Company: Warner Music Group

Location: Toronto, ON

Expected salary:

Job date: Thu, 16 Jan 2025 01:06:10 GMT

Job description: Senior Director, A&RJob Description:Location: Toronto, OntarioAt Warner Music Group, we’re a global collective of music makers and music lovers, tech innovators and inspired entrepreneurs, game-changing creatives and passionate team members. Here, we turn dreams into stardom and audiences into fans. We are guided by three core values that underpin everything we do across all our diverse businesses:Curiosity: We do our best work when we’re immersing ourselves in culture and breaking through barriers. Curiosity is the driving force behind creativity and ingenuity. It fuels innovation, and innovation is the key to our future.Collaboration: Making music and bringing it to the world is all about the power of originality amplified by teamwork. A great idea, like a great song, travels globally. We ignite passions and build connections across our diverse community of artists, songwriters, partners, and fans.Commitment: We pursue excellence for our team and our talent. Everything in music starts with a leap into the unknown, and we’re committed to keeping the faith, acting with integrity, and delivering on our promises.Consider a career at WMG and get the best of both worlds – an innovative global music company that retains the creative spirit of a nimble independent.Job Title: Senior Director, A&RReports To: President, Warner Music CanadaDepartment: A&RLocation: Toronto, OntarioA little bit about our team:Warner Music Canada’s A&R department is responsible for all aspects of the creative artistic process, including talent discovery, artist signing, oversight of artist’s recording, acquisition of material, choice of production partner, engineering and musicians for sessions. A&R is truly the creative nerve center and quality control for the identity of the label.Your role:As the Head of A&R, you will work closely with artists, producers, and internal teams to craft and execute a roadmap for each artist’s career. This role requires a combination of creative vision, deep industry knowledge, and the ability to drive innovation in both talent acquisition and overall artist development.Key Responsibilities:Leadership & Vision:Lead the A&R team with a focus on fostering creative excellence and achieving strategic goals.Serve as a strategic leader, setting the direction for the department and ensuring alignment with the company’s overarching objectives.Talent Identification & Acquisition:Lead the identification and signing of exceptional artists across various genres, with a focus on long-term career development and market impact.Develop and maintain strong relationships with key industry influencers, managers, agents, and other music professionals.Creative Development & Artist Strategy:Collaborate with artists to shape and execute their musical vision.Provide creative guidance, mentorship, and support throughout the recording process, ensuring that each artist’s sound is unique and resonates with global audiences.Team Leadership & Collaboration:Lead, mentor, and inspire the A&R team to achieve creative excellence and meet strategic goals.Develop team members’ skills and foster a collaborative culture that values innovation, teamwork, and mutual respect across departments, including Marketing, Digital, and Label Operations.Project Management & Oversight:Oversee the development and execution of projects by managing the selection of producers, songwriters, and other collaborators, monitoring recording budgets, and ensuring timelines and milestones are achieved efficiently.Partner with the Marketing team to develop and execute innovative strategies and release schedules that showcase our artists and roster. This includes crafting compelling narratives, highlighting talent through creative storytelling, and leveraging diverse channels to drive awareness and engagementOversee the rollout from pre-planning to completion of our artist video shoots, recording sessions, production, and other artist centric projects.Spending time in studios with our current artists and artists in consideration for partnershipsMarket Analysis & Industry Trends:Stay ahead of emerging trends in music and entertainment, identifying potential opportunities for the company and artists to engage with new audiences. Regularly review market performance and recommend adjustments to the artist development strategy.Monitor and engage with social media and other platforms to identify trends, discover talent, and stay connected to innovative developments across music and non-music spaces.Global Impact & Branding:Build and execute strategies for artist exposure and growth on a global scale.Collaborate with marketing, public relations, and other departments to ensure the success and global reach of artists and their releases.About you:A minimum of 10 years in A&R or related roles, with a strong track record of discovering, developing, and successfully managing artists in various music genresA passion for music with an excellent ear for emerging talent, trends, and sound innovations. Ability to translate an artist’s creative vision into actionable strategies that drive commercial success.Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to inspire and manage a diverse team. Comfortable working with cross-functional teams and external partners to execute complex projects.Well-established relationships with music professionals, including artists, producers, managers, agents, and label executives. An ability to leverage this network to secure opportunities for the company and its roster.Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present ideas, negotiate deals, and build relationships effectively at all levels of the industry.Ability to balance creative instincts with business acumen, making decisions that align with the company’s goals while supporting the long-term growth of the artist.Flexibility to be able to travel on short noticePost-secondary education in Creative Arts, Music, or Business Management is an asset.Deep understanding of the digital commerce space including the DSP artist portals and the key artist development and feeder playlistsAbout us:As the home to 10K Projects, Asylum, Atlantic Music Group, East West, FFRR, Fueled by Ramen, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Rhino, Roadrunner, Sire, Warner Records, Warner Classics, and several other of the world’s premier recording labels, Warner Music Group champions emerging artists and global superstars alike. And our renowned publishing company, Warner Chappell Music, represents genre-spanning songwriters and producers through a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide. Warner Music Group is also home to ADA, which supports the independent community, as well as artist services division WMX. In addition, WMG counts film and television storytelling powerhouse Warner Music Entertainment among its many brands.Together, we are Warner Music Group: Independent Minds. Major Sound.Love this job and want to apply?Click the “Apply” link or apply directly with your LinkedIn. Applying with LinkedIn will import all of the information you put in your profile but will still allow you to upload a resume and cover letter.Please note that due to the volume of applicants we receive for a given position, you may not be contacted if you do not meet minimum eligibility requirements for this position.Thanks for your interest in working for Warner Music Group. We love it here and think you will too.We are an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, religious beliefs, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, record of offences, marital status, family status, or any other protected grounds under applicable legislation.We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the application or employment process, please send an e-mail to and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.This position will require being in the office 4 days a week. We believe that an in-office presence is critical for talent development, collaboration and building strong relationships.

Warner Music Group in Toronto is seeking a Senior Director of A&R to join their team. The ideal candidate will be a music enthusiast with strong leadership skills, industry experience, and a passion for discovering and developing artists. Responsibilities include talent acquisition, creative development, team leadership, project management, market analysis, and global branding. The successful candidate will have at least 10 years of experience in A&R or related roles, strong industry relationships, and the ability to balance creativity with business strategy. Warner Music Group is committed to diversity and inclusion and offers accommodations for individuals with disabilities. This position requires in-office presence 4 days a week.