Director, Metadata Operations at Universal Music Group

London, England, United Kingdom

Universal Music Group Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Music, EntertainmentIndustries

Requirements

  • Thoughtful and detail-oriented mindset
  • Strong understanding of how metadata supports music discovery, attribution, and rights across all genres (from mainstream pop to complex classical works)
  • Clear understanding of how recorded music is created and prepared for release (including processes like tracking, mixing, mastering, remastering, and remixing) and how these affect versioning, credits, and metadata structures
  • Clear understanding of how sound recording rights are owned and exploited by record labels (including how metadata supports commercial delivery, DSP standards, neighbouring rights registration, UGC monetisation, and physical product workflows)
  • Working understanding of how musical works are owned and monetised by songwriters and publishers, including ability to distinguish between recording rights and publishing rights, and how metadata for each flows through the industry

Responsibilities

  • Lead structured metadata improvement projects that restore, enrich, or streamline metadata
  • Identify legacy issues or inconsistencies and design smart, scalable approaches to correct them
  • Create workflows that support both high-volume cleansing and nuanced data refinement
  • Apply strong understanding of metadata quality and musical context across genres
  • Support and work closely with the Director of Metadata Operations on key departmental objectives
  • Partner with colleagues across operations, technology, and business teams to deliver results
  • Represent metadata (in cross-team contexts)

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Metadata ManagementData AccuracyData StructureProject LeadershipMusic MetadataArtist DataRepertoire Management

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the employment type for this position?

This is a full-time position.

Is this role remote or does it require office work?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What key skills are needed for the Director, Metadata Operations role?

The role requires being thoughtful and detail-oriented, with strong understanding of metadata quality and musical context across genres, expertise in data transformation and cleansing, and the ability to lead projects, mentor colleagues, and design scalable workflows.

What is the company culture like at Universal Music Group?

UMG fosters a passionate, dedicated, innovative, and inclusive environment that embraces diversity of thought, including neurocognitive variations, and is committed to making adjustments for different needs.

What makes a strong candidate for this role?

A strong candidate is thoughtful, detail-oriented, experienced in leading metadata projects, capable of mentoring others, and has deep knowledge of music metadata across genres to improve data quality and processes.

Universal Music Group

Global music recording, publishing, and distribution

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group (UMG) operates as a major player in the global music industry, engaging in recording, publishing, and distribution across over 60 countries. The company works with a wide range of clients, from famous artists like Elton John and Taylor Swift to new and independent musicians. UMG's operations include selling physical and digital music, streaming services, licensing music for various media, and organizing live performances. The company signs artists to contracts, produces their music, and manages their publishing rights, while also offering marketing and promotional services to help artists expand their reach. UMG generates revenue through multiple channels, including music sales, streaming subscriptions, licensing fees, live performances, and merchandise. This diverse approach allows UMG to maintain its leadership position in the music market by providing comprehensive support to artists and capitalizing on various revenue opportunities.

Santa Monica, CaliforniaHeadquarters
1934Year Founded
$3,890.9MTotal Funding
IPOCompany Stage
Consumer Goods, EntertainmentIndustries
10,001+Employees

Benefits

Competitive Salary
401k
Flexible PTO
Medical, dental, visiion insurance
Student Loan Repayment Assistance & Tuition Reimbursement
Well-Being Allowance

Risks

Legal battle with Drake over 'pay-for-play' could harm UMG's reputation.
Downtown Music acquisition may face regulatory scrutiny, delaying expansion plans.
AI partnership with Amazon may not fully address evolving AI content challenges.

Differentiation

UMG leads the music industry with a diverse global presence in 60+ countries.
UMG's artist-centric streaming model enhances engagement and revenue for musicians.
UMG's strategic partnerships, like with Amazon, bolster innovation and content protection.

Upsides

UMG's acquisition of Downtown Music boosts its independent music sector presence.
Partnership with KLAY Vision positions UMG as a leader in AI-driven music innovation.
Collaboration with WPP enhances UMG's marketing capabilities and global reach.

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