Composer Sales & Development Manager

HARRISON PARROTT

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Composer Sales & Development Manager: Birdsong Music Publishing, a HarrisonParrott Associated Company

Reporting to: CEO HarrisonParrott Group and Chief of Staff, HarrisonParrott Group

Salary range: Competitive – Manager or Senior Manager-level (experience dependent)

Basis: Full time – 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Location: London Somerset House, Hybrid working

About Birdsong Music Publishing

With a roster of internationally recognized composers and a growing catalogue of orchestral works, chamber music and opera, Birdsong Music Publishing is creating the music of the 21st century.

Established in 2021, we offer full publishing and management services to our composers, supporting them and helping to develop their careers by connecting them to artists and ensembles of the highest standing and bringing their music to the widest possible audience.

Birdsong Music Publishing is an associated company of the HarrisonParrott Group, a leading arts and management company.

Job Purpose

The primary function of the Composer Sales & Development Manager is to develop, promote, and manage all aspects of the careers of a defined list of composers and catalogues, working across various areas of the music industry.

The Composer Sales & Development Manager shall be responsible for all day-to-day activity, sales, and strategy of a fixed roster of composers and take a proactive approach to constantly search for opportunities across all aspects of the industry. In addition to a defined roster of artists, the Composer Sales & Development Manager is responsible for growing and developing the Birdsong Music Publishing roster, as well as exploring strategic and appropriate commercial opportunities, such as media partnerships and sync.

This role requires a self-starter who anticipates needs, addresses concerns and resolves issues as and when they arise in a professional, confident and efficient manner. A proactive, strong initiative, responsible, self-motivated and autonomous work style is required.

Key relationships

Chief of Staff & CEO HarrisonParrott Group, Composer Management and Publishing Team, and the Finance Team.

Key accountabilities

Artistic Strategy and Relationships and sales

• Establish and build relationships with artists to deliver on their strategic needs and aims, working closely with senior management to identify and deliver this strategy
• Work with key promoters across the industry to deliver high quality and efficient work
• Clearly plan and implement sales for each of your artists alongside the Associate Director, Polyarts. Procure and negotiate engagements to implement agreed sales strategy of 6-8 artists or projects ranging from composers to instrumentalists to vocalists.
• Set regular sales targets and meet said targets
• Aim to increase revenue per artist by 10-20% on an annual basis.
• Constantly push results and initiatives to improve financial results per artist and projects.
• Financial KPIs.

Career Planning

• Show initiative in planning sales targets and strategies for composer roster and implementing these plans.
• Act as a key point of contact with assigned artists and handle requests independently while keeping team in the loop – responsible for all meeting/ sales update documents /agendas for artists.
• Work proactively (ie always putting forward initial recommendations) with Director(s) and Senior Staff on the formulation of a strategic plan of performances and recordings for the development of each composer’s career.
• Maintain awareness of the progress of an composer’s performance through concert attendance, reading reviews and discussion with the artist and promoters and provide internal progress reports, briefings and management career projections.
• Oversee the maintenance of various diaries of each artist and finalise details of each engagement
• Check repertoire details including versions/editions, language, string strengths and instrumentation.
• Oversee requirements for work permits and/or visas, and make the necessary applications where necessary.
• Oversee detailed requirements according to composers’ personal needs and rider

Contracts

• Negotiate/advise on contract terms, ensure fee negotiations are finalised, process and manage the issuing and finalisation of contracts.
• Ensure there is effective liaison with the Accounts department on all matters relating to timely accounting to artists, commission, and tax arrangements.
• Assist in the administration of contracts which are non-specific to engagements, such as recording and TV contracts, residencies.

Financial Administration

• Ensure with coordinators financial information on artist diary system is maintained and outstanding fee negotiations followed up on a timely basis.
• Review promoter invoices and monthly commission statements to ensure correct
• Liaise with promoters and HP accounts department regarding social security payments, tax waivers and withholding tax arrangements.
• Oversee incoming royalty statements and other correspondence relating to incoming monies
• Oversee/Keep track of and ensure timely payment of artists’ fees, and check deductions of tax, social security etc, by promoters.

Business Development:

• Be alert to opportunities for collaborations, connections, and links between Birdsong Music Publishing and HarrisonParrott artists and projects.
• Develop proposals for potential project partners and commercial opportunities, and the monitor those already contracted.

Artists & Repertoire:

Composer new signing evaluation responsibility to be approved by Director.

Skills and Experience:

Essential:

Proven experience (4+ yrs) and competency in managing composers including strategic career planning, sales and marketing, and contract negotiation, or directly comparable and relevant experience in an adjacent area of the classical music business

Excellent project management skills

• Knowledge and passion of contemporary music across range of genres and sub-genres
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail
• Solid organisation skills
• Ability to manage and prioritise a large number of varied tasks with multiple deadlines
• Excellent IT skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook
• Prior experience in a relevant and related area of the music business
• Excellent knowledge of and active interest in music.

Desirable:

• Digital Marketing Experience
• Experience managing composers, commissioning agreements, rights
• Knowledge of recording industry
• Educated to at least undergraduate degree level or equivalent.