Pressure Music Catalogue & Publishing Lead

Pressure Cooker Studios; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 480 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading music studio in Cape Town is looking for a Music Catalogue & Publishing Lead to drive growth, shape commercial strategy, and oversee their music catalogue. Ideal candidates should have 5-8 years of experience in music publishing and licensing, along with a solid understanding of music rights and contract management. The role involves building partnerships, managing catalogue quality, and executing marketing strategies. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence business development and the creative landscape in music.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Music, Music Business, or related fields.
• 5–8 years’ experience in music supervision or licensing.
• Strong understanding of music rights and licensing contracts.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with production companies and ad agencies.
• Oversee curation and quality control of music catalogues.
• Lead licensing negotiations and manage revenue tracking.
• Define and execute the distribution strategy.
• Develop marketing strategies for catalogue promotion.

Skills

Business development

Licensing

Catalogue management

Negotiation

Cross-sector networking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Music or related field

Tools

Music tech platforms

Job description

Pressure Music Catalogue & Publishing Lead

Location: Cape Town

Seniority: Mid-level (experience dependent)

Reports to: Managing Director / Creative Executive Officer

Role Overview

We’re seeking a driven, strategic, and creatively-minded Music Catalogue & Publishing Lead to take charge of the Pressure Music Catalogue and Trailer Music division.

This role is about leading operations, driving growth, shaping commercial strategy, and expanding our creative and global footprint. It’s a unique opportunity to blend business development, licensing, partnerships, catalogue management, and creative oversight - guiding a key part of the Pressure Cooker Studios ecosystem into its next chapter.

About Pressure Cooker Studios & The Catalogue

Born out of Pressure Cooker Studios, one of Africa’s leading post‑production music and audio studios, the Pressure Music Catalogue has been crafted from over a decade of world‑class work across global commercials, films, series, trailers, and games.

Learn more about the studio:

https://pressurecookerstudios.co.za/

After three years of focused development, the catalogue is ready to scale - creatively, commercially, and internationally. We’re looking for a leader who can help shape this next stage of growth.

Explore the Pressure Catalogue:

https://pressurecookerstudios.co.za/what-we-do/pressure/

Browse the full catalogue:

https://pressure-cooker.disco.ac/cat/1590534896

About the Catalogue

EASY TO LICENSE. EASY TO CLEAR. EASY TO CUSTOMISE.

A curated collection of high‑quality, original music created for real briefs by real creatives. Designed for filmmakers, editors, and producers - our catalogue is quick to search, simple to license, and built for customisation.

Our growing Trailer Music division focuses on high‑end, cinematic, emotionally charged music designed to elevate global campaigns and trailers.

Our Clients

We proudly collaborate with a wide network of leading local and international partners:

Streaming Platforms & Broadcasters

Showmax | Amazon Prime Video | MultiChoice

Advertising Agencies & Creative Networks

Ogilvy | TBWA | M&C Saatchi | Accenture Song | Ninety9cents

Production & Trailer Partners

An expanding network of global trailer houses, post facilities, and production companies.

These established relationships form the foundation for the next wave of growth - which you’ll help drive.

Key Responsibilities

1. Industry Partnerships & Business Development

• Build and deepen relationships with production companies, trailer houses, ad agencies, post houses, and studios.
• Pitch and sell supervision, licensing, and bespoke music services across film, TV, advertising, trailers, and gaming.
• Grow relationships with existing clients such as Showmax, Prime Video, Multichoice, Ogilvy, TBWA, M&C Saatchi, Accenture Song, Ninety9cents, and others.

2. Catalogue Management & Growth

• Oversee strategic curation, commissioning, and quality control of the Pressure Music and Trailer catalogues.
• Analyse trends and client needs to shape commissioning and product strategy.
• Develop themed bundles and productised offerings for different markets and media types.

3. Licensing, Contracting & Rights Management

• Lead licensing negotiations, renewals, and rights clearances.
• Manage revenue tracking, reporting, and royalty distribution.
• Ensure metadata integrity, rights accuracy, and compliance.

4. Global Distribution & Sub-Publisher Strategy

• Define and execute the sub‑publisher and distribution strategy.
• Build partnerships to expand international reach and visibility.

5. Marketing, Sales & Productisation

• Develop marketing and sales strategies to promote catalogue and trailer assets.
• Craft value propositions and narrative positioning.
• Lead campaigns, showcases, and release strategies.

6. External Talent Sourcing & Administration

• Identify, recruit, and manage external composers and contributors.
• Oversee briefing, delivery, contracting, and workflows.

7. Internal Collaboration

• Partner with creative directors, producers, and leadership to align strategies and pipelines.
• Contribute to long‑term planning for catalogue growth and global expansion.

Experience & Competencies

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Music, Music Business, Audio Production, Film/Media Studies, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5–8 years’ experience in music supervision, publishing, sync licensing, catalogue management, or trailer music.
• Proven success in business development, licensing, or global catalogue growth.
• Strong understanding of music rights, licensing, royalties, and contracts.
• Experience working with creative teams and composers.

Bonus Qualifications

• Advanced degree or certification in Music Business, Entertainment Law, or Arts Management.
• Familiarity with music tech platforms, metadata, and digital licensing systems.
• Experience scaling catalogues internationally.
• Knowledge of marketing and branding strategies for music products.

Required Experience

• Proven background in sync, publishing, supervision, or catalogue management.
• Strong network across film, TV, advertising, and trailer sectors.
• Excellent negotiation and organisational skills.
• Ability to navigate creative and commercial priorities effectively.

Bonus

• Experience with trailer music libraries or sub‑publisher networks.
• Strategic and analytical mindset with product‑thinking ability.

Cultural Fit

We’re looking for someone who:

• Collaborates naturally and builds trust quickly.
• Is proactive, resourceful, and entrepreneurial.
• Thrives in a high‑performance, high‑craft creative environment.
• Operates with clarity, accountability, and integrity.
• Loves storytelling and the power of music in media.
• Embodies Pressure Cooker’s culture of excellence, creativity, and partnership.