Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
This role stands out in SaaS because publishing licensing is a core constraint and differentiator for subscription streaming platforms. Owning APAC deals sits at the intersection of product distribution, rights management, and regional market realities, where commercial terms directly shape what can be offered to customers. In a platform business with global reach, licensing is not a back-office function but a lever that determines catalog availability, pricing flexibility, and the ability to introduce new models.
From a SaaS career perspective, the work builds durable commercial craft that translates across subscription and marketplace businesses: structuring complex agreements, evaluating long-term financial impact, and aligning external partner terms with evolving product strategy. Regular collaboration with Legal, Finance, Operations, and business teams reflects how mature SaaS organisations operationalise revenue-critical workflows and manage risk at scale. The emphasis on analytics and post-signature ownership also signals exposure to the full lifecycle of recurring-revenue economics, not just negotiation.
The position fits professionals who enjoy being the commercial point person, balancing relationship stewardship with rigorous deal mechanics. It suits someone comfortable working across time zones and cultures, and who prefers roles where independent ownership is paired with frequent cross-functional coordination.
The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.
Job Description
At Spotify, we’re passionate about delivering the right music for every moment. We’ve connected millions of people to the songs they love, helping them discover and share new favorites every day. Now available in more than 180 markets worldwide and growing fast, we’re looking for an outstanding professional to join our Music Publishing Licensing team as a deal owner and business lead for APAC.
Reporting to the Director of Publishing Licensing, this role will focus on negotiating and managing music publishing licenses across APAC. You’ll build and maintain strong relationships with music publishing rightsholders, and provide strategic and analytical support to enable new business opportunities. You’ll be both an advocate for Spotify and a trusted partner to the publishing community, ensuring alignment as we continue to grow and innovate.
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What You'll Do- Initiate, negotiate, and close key agreements for music publishing rights throughout relevant APAC markets.
- Work cross-functionally to optimize publishing licensing infrastructure and enable Spotify to innovate and expand its business across markets.
- Serve as the primary commercial contact for publishing rightsholders in the region, including collecting societies and publishers.
- Lead all commercial aspects of publishing license agreements post-signature, including analyzing the financial and strategic impact over time.
- Support broader commercial initiatives, business development projects, and strategic planning across the licensing team.
- Collaborate daily with internal teams - Legal, Finance, Publishing Operations, Publisher & Songwriter Relations, and Accounting to structure, negotiate, and implement license terms.
- Partner with internal business teams to ensure publishing licenses reflect and enable Spotify’s evolving business models.
Who You Are- Hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher with 5+ years of experience in the music industry, preferably in music publishing, tech, or media, with a focus on music licensing and negotiation.
- Possess strong knowledge of digital music and streaming landscapes, including key publishing partners, business models, and market trends.
- A self-starter with outstanding commercial competence who can work independently.
- A skilled negotiator with a track record of structuring and closing complex deals.
- Experienced in working across cultures and time zones, with strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
- Deeply familiar with music copyright and licensing frameworks, and attuned to current industry challenges and opportunities.
- Highly motivated and organized, showing proficiency in managing multiple projects and delivering results under tight deadlines.
- Strong in analytical and numerical thinking comfortable building and explaining financial models and working with spreadsheets.
- A clear, confident communicator, able to present effectively to senior stakeholders and large audiences.
- Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional languages are a plus.
Where You'll Be- This position will be based in our Singapore office
- We offer you the flexibility to work where you work best! There will be some in person meetings, but still allows for flexibility to work from home.
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Spotify is an equal opportunity employer. You are welcome at Spotify for who you are, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or what’s playing in your headphones. Our platform is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all thrive, contribute, and be forward-thinking! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our differences that we will find the power to keep revolutionizing the way the world listens.
At Spotify, we are passionate about inclusivity and making sure our entire recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We have ways to request reasonable accommodations during the interview process and help assist in what you need. If you need accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know - we’re here to support you in any way we can.
Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the chance to enjoy and be passionate about these creators. Everything we do is driven by our love for music and podcasting. Today, we are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service.
