Manager, Royalties

Kobalt; Nashville (TN); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Kobalt in Nashville is seeking a Royalties Manager to lead a small team focused on retrieving, ingesting, and reconciling royalty data and payments from various sources, including YouTube and the MLC. You will drive process improvements and ensure accurate reporting for clients in a dynamic publishing ecosystem.

You will collaborate with the Senior Manager, Royalties to document workflows, manage Global Digital Business deals, and enhance operational efficiency across Royalties, Incoming

Qualifications

• Experience leading a small team in a data/royalties environment.
• Strong analytical skills with detail orientation.
• Experience with royalty reporting formats and sources.
• Proficient in Excel and data reporting.

Responsibilities

• You will oversee a team of three direct reports responsible for retrieving, ingesting, and reconciling royalty data and receipts.
• You will oversee the team's processing of LatAm sources, US Major Labels, and core US sources, including YouTube and The MLC.
• You will lead the processing of Global Digital Business deals established with our partners and DSPs.
• You will work closely with the Senior Manager, Royalties to continuously develop, document, and improve our usage processing sources, ensuring operational efficiency.
• You own processes that track expected incoming payments, ensuring the completeness of collections and maintaining responsibility for the quarterly success rate of royalty processing.
• You interpret reporting requirements and deal structures from stakeholders across Global Digital Operations, Copyright, Technology, and Client Relations, translating them into clear operational processes.
• You generate and maintain regular and ad hoc reports to evaluate process performance, assess automation success, and communicate impacts to client statements.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

SQL (entry‑level)

Attention to detail

Excellent communication

People management

Leadership experience

Job description

Manager, Royalties

Department: Royalties & Incoming Tracking & Business Intelligence

Reporting To: Senior Manager, Royalties

Location: Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Hybrid Working: 3 days in your local office

Full-time | Permanent

The Role

Joining our Royalties team in Nashville, the Royalties Manager will oversee a team of three direct reports responsible for retrieving, ingesting, and reconciling royalty data with payments from our income sources. You will play a crucial role in ensuring publishing royalty revenue is processed accurately and delivered to our clients efficiently.

This role requires a detail-oriented, highly analytical leader who can confidently navigate new process requests, iterate on existing workflows, and run point on processing our Global Digital Business deals with partners and DSPs. Working closely with the Senior Manager of Royalties, you will ensure our bespoke rights management platform remains up to date with changing industry standards and reporting requirements.

What You’ll Do

• You manage, develop, and support a team of three direct reports responsible for the retrieval, ingestion, and reconciliation of royalty data and receipts.
• You oversee the team's processing of LatAm sources, US Major Labels, and core US sources, including YouTube and The MLC.
• You lead the processing of Global Digital Business deals established with our partners and DSPs.
• You work closely with the Senior Manager, Royalties to continuously develop, document, and improve our usage processing sources, ensuring operational efficiency.
• You own processes that track expected incoming payments, ensuring the completeness of collections and maintaining responsibility for the quarterly success rate of royalty processing.
• You interpret reporting requirements and deal structures from stakeholders across Global Digital Operations, Copyright, Technology, and Client Relations, translating them into clear operational processes.
• You generate and maintain regular and ad hoc reports to evaluate process performance, assess automation success, and communicate impacts to client statements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Entry-level SQL skills with the ability to independently query databases.
• Experience creating, ingesting, and interpreting royalty reporting formats across major US Mechanical sources, including The MLC, YouTube, MRI, HFA, and Record Labels.
• A solid understanding of statutory royalty rates across product configurations in the US, including the differences between 115 and non‑115 mechanical licensing.
• Strong Excel skills and experience working with rights management systems, whether proprietary or market‑standard platforms such as Vistex.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex data requirements into clear, actionable information.
• Experience leading or mentoring individuals within a team environment.

Additional Skills That Could Add Value

• Previous people management experience.
• Experience using workflow management platforms such as Monday.com or similar.
• Experience managing relationships with external partners and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of digital music licensing, publishing royalties, and royalty operations.

What Success Looks Like

By Month 3: Building Operational Knowledge

You’ll have developed a strong understanding of Kobalt’s royalty processing workflows, Global Digital Business deals, and key income sources. You’ll be confidently supporting your team, managing day‑to‑day priorities, and building relationships with stakeholders across Royalties, Copyright, Technology, and Global Digital Operations.

By Month 6: Leading Operational Delivery

You’ll be independently managing the team’s workload, driving improvements to processing workflows, overseeing key Digital Business deal processing, and ensuring royalty data is accurately ingested and reconciled. You’ll be confidently supporting your team while contributing to operational improvements across the function.

By Year 1: Driving Team Performance

You’ll be a trusted leader within the Royalties team, consistently delivering high‑quality royalty processing, developing your team, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring Global Digital Business reporting is delivered accurately and on time. You’ll play an active role in evolving processes to support Kobalt’s growing digital business.

Key Behaviours for Success

Leadership & Team Development

Supports, develops, and motivates team members while creating an environment focused on collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving

Uses data and industry knowledge to investigate complex royalty issues, identify root causes, and implement practical solutions.

Organisation & Delivery

Effectively manages competing priorities while ensuring deadlines, service levels, and operational standards are consistently met.

Interview Process

• Introductory call with a member of our Recruitment Team.
• Interviews with the hiring manager and team.
• Optional task or case study (role dependent).
• Final stage interview and Q&A.
• Feedback at each stage.

Kobalt is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in equitable access to opportunities and are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities. If you need any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know we’re happy to help.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. A full background check on acceptance of offer. Kobalt is an equal opportunity employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.