eight – ten (8 - 10) years experience in a Licensing and/or Business Affairs capacity in the digital/television/music/entertainment industry with prior management experience (4 - 5 years) and heavy negotiation skills/experience.
Masters degree in Media, TV, Film, Communications, Publishing or Business preferred, not required.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to make effective presentations on complex topics to senior management and employees. Ability to effectively negotiate deals with licensors via phone and in-person. Must be able to effectively present and communicate information regarding rights issues clearly across all levels and areas of the company. Interpersonal skills are necessary to supervise and develop staff (eg; must be able to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints).
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations, eg; budgeting, tracking reports, controlled portions of compositions/fees.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to accurately analyze contracts and license agreements. Ability to draw conclusions from working knowledge of issues which impact the area of rights licensing including copyright & trademark law and union/guild issues.