Strut Records : Product & Label Manager
Strut Records is currently seeking an experienced Product & Label Manager to join our team and oversee the day-to-day operations of our renowned record label. In this role, you will play a crucial part in shaping and developing our label’s future roadmap.
At Strut, we pride ourselves on being one of the leading record labels in the UK, dedicated to delivering high-quality recordings from both new artists and uncovering hidden gems. Our eclectic range of styles spans from jazz, soul, and post-punk to Nigerian Afrobeat, Ghanaian highlife, and Ethio-jazz. We are known for our unwavering commitment to excellence, ensuring that each release is accompanied by detailed information and context, providing a complete narrative of the music, the artists, and the era they represent. As we approach our 25th anniversary in 2024, we continue to push boundaries and celebrate exceptional music.
As a Product & Label Manager, your responsibilities will include:
- Managing the logistics of all product delivery, ensuring deadlines are met to internal specifications.
- Meticulously compiling metadata and assets for all incoming releases.
- Strategizing and managing release campaigns, from inception to post-release analysis, working collaboratively with internal departments and independently when necessary.
- Creating compelling narratives, pitches, and campaigns for retail and global consumers.
- Collaborating closely with various departments, including finance, marketing, licensing, and management, to meet business needs effectively.
- Working closely with the head of A&R to shape and develop the label’s release schedule, ensuring deadlines are met.
- Assisting the licensing team in locating licensors for obscure tracks and managing rights negotiations under tight deadlines and across multiple time zones.
- Developing artwork concepts and design briefs, researching additional information and sourcing necessary content and assets for releases.
- Managing comprehensive album campaigns, including budgeting, coordinating PR/radio teams, liaising with artists and artist management, and providing feedback to internal A&R, marketing, social media, technical developers, direct to consumer and sales teams, as well as all relevant external stakeholders.
- Utilising creative ideas and internal teams to devise activities and campaigns that strengthen and grow the Strut community and fanbase.
- Creating compelling campaigns to promote our back catalogue and finding innovative ways to increase Strut’s market share in the digital and streaming music landscape.
- Managing merchandise logistics and maintaining a collaborative and forward-thinking approach with our touring artists.
- Handling logistics for relevant record fairs, tours, merchandise sales, and brand activations as needed.
- Managing and coordinating all direct-to-consumer and social media communication in collaboration with internal marketing and social media teams.
- Representing the label’s ethos, culture, and brand identity at live and social events, festivals, and various media, B2B, and consumer-facing brand activities.
To be considered for this position, you should have
- A minimum of 3 years of experience and a proven track record in a record label as a successful Label Manager, Product Manager, Project Manager, or a similar role.
- A solid working knowledge of the Strut label roster, its artists, and its history, along with a genuine passion for the markets, genres, and music styles covered by the label.
- Excellent administration skills and proficiency in applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, Adobe, Notion, Canva, and video editing software.
- A strong understanding of physical retail packaging, manufacturing processes, as well as the digital market and the ever-evolving initiatives from DSPs.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Exceptional attention to detail and a disciplined approach to work.
!K7 actively encourages and welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and communities that are currently under-represented in the music industry: ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+, gender non-binary, neurodiverse and disabled.
!K7 has a commitment to sustainability and is proactive to take steps to reduce its carbon footprint. Since 2019, we’ve successfully decreased our carbon footprint by 38% per employee across the company.
Whilst some of our offices have barriers to access, we are taking steps to resolve these, and in the meantime continue to encourage interest from applicants who require adjustments within the workplace.
If you meet the qualifications and are excited about this opportunity, please send your CV and cover letter to jobs@k7.com
The application deadline is Monday 19 June 2023.
