Joint Licensing Lead

We are seeking a Joint Licensing Lead to manage and oversee joint licensing agreements and processes for the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS). The Joint Licensing Lead plays a vital role in MCPS' licensing model by ensuring joint licensing agreements are accurately negotiated, administered, and reported across complex ownership structures, whilst safeguarding MCPS' interests, members' rights, and revenue-growth objectives.

This role directly supports MCPS' strategic ambitions to strengthen oversight, transparency, and control of joint licensing schemes. About the MPA Group of Companies The MPA works on behalf of its wide-ranging membership to protect and enhance the rights of the music publishers and creators at the heart of British music’s extraordinary cultural and economic success story. We strive to be the catalyst for positive change in the music publishing community, by empowering our members and by advocating on behalf of our industry with passion, integrity, respect for others and with the creator at the heart of everything we do.

The MPA also owns and operates its subsidiary businesses MCPS and PMLL (collectively known as The MPA Group). About MCPS MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society) is the UK collection society that licenses mechanical (reproduction) copyrights on behalf of over 46,000 music publisher, songwriter, composer and lyricist members. About the role Reporting to the Commercial Director, the Joint Licensing Lead is a key role in MCPS.

This position ensures licences are accurately negotiated, administered, and reported across complex ownership structures. Operating at the intersection of mechanical and performing rights, you will manage joint licensing arrangements (all licences with both Mechanical and Performing Right components where MCPS works with PRS to deliver these to the market), ensuring they are effectively governed, compliant, and commercially sound.

This role is responsible for leading and representing the mechanical rights element of joint licence during negotiations, ensuring MCPS' rights, policies, and strategic objectives are fully reflected in licensing outcomes. The successful candidate will provide subject matter expertise on mechanical rights across a broad range of licensing discussions, covering areas such as Broadcast, General Entertainment Online Licences (GEOL), including SVOD, UK Online, and any additional usage categories delivered through joint licensing arrangements.

Key Responsibilities Joint licensing governance and oversight: Lead the end-to-end management of all MCPS-led or joint licensing arrangements, ensuring decisions, pricing, and terms align with MCPS' licensing and distribution policy frameworks. Manage joint licence processes across multiple rights holders and CMOs, ensuring alignment on licensing terms, scope, and usage rights. Provide expert oversight where joint responsibility exists, ensuring MCPS' strategic, commercial, and policy positions are consistently upheld.

Ensure joint licensing matters requiring MCPS engagement (e.g., major licences) progress through the appropriate MCPS governance pathways. Support Commercial Director in securing approvals required under the mandated governance framework. Lead and support negotiations relating to the mechanical rights element of joint licensing arrangements, ensuring MCPS' commercial, strategic, and policy interests are effectively represented.

Scheme development and rate setting support: Contribute to licensing scheme development by analysing market benchmarks, usage trends, BI insights, and historic performance data. Participate in market consultations and stakeholder engagement as required. Draft inputs to licensing terms, pricing models, and conditions for approval under MCPS governance. Provide insight and recommendations to support the development of licensing frameworks, pricing approaches, and future licensing opportunities.

Operational excellence and data integrity: Ensure that joint