Director of A&R and Label Partnerships

This is a Full Time Job

Position Purpose:

Stem is looking for a strategic, deeply connected, and driven A&R & Label Partnerships executive to join our client team. This role is focused on discovering top-tier emerging talent and boutique labels by managing every stage of the A&R research and artist acquisition process. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of sourcing and signing emerging and established Hip-Hop and R&B artists and a nuanced understanding of the distribution landscape. This is a full-time role, and we are prioritizing candidates based in Los Angeles and New York. This position works under the general supervision of the VP of A&R and Label Partnerships.

Responsibilities

What you'll do:
• Conduct A&R research across the wider Hip-Hop & R&B market to develop a pipeline of potential future signings for Stem.
• Identify and sign high-potential artists and labels to Stem by managing the full courting and deal process from outreach through execution.
• Maintain and actively expand a curated target list of artists and key industry stakeholders (e.g. managers, attorneys, business managers, and label operators).
• Educate prospective clients on the value of Stem's unique business model, clearly articulating our advantages over competitors.
• Build and maintain a strong presence in the culture by attending shows, festivals, industry events, and hosting community activations on behalf of Stem.
• Consistently meet and exceed annual signing goals by collaborating with our investment team to propose and close competitive deals.
• Maintain rigorous pipeline tracking in Salesforce to ensure visibility, efficiency, and data-driven performance throughout the sales cycle.
• Provide ongoing insights to Stem's product and marketing teams based on artist/label feedback and emerging trends in the marketplace.
Qualifications

What you'll need to succeed:
• 7 years of experience in A&R, business development, or a related signing/strategy role within music distribution and/or a label
• Proven track record of courting and signing established artists and labels.
• Deep understanding of Hip-Hop and R&B culture, trends, and ecosystems.
• A wide and growing network of artists, managers, lawyers, and tastemakers.
• Experience with A&R research and pipeline building.
• Highly motivated self-starter with exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Strong deal instincts and an ability to analyze financial opportunities.

Nice to have skills/knowledge:
• Proficiency in Salesforce or other CRM tools preferred.
• Proficiency in industry standard tools (i.e. Chartmetric, Vibrate, etc.)

*This is a hybrid role requiring 3 days minimum on-site.