Royalties and Contracts Administrator

Job Description

Job Description

The Royalties and Contracts Administrator plays a central role in the financial and legal infrastructure of Bethel Music. This position is responsible for the accurate administration of both record label and music publishing royalties, as well as the end-to-end management of the contract process across both sides of the business. The ideal candidate brings 3–5 years of hands-on experience spanning recording and publishing royalties, a working fluency with royalty and contract management platforms, and the analytical ability to build and maintain Excel models that support statement reconciliation, payout calculations, and reporting. A solid understanding of how record labels and music publishers operate — including the distinct royalty streams, agreements, and stakeholder relationships each involves — is essential.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret both recording and publishing royalty agreements; accurately set up new songs, recordings, and artists in royalty administration software.
• Collect, organize, and track monthly, quarterly, and annual royalty statements from record label, publishing, digital, and international sources.
• Upload and process statements for both label and publishing royalty calculations and payouts.
• Build and maintain Excel models to reconcile statements, validate calculations, and support payout accuracy across recording and publishing accounts.
• Confirm and release royalty payouts for payment, ensuring compliance with contractual terms and internal approval workflows.
• Research and resolve missing, incomplete, or inaccurate statement data from DSPs, distributors, PROs, and other sources; escalate discrepancies as needed.
• Investigate and clearly present findings for royalty inquiries from artists, writers, and internal teams.
• Communicate proactively with recording artists, songwriters, labels, and publishing partners regarding royalty matters.
• Stay current on industry royalty rate changes, DSP reporting practices, licensing structures, and publishing administration developments.
• Compile, organize, and present contract information clearly for review and approval by relevant stakeholders.
• Manage the full contract lifecycle — from initiation and drafting support through execution, storage, and renewal tracking — for both label and publishing agreements.
• Coordinate timely routing of contracts for internal approvals and signature, using contract management platforms.
• Secure fully executed contracts and maintain an organized, accessible contract repository.
• Identify key contractual obligations, terms, and deadlines and flag items requiring attention.
• Support Business Affairs on contract-related research, summaries, and cross-functional coordination.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Music Business, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in music royalties administration covering both record label and publishing, or a closely related role.
• Solid proficiency in Microsoft Excel — including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, complex formulas, and financial modeling for royalty reconciliation and reporting.
• Working knowledge of royalty administration software (e.g., Counterpoint, Curve, Songspace, or similar platforms).
• Experience with contract management software and digital signature tools (e.g., DocuSign, Ironclad, or similar).
• Meaningful understanding of both record label and music publishing operations — including master royalties, neighboring rights, mechanical, performance, sync, and digital royalties; recording and publishing agreements; and artist and writer deal structures.
• Familiarity with DSPs, distributors, PROs (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC), the MLC, and international collection societies.
• Working grasp of basic accounting principles as they relate to royalty calculations and financial reporting.
• Experience leveraging AI-assisted tools to improve efficiency in contract review, royalty research, and administrative workflows.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and integrity in all financial and legal work.
• Strong analytical thinking — able to identify patterns, surface discrepancies, and present findings clearly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate complex royalty or contract matters to non-technical stakeholders.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple workflows, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.
• Collaborative and relationship-oriented — able to build trust with internal teams, artists, writers, and external partners.
• Self-directed with sound judgment; comfortable operating with minimal oversight on day-to-day responsibilities.

Benefits

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) – Take the time you need to rest, recharge, and care for personal matters.
• Unlimited Paid Sick Leave – Provided to support your health and recovery when you’re ill or caring for an immediate family member.
• Generous Paid Holiday Schedule – Additional time off in recognition of major holidays.
• Paid Parental Leave – 8 weeks of fully paid leave to bond with your new child.
• Health Insurance – Choose from three medical plan options. Bethel Music covers 70% of the employee premium and 60% of dependent premiums.
• Dental & Vision Insurance – Comprehensive plans available to help you and your family maintain overall health.
• Life & Accident Insurance – Group Life and AD&D coverage up to $30,000, fully paid by Bethel Music.
• Optional Coverage:
• Voluntary Term Life Insurance – Additional coverage available for you and your dependents.
• Voluntary Short-Term Disability (STD) – Income protection if you’re unable to work due to a qualified injury or illness.
• Teladoc with HealthiestYou – 24/7 virtual healthcare access including general medical, behavioral health, and other specialty services for you and your family.
• 401k Retirement Plan – An optional retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions to support your long-term financial goals.