Manager, Music Rights & Clearances

OVERVIEW

A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility – and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide. 

Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

Intro to Position

As the Music Rights & Clearances Manager, you will serve as the essential bridge between NPR Music’s creative programming and the complex landscape of intellectual property rights in an evolving media environment. You will lead the end-to-end clearance process for flagship productions—including the globally recognized Tiny Desk series—acting as a critical partner between production units, legal counsel, and external music industry rights holders.

This is a high-impact operational role for a detail-oriented licensing professional ready to modernize rights-tracking infrastructure, execute publishing and master agreements, and protect the artistic integrity and legal compliance of one of the most influential entities in music and public media.

Responsibilities

Flagship Clearances & Production Licensing

• Clear Publishing & Composition Rights: Manage the research, negotiation, and clearance of musical compositions and publishing rights for NPR’s Tiny Desk concerts, special music events, and other programming.
• Secure Master & Synchronization Licenses: Lead the acquisition of master recording, sync, performance rights, and other clearances for music-focused podcasts, documentary video series, and digital editorial packages.
• Administer Releases & Performance Documentation: Maintain robust systems to verify that all featured artists, touring musicians, and record labels have signed required appearance releases, liability agreements, and rights documentation prior to broadcast or publication.

Platform Rights Management & Financial Coordination

• Oversee Multi-Platform Digital Rights: Collaborate with Permissions Department and external distribution partners to monitor, claim, and clear music rights across third-party digital platforms (e.g., YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and streaming channels).
• Coordinate Royalties & Distribution Accounting: Partner with internal finance teams, accounting colleagues, and external rights holders to support payment schedules and reconcile royalty obligations related to content distribution models.
• Manage Inbound & Outbound Rights Agreements: Review, execute, and archive inbound licenses and outbound syndication agreements, maintaining compliance across all content-sharing partnerships.

Operational Infrastructure & Legal Governance

• Design & Implement Clearance Workflows: Design, document, and operationalize repeatable cross-functional clearance workflows and intake protocols that eliminate bottlenecks between production teams, legal counsel, and external partners.
• Partner with Office of General Counsel: Collaborate closely with NPR’s legal team to interpret contractual provisions, assess intellectual property risk, and enforce organizational compliance standards across all active agreements.

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

Minimum Qualifications 

• 5+ years of professional experience in music licensing, clearances, or copyright administration within a media company, record label, music publisher, streaming service, or entertainment law environment.
• Deep operational mastery of music licensing processes, including synchronization rights, master recording rights, publishing agreements, public performance rights (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR), and mechanical licensing frameworks.
• Proven experience clearing rights and managing copyright claims across third-party digital and social media video platforms (e.g., YouTube Content ID, TikTok, Meta).
• Demonstrated track record interpreting, administering, and managing inbound and outbound appearance releases and licensing agreements.
• Proven experience designing, documenting, and implementing operational workflows or clearance tracking systems that improve turnaround times and team adoption across creative and administrative units.
• Proven ability to build consensus and collaborate effectively across creative production teams, legal counsel, and external artist representatives under strict production deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on proficiency utilizing enterprise database and workflow management systems (such as Airtable, Salesforce, Asana, or dedicated rights-tracking software).
• Prior experience in requesting, negotiating, and securing gratis licenses, promotional waivers, or favorable rate structures from music publishers and record labels for cultural, editorial, or non-profit productions.

Required Skills/Competencies

• Analytical Legal Acumen: Ability to analyze contract language meticulously, identify intellectual property liabilities, and propose practical, risk-mitigating solutions.
• Diplomatic Negotiation: Exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills to advocate for NPR's creative interests while cultivating positive, long-term relationships with artists, managers, and labels.
• High-Urgency Prioritization: Strong organizational ability to manage high-volume clearance pipelines and adapt swiftly to changing production schedules without sacrificing accuracy.
• Structured Cross-Functional Communication: Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills to present legal requirements and licensing status updates to non-legal production staff.
• Mission-Driven Artistic Advocacy: Passion for supporting independent and diverse musical artistry, public service media, and accessible cultural storytelling.

Education Requirements

•  Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience

Work Location & Requirements

• Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. The employee will be required to be in the office at either our Washington, D.C., New York, NY or Culver City, CA location at least 3 days a week. The employee must also reside in Washington, D.C., New York or Los Angeles Metro Area(s).

Job Type

• This is a full-time, exempt position.

Compensation

Salary Range: The U.S.-based anticipated salary range for this opportunity is $101,000 - $115,000 plus benefits. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Benefits: NPR provides comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR’s benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees. 

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

#LI-HYBRID

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.

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