A&R Coordinator (South India)

Sony Music Publishing; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Attractive benefits package

Professional growth & development

Job summary

Sony Music Publishing in Mumbai seeks an experienced A&R professional to scout, sign and nurture South Indian songwriters and talent across markets. You will build a local ecosystem, negotiate publishing deals, and collaborate with global partners to create opportunities for artists and catalogs.

The role requires deep knowledge of the South Indian music landscape, strong networks, linguistic fluency in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, or Kannada, and the ability to travel internationally as needed.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in music publishing or A&R essential.
• Strong understanding of the South Indian artist & label ecosystem.
• Excellent verbal and written communication in English; fluency in regional languages a plus.

Responsibilities

• Sign Independent Songwriters for India and international territories.
• Develop and manage songwriter development programs, co-writing opportunities, and catalog campaigns.
• Negotiate publishing deals, advances, and recoupment structures; coordinate with Synch and Tempo teams.

Skills

A&R management

South Indian music knowledge

International network

Public speaking

Job description

At Sony Music Publishing (“SMP”), we believe every voice matters. We are the #1 global music publisher, advancing the artistry of the world’s greatest songwriters and composers for over 25 years. We keep songwriters at the forefront of everything we do, and design our suite of services to amplify opportunities, build connections, and defend their rights. Our roster benefits from an international team committed to providing support at every career stage. From classic catalogues to contemporary hitmakers, history is always being written. We are a part of the Sony family of global companies. Learn more about SMP here.

Why join Sony Music Group?

Here at Sony Music Group, we are shaping what’s next in a way that creates impact. Forging powerful new ideas at the heart of music, technology, and culture that entertain and move people.

This is your opportunity. Part of a global community, united by individual passion, rising to that challenge every day. Adapting at pace and supporting one another, inspired to influence the future. For the benefit of you, our people; our creators, our business, and wider society too.

Be a part of an organization that is creator first. Committed to fuelling excellence and always imagining more, while fostering a supportive culture, one where we elevate each other and act responsibly.

About the Department

The A&R team is responsible for discovering and signing new writers and artists, as well as taking care of the existing roster with a full service of co-writing opportunities, song pitching leads, synch placements, and introductions to both local and international artists, labels, and opportunities.

About the Role

Scouting, Signing, Development of Songwriters as well associated talent partners. Delivering commercial success across projects through song releases, talent & label collaborations, synch, and sampling opportunities. In-depth knowledge of the South Indian music landscape, with established relationships across artists, labels, managers, and creative communities. Fluency in at least one of the following languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, or Kannada is preferred. Working knowledge of additional South Indian languages is preferred.

Given India’s diverse linguistic communities, various genres and popular styles, the A&R for the region will be attempting to establish a songwriter’s ecosystem as a first; and the focus will be to create a balance of both domestic and international successes.

This while keeping consistent the commercial demands of the job, our songwriter-first philosophy as well respecting inclusivity & diversity when working with creative professionals.

What You’ll Do:

• Signing Independent Songwriters for the territory of India and world
• Holding Song Camps comprising songs writers and music producer’s collaborations with Global artist for co publishing

Scouting & Discovery:

• Offline – Attending various music gigs, concerts, recording & jam sessions to discover, interact and build relations with artists as well their management.
• Online – Following various online charts – Spotify, Apple, Luminate, Shazam etc. to discover trending releases and opportunities to sign talent & top releases.

Signing:

• Educating songwriters on Music Publishing, their rights and monetization opportunities
• Educating songwriters on opportunities signing with Sony Music Publishing, our ethos, as well establishing reasonable expectations
• Offering and negotiating deal agreements
• Supporting Admin team to register signed talent successfully and setting up various orientation sessions for the newly onboarded talent.
• Negotiating songwriter advances, and recoupment structures
• Facilitating ingestion of their works across Tempo and Pitch and supporting the Synch team with curated playlists to actively pitch for their inquiries.

Development:

• Establishing expectation with songwriters, understanding their needs, abilities, and opportunities
• Organizing introductory and song development sessions with other artists, producers, labels, advertising, and film music supervisors.
• Managing budgets for studio sessions, renting studios - supervising time & managing resources
• Introductory & song-development session between artists.
• Pitches to Ad & Film Music Supervisors.
• Introductory session with visiting global talent and experts.
• Pitches for internal Synch, Sampling, and talent requirements
• Keeping Songwriters abreast of any new developments, projects, social and community causes that they could be part of.

Delivery:

• Monitoring and reporting on participated song releases and their commercial success o Developing long-term music catalogue strategy for opportunities across Synch, Sampling or any other placements.

Who You Are:

• Fluent in speaking and writing Indian language (at least 1) Hindi, Tamil, or Malayalam, and proficient in English.
• Excellent music & songwriting knowledge
• Excellent international network
• Service minded and interested in problem solving.
• Well-structured and organized
• Working experience of public speaking to large audiences
• Proven record of interest in the social media
• Strong interpersonal skills and sensitivity to working with creative professionals.
• Collaborative and a team player
• Able to travel nationally and internationally pending business needs
• Have a right to work in India
• Publishing business knowledge
• Work experience: at least 5 years’ experience in Music label / Music Publishing as A&R
• Strong Verbal and written communication skills
• Good understanding of the South Market
• Good relationship personality
• Ability to work as team
• Strong knowledge of the South Indian artist and label ecosystem
• Proficiency in one or more South Indian languages (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, or Kannada)

What We Give You:

• You join an inclusive, collaborative, and global community where you have the opportunity to fuel the enhancement of professional accounting environment
• A modern office environment designed to foster productivity, creativity, and teamwork
• An attractive and comprehensive benefits package
• We invest in your professional growth & development

Sony Music Publishing is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity. We employ, retain, promote and otherwise treat all employees and job applicants according to their merit, qualifications, competence and talent. We apply this policy without regard to any individual’s sex, race, religion, origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition or disability.