Associate, Audiobook Licensing & Author Partnerships

Spotify; New York (NY); On-site; USD 74,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Parental leave

401(k) retirement plan

Meal allowance

Paid time off

Flexible holidays

Paid sick leave

Job summary

Spotify is seeking an Associate Manager, Audiobook Licensing & Author Partnerships to grow our audiobook catalog through strategic licensing and publisher partnerships. You will negotiate agreements, build relationships with independent authors, hybrid publishers, and distributors, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to scale catalog performance.

You will work across Product, Editorial, Growth, Operations, and Finance to optimize partner experience and drive catalog expansion, while

Qualifications

• 3+ years in publishing, digital media, business development, content licensing, content partnerships, or a related field.
• Experience negotiating and closing commercial licensing, distribution, or partnership agreements.
• Strong understanding of the independent publishing ecosystem including indie authors, hybrid publishers, audiobook distributors, and digital publishing models.
• Willingness to travel and collaborate across time zones.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate audiobook catalogs from independent authors, hybrid publishers, independent presses, and distribution partners.
• Negotiate audiobook licensing agreements and commercial partnerships.
• Build trusted relationships with a diverse portfolio of publishers, distributors, and authors.
• Develop partnership structures that support sustainable growth and meet creator needs.
• Use market insights and data to inform acquisition strategies and opportunities.
• Collaborate with Product, Editorial, Growth, Operations, and Finance to improve partner experience.
• Advocate for independent creators and publishers to shape product capabilities.
• Contribute to catalog expansion, subscriber value, and CPCH optimization.

Skills

Negotiation

Partnerships

Relationship building

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Audiobooks Mission is a team in the Product & Technology organization focused on the ecosystem and strategies of Audiobooks on Spotify. We work across both the creator and consumer audiobooks ecosystems, in order to get the best possible product to market with the best possible content.

Spotify's Audiobooks team is helping shape the future of audio storytelling by bringing the world's best audiobook experiences to millions of listeners. As Associate Manager, Audiobook Licensing & Author Partnerships, you'll play an important role in growing our catalog while building meaningful relationships across the independent publishing community.

You'll work with entrepreneurial authors, hybrid publishers, independent presses, and distribution partners to identify great content, negotiate commercial partnerships, and help creators succeed on Spotify. Working closely with cross-functional teams across Product, Editorial, Growth, Operations, and Finance, you'll help scale our audiobook business while creating exceptional experiences for both creators and listeners.

What You'll Do

• Identify and evaluate audiobook catalogs from independent authors, hybrid publishers, independent presses, and distribution partners that will resonate with Spotify listeners.
• Negotiate audiobook licensing agreements and commercial partnerships that create long-term value for Spotify and our publishing partners.
• Build trusted relationships across a diverse portfolio of independent publishers, distributors, and authors, serving as their primary strategic contact.
• Develop creative partnership structures that support sustainable growth while meeting the evolving needs of creators and publishing businesses.
• Use market insights, performance analytics, and commercial data to inform acquisition strategies and identify new partnership opportunities.
• Partner with creators and publishers to optimize catalog performance, improve discoverability, and resolve operational challenges.
• Collaborate closely with Product, Editorial, Growth, Operations, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to improve partner experience and support Spotify's audiobook strategy.
• Advocate internally for the needs of independent creators and publishers, helping shape future product capabilities and strategic initiatives.
• Contribute to initiatives focused on catalog expansion, subscriber value, listening growth, operational excellence, and blended cost per content hour (CPCH) optimization.

Who You Are

• You have 3+ years of experience in publishing, digital media, business development, content licensing, content partnerships, or a related field.
• You have experience negotiating and closing commercial licensing, distribution, or partnership agreements.
• You have a strong understanding of the independent publishing ecosystem, including indie authors, hybrid publishers, audiobook distributors, and digital publishing models.
• You understand the unique opportunities and challenges facing entrepreneurial creators and independent publishing businesses.
• You build trusted relationships and effectively influence a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
• You use data, financial insights, and market trends to inform commercial decisions and partnership strategies.
• You manage multiple priorities effectively while maintaining strong attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.
• You are comfortable navigating ambiguity, taking ownership, and finding practical solutions to complex business challenges.
• You care about helping creators succeed and are passionate about audiobooks, storytelling, and the evolving creator economy.
• You hold a Bachelor's degree; an MBA or other advanced degree is beneficial.
• You are comfortable collaborating across multiple time zones and are willing to travel when needed.

Where You'll Be

• We offer you the flexibility to work where you work best! For this role, you can be within the North Americas region as long as we have a work location.

The United States base range for this position is $74,000 – $106,000 USD, plus equity. The benefits available for this position include health insurance, six-month paid parental leave, 401(k) retirement plan, monthly meal allowance, 23 paid days off, paid flexible holidays, and paid sick leave. These ranges may be modified in the future.

Spotify is an equal opportunity employer. You are welcome at Spotify for who you are, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or what’s playing in your headphones. Our platform is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all thrive, contribute, and be forward-thinking! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our differences that we will find the power to keep revolutionizing the way the world listens.

At Spotify, we are passionate about inclusivity and making sure our entire recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We have ways to request reasonable accommodations during the interview process and help assist in what you need. If you need accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know - we’re here to support you in any way we can.