Entertainment Attorney [Music + Publishing] @ Prominent Independent Platform
Overview Whistler Partners is partnering with a prominent independent music and publishing platform on a highly confidential Los Angeles-based search. The company is looking to add a senior legal and business affairs attorney who can operate as a true hybrid: dealmaker, negotiator, business partner, people leader, and trusted presence inside the organization. This is not a back-office legal role. The successful candidate will be expected to sit close to the business, help lead the legal and business affairs function, build relationships across the music and publishing ecosystem, and eventually grow into the top seat.
Why this role? This is a rare opportunity for an entertainment lawyer who wants more than deal support.
The platform is looking for someone who can negotiate, close, lead, and build trust with artists, executives, and industry professionals. Legal skill matters, but the differentiator here is commercial instinct, EQ, leadership ability, and the confidence to be in the room for important business conversations. The right candidate will step into a meaningful leadership track, work across music, publishing, royalties, digital monetization, YouTube, administration, distribution, and broader legal/business affairs matters, and help guide a growing team from the inside. For someone who has already proven they can make deals and wants a path toward becoming the senior legal/business affairs leader at a respected independent platform, this is a standout opportunity.
Key Responsibilities
- Negotiate, draft, and close music, publishing, royalty, digital, and related entertainment agreements.
- Serve as a key legal and business affairs partner to senior leadership.
- Build and maintain relationships with artists, managers, executives, and industry counterparties.
- Support royalty monetization, digital rights, YouTube-related matters, publishing administration, and distribution.
- Manage legal and business affairs workflows, including deal process, invoices, advances, ratifications, and related operational matters.
- Provide practical guidance on California employment law issues as needed.
- Help lead, manage, and develop the legal and business affairs team.
- Operate as an in-office presence in Los Angeles and a visible leader across the business.
Top Requirements
- Entertainment attorney with strong music and/or publishing experience.
- Proven dealmaker with strong negotiation instincts and the ability to close.
- In-house music or publishing experience strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of publishing, royalties, digital rights, YouTube, and royalty monetization.
- Experience drafting and negotiating entertainment, music, publishing, or related commercial agreements.
- High EQ, polished communication skills, and strong relationship-building ability.
- Leadership ability and comfort managing people, process, and business-facing legal work.
- Strong presence with artists, executives, and industry professionals.
- Los Angeles-based and comfortable working in office.
- Quality of experience is more important than strict years of experience.
Compensation
- $225,000–$250,000 base compensation, with potential flexibility for an exceptional candidate.
- 25% bonus target
TL;DR Highly confidential Los Angeles search for a music and publishing attorney at a prominent independent platform. The ideal candidate is a proven dealmaker with strong EQ, leadership ability, in-house entertainment experience, and the ability to eventually become the top legal/business affairs leader. This is a rare hybrid legal, business, and people-management seat for someone who can negotiate, build relationships, and lead from inside the room.
About Whistler Partners Matchmakers, Not Headhunters
Whistler Partners is a boutique matchmaking firm focused on counseling the best and the brightest attorneys over the course of their careers. We believe that the right move comes from working closely with talent to curate their long-term career paths. When it comes to career advice, what matters is not the size of the agency but the strength of your individual recruiter.
We readily admit that we are elite and only work with the best – after all, a little elitism is okay when it comes to your career. Employers love us because we are picky about whom we represent, and attorneys love us because we get them their dream jobs.
Interested? This search is being led by David Helfrich at Whistler Partners. Please contact them for a confidential conversation.
