Associate Business Development Manager (A&R)

We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Associate Business Development Manager (A&R) to lead artist and label partnerships while driving the growth of our music catalog and distribution business.

This role combines Business Development, A&R, partnership management, and team leadership. You will identify promising artists and content partners, negotiate commercial agreements, develop release strategies, and lead a small team to achieve catalog growth and revenue targets.

The ideal candidate has strong knowledge of the music industry, excellent relationship management skills, commercial acumen, and a passion for discovering and developing music opportunities.

What you will do

1. Business Development & Partnerships

• Identify and acquire new artists, record labels, distributors, music publishers, and strategic content partners
• Develop and execute partnership strategies to expand the company's music catalog and market presence
• Lead commercial negotiations, including distribution, licensing, and revenue-sharing agreements
• Build long-term relationships with artists, management teams, labels, producers, and industry stakeholders
• Represent the company at industry events, showcases, conferences, and networking opportunities.

2. A&R Strategy

• Identify emerging artists and commercially promising music projects
• Evaluate demos, artist portfolios, market potential, and commercial viability
• Develop artist acquisition strategies aligned with company objectives
• Work closely with artists on release planning, positioning, and long-term career development
• Recommend investments based on market trends, audience insights, and business potential.

3. Release & Catalog Management

• Lead release planning from signing through launch
• Coordinate with Marketing, Editorial, Operations, Product, and Content teams to ensure successful releases
• Monitor release performance and optimize strategies using streaming and audience analytics
• Support catalog optimization and identify opportunities for content monetization.

4. Commercial Strategy

• Drive catalog growth, streaming performance, and revenue generation
• Identify new business opportunities, including exclusive releases, fan engagement, and new monetization models
• Develop business cases and financial forecasts for major partnership opportunities
• Monitor competitor activities and industry developments.

5. Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop the A&R and Business Development team
• Set team objectives, KPIs, and performance expectations
• Coach team members in negotiation, relationship management, and commercial skills
• Allocate resources and prioritize acquisition opportunities
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture.

6. Data Analysis & Reporting

• Analyze streaming performance, audience insights, market trends, and partner performance
• Develop recommendations based on data to improve artist acquisition and release strategies
• Prepare business reports and executive presentations
• Monitor key business metrics and continuously optimize performance.

What you need

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Music Business, Communications, Media, or a related field.

Experience

• 5-8+ years of experience in Business Development, A&R, Artist Management, Music Distribution, Content Partnerships, or Digital Media
• Proven experience negotiating agreements with artists, labels, or distributors
• Experience leading projects or managing a small team is highly preferred
• Existing network within the music industry is a strong advantage.

Required Skills

1. Business & Commercial

• Strong negotiation and closing skills
• Strategic partnership development
• Financial and commercial acumen
• Contract negotiation and deal structuring
• Project management.

2. Music Industry Knowledge

• Strong understanding of digital music distribution
• Knowledge of streaming platforms and digital music business models
• Understanding of recording rights, publishing rights, neighboring rights, and royalty structures
• Familiarity with music marketing and release campaigns.

3. Leadership

• Team leadership and coaching
• Stakeholder management
• Decision-making and prioritization
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Problem-solving.

4. Technical

• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience with streaming analytics and business intelligence tools is preferred.

5. Language

• Professional English communication (written and spoken).

Why Join Us

• Shape the future of Vietnam's digital music industry
• Work with leading artists, labels, creators, and entertainment partners
• Lead strategic partnerships that directly impact millions of music listeners
• Enjoy opportunities for professional growth, leadership, and innovation in a fast-growing digital entertainment ecosystem.