Associate Manager / Manager, A&R

at  Sony Music Entertainment Canada

At Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., we fuel the creative journey. We have played a pioneering role in music history, from the first-ever music label to the invention of the flat disc record. We have nurtured some of music’s most iconic artists and produced some of the most influential recordings of all time. Today, we work in more than 60 countries, supporting a diverse roster of international superstars, developing and independent artists, and visionary creators. From our position at the intersection of music, entertainment, and technology, we bring imagination and expertise to the newest products and platforms, embrace new business models, employ breakthrough tools, and provide powerful insights that help our artists push creative boundaries and reach new audiences. In everything we do, we are committed to artistic integrity, transparency, and entrepreneurship. Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc. is a member of the Sony family of global companies.
Reports to: Senior Manager, A&R
Direct Reports: No
Salary Grade: 30 / 31
Salary Range: $54,000 to $80,000 CDN

JOB DESCRIPTION

As an Associate Manager / Manager, A&R, you will play a key role in being immersed in the role of talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of the respective domestic roster. You will have a solid grasp of artist and label management and be recognized as a highly motivated and creatively driven individual, capable of balancing the business and needs of the artist while ensuring timely delivery of high-quality recordings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 4-6 years of experience (Associate Manager: 2-3 years of experience) working in A&R or a directly associated field.
• Have extensive (Associate Manager: intermediate to extensive) knowledge of the different steps in the making of and release of a record required.
• A proactive, self-starter who has strong problem solving, social, and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional communication and time management skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while still paying attention to detail.
• Proven experience in a role that required strict confidentiality, outstanding organizational skills, and ability to maintain composure and effectiveness in stressful situations.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
• Must be able to work independently but be a team player and flexible.
• Must be able to create and maintain good relationships with artists, managers, attorneys, etc.
• Multitasking and organizational skills a must.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint).

The Associate Manager / Manager, A&R will:

• Lead and develop (Associate Manager: assist with) the overall direction of songs from initial demo to final recording, including coordinating writing sessions, selecting producers, mixers, and mastering engineers, evaluating mixes and mastered recordings, and overseeing artist scheduling and travel details as they pertain to A&R.
• Liaise with Business Affairs to sign artists, contract producers, and mixers, while being knowledgeable about basic deal terms for corresponding agreements.
• Maintain and build strong relationships with industry insiders (artist management, agents, promoters, tastemakers, etc) and effectively communicate overall release strategies.
• Coordinate with artist management and vendors to ensure timely delivery of creative assets (official music videos, visualizers, photos, artwork) for domestic repertoire. Ensure that all content aligns with the artist’s vision, branding, project objectives, and meets industry standards and specifications.
• Oversee (Associate Manager: plan and manage with support) recording budgets for assigned projects, ensuring they stay within agreed-upon financial limits and are completed on schedule.
• Collaborate with marketing, promotion, and media relations teams on overall strategic direction and creation of other content assets including promotional content, advertising materials, and marketing tools.
• Source new talent via online research and evaluate utilizing data, insights, research, and analysis to help inform signing potential. Report findings weekly in A&R staff meetings.
• Maintain an organized audio archive including demos, DAW files, mixes, alt mixes, final recordings, and ensure information administration is accurate.