Music Canada represents the world’s leading music companies and supports its members, and their partners – recording artists – by helping to create the conditions for a strong and dynamic music economy in Canada. Its members are Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.; Universal Music Canada Inc.; and Warner Music Canada Co.
CONNECT Music Licensing (“CONNECT”) is one of Canada’s leading music rights licensing companies, licensing the majority of sound recordings produced and distributed in Canada on behalf of its over 5000 members. CONNECT negotiates and administers licenses in Canada for the reproduction of these sound recordings, ensuring that its members are properly paid for the use of their music.
Music Canada and CONNECT seek an Associate Counsel to join their teams and help drive their legal, policy and licensing matters. This position will be based in the Toronto or Ottawa office and will report to the General Counsel of CONNECT (who is based in Toronto) and the Director of Legal Affairs and Public Policy of Music Canada (who is based in Ottawa). Splitting your time between these two organizations, for Music Canada, you will research and draft government submissions and regulatory reforms. You will play an important role in helping to develop public policy positions for music creators. In addition, you will support the General Counsel in matters before the Copyright Board of Canada and courts and interact with international peers on public policy developments for the global music sector. For CONNECT, you will help negotiate and draft licensing arrangements and provide strategic advice on a broad range of matters, including copyright, corporate, litigation and privacy issues. You will also interact with music labels, act as Corporate Secretary to the Board and oversee governance issues.
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years of IP (copyright), IT, or entertainment / media law experience gained in a major law firm or corporation. In addition, any experience in public policy work will be of interest. You will have strong analytical, drafting and organization skills, as well as excellent communication skills. Self-motivation, creativity in your thinking and an ability to strategize will be important to succeed in this role. Although not a requirement, French language proficiency would be an asset.
Like their members, these two organizations are driven by a passion for music, dedication to the artists who create it and a commitment to world-class digital innovation. This is an exciting opportunity to play an important, central role in the music industry. The work is interesting and the industry dynamic and ever-changing. Music Canada and CONNECT are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcome a diverse pool of candidates. If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Lorene Nagata or Lesa Ong of Nagataconnex Executive Legal Search for a confidential discussion.