JOB DETAILS
Legal Counsel - Music
CompanySoundCloud
LocationNew York
Work ModeOn Site
PostedJanuary 15, 2026

About The Company
SoundCloud empowers artists and fans to connect and share through music. Founded in 2007, SoundCloud is an artist-first platform empowering artists to build and grow their careers by providing them with the most progressive tools, services, and resources. With over 400+ million tracks from 40+ million artists, the future of music is SoundCloud.
About the Role
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">SoundCloud empowers artists and fans to connect and share through music. Founded in 2007, SoundCloud is an artist-first platform empowering artists to build and grow their careers by providing them with the most progressive tools, services, and resources. With over 400+ million tracks from 40 million artists, the future of music is SoundCloud.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">SoundCloud is looking for a commercially minded music lawyer with a strong aptitude for technology and deeply plugged into what’s happening across digital music licensing and the creator economy. You’ll play a key role in supporting global content licensing and commercial partnerships, working at the intersection of music, technology, and culture.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Based in New York, this role is part of the Music & Commercial Legal team within Business & Legal Affairs. You’ll support the VP, Music & Commercial, in negotiating licenses with record labels, publishers, collecting societies, and performing rights organizations (PROs) worldwide. You’ll also work closely with teams across Content Licensing, Music, Business Development, Product, Finance, and others to shape licensing strategies, evaluate deal structures, and help bring partnerships to life.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">You’re a seasoned music industry dealmaker who’s comfortable leading complex negotiations and finding practical solutions in fast-moving, sometimes ambiguous environments. As a trusted subject matter expert, you’ll provide clear, commercially grounded guidance on music rights, while sharing knowledge and perspective across the legal team and the wider organization. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We’re looking for someone who’s excited by new challenges, collaborative by nature, and motivated by the opportunity to help shape how music and audio are created, discovered, and shared by creators and fans around the world!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Key Responsibilities:</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Support SoundCloud’s overall business by structuring and negotiating digital licensing agreements with record labels, publishers, collecting societies and PROs.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Negotiate and draft marketing, partnership and joint venture agreements with commercial partners and music industry stakeholders</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Advise the Music, Marketing, Creator services, Royalty Operations, Finance teams, and other stakeholders regarding contractual obligations and restrictions</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Provide legal consultancy on music law questions and track of legal developments in the licensing area in the music industry</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Advise on intellectual property rights issues, including copyright and trademark</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Identify and analyze potential risks related to SoundCloud’s distribution of content on and off its platform, reputational risks in connection with working with certain artists or partners, and various contractual risks</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Lead pre-litigation efforts in investigating, analyzing, and responding to a variety of claims, including copyright, audit, breach of contract, publicity, and trademark claims</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Regularly direct and supervise the work of outside counsel</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Coordinate with product and engineering teams in connection with product development related to music distribution and royalty operations</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Collaborate with other members of the Business & Legal Affairs team to ensure business needs are met</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Experience and Background:</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Qualified lawyer with 3+ years’ post-qualification experience in music and intellectual property licensing, gained at a prominent record label, law firm, or in-house legal department within the music industry</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree from an accredited institution and maintains an active, in good standing bar license in the U.S. or an equivalent foreign jurisdiction</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Good understanding of the global digital music rights landscape and substantial experience in negotiating international digital license agreements for or with digital services providers and/ or UGC platforms, with a primary focus on Europe</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Expertise in music industry transactions (record, distribution, producer, synchronization, and publishing agreements), artificial intelligence, and Web 3.0 technologies affecting music rights</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Proven ability to negotiate domestic and international commercial contracts, with working knowledge of the Music Modernization Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Experience working closely with music, operations, marketing, creative, licensing, and finance, with the ability to communicate complex matters and legal language simply and effectively to non-legal stakeholders</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Good relationships within the music, media, and/or consumer tech industry</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Strategic, commercially focused problem solver with a high tolerance for ambiguity and change</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Experience working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Pragmatic, risk-conscious, and values-driven, with resilience and self-awareness</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Excellent drafting, communication and negotiation skills</span></li>
<li style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Fluent in English, and ideally one or more other European languages</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The salary range for this role is $100,000 - $140,000 annually. The final salary offered will be determined based on relative experience, skills, internal equity, and location. We also offer a generous total rewards program - read more about additional benefits and perks below! </span></em></span></p>
<h4><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>About us:</strong></span></h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We are a multinational company with offices in the US (New York and Los Angeles), Germany (Berlin), and the UK (London)</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We provide a flexible work culture that offers the opportunity to collaborate and connect in person at our offices as well as accommodating work from home</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We are deeply committed to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of our organization and fostering a community where everyone’s voice, perspective and experience is respected and heard</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We believe a strong team is made by investing in employees through mentorship, workshops and enrichment opportunities</span></li>
</ul>
<h4><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Benefits:</strong></span></h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision plans, as well as mental health resources</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Robust 401k program</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Employee <span style="font-weight: 400;">Equity</span> Plan</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Generous professional development allowance</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Interested in a gym membership, photography course or book? We have a Creativity and Wellness benefit!</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Flexible vacation and public holiday policy where you can take up to 35 days of PTO annually</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">16 paid weeks for all parents (birthing and non-birthing), regardless of gender, to welcome newborns, adopted and foster children</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Various snacks, goodies, and 2 free lunches weekly when at the office</span></li>
</ul>
<h4><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><strong>Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at SoundCloud</strong></span></h4>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><em>SoundCloud is for everyone. Diversity and open expression are fundamental to our organization; they help us lead what’s next in music by understanding and empowering our creators and fans, no matter their identity. We acknowledge the challenges in the music industry, and strive to influence an inclusive culture where everyone can contribute respectfully and thrive, especially the historically marginalized communities that many of our creators, fans and SoundClouders identify with. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment at SoundCloud for everyone, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, migration background, national origin, age, disability status, or care-giver status.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">At SoundCloud you can find your community or elevate your allyship by joining a Diversity Resource Group. Diversity Resource Groups are employee-organized groups focused on supporting and promoting the interests of a particular underrepresented community in order to build a more inclusive culture at SoundCloud. Anyone can join, whether you share the identity or strive to be an ally.</span></em></span></p>
Key Skills
Music LawDigital LicensingNegotiationIntellectual PropertyContract DraftingCommercial ContractsMusic Industry TransactionsRisk AnalysisCollaborationCommunicationProblem SolvingLegal ConsultancyTeamworkCreativityTechnology AptitudeFluency in English
Categories
LegalCreative & MediaTechnology
Benefits
Comprehensive Health Benefits401k ProgramEmployee Equity PlanProfessional Development AllowanceCreativity and Wellness BenefitFlexible Vacation PolicyPaid Parental LeaveSnacks and Free Lunches
Job Information
📋Core Responsibilities
Support SoundCloud’s business by negotiating digital licensing agreements and advising various teams on contractual obligations. Lead pre-litigation efforts and coordinate with product and engineering teams on music distribution.
📋Job Type
full time
💰Salary Range
$100,000 - $140,000
📊Experience Level
5-10
💼Company Size
893
📊Visa Sponsorship
No
💼Language
English
🏢Working Hours
40 hours
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