Universal Music Group 2025 Summer Internship: Business & Legal Affairs Opportunities: (CA, DC, NY, FL)

We are UMG, the Universal Music Group. We are the world’s leading music company. In everything we do, we are committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship. We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world.
 

Program Eligibility:

• Currently enrolled at an accredited two or four-year college/university in the United States, pursing an undergraduate, graduate and/or law degree  
• Graduating between Spring 2025 - Fall 2027  
• Have access to housing and transportation within the designated city (We do not offer housing accommodations)
• Legally authorized to work in the United States and will not require sponsorship for employment visa status, now or in the future (e.g., H1-B, OPT, etc.)
• Commit to 20 - 40 hours per week (based on individual business area) 

Note: There are multiple job descriptions listed below. Please read carefully. Applications will be reviewed early Spring 2025.

Business & Legal Affairs ICLG (CA):

How You’ll CREATE:

The IGA and CMG Business & Legal Affairs departments are responsible for all business and legal aspects of the label/s. There are 5 attorneys based in Santa Monica, and 5 attorneys based in Hollywood. This does not include the department head, who oversees both teams and works out the Santa Monica and Hollywood offices throughout the week. The attorneys will guide the interns through legal assignments and projects.

• Contractual research
• Drafting and redlining assignment that may include, LODs, NDAs, and tolling agreements
• Reviewing and drafting artist agreements
• Attending meetings
• Reviewing content for IP and clearance issues.

Must be enrolled as a full-time law student (2L or 3L preferred)

Ideal candidates will have:

• Superior analytical and writing skills and ability
• Comfortable working and researching independently
• Redlining experience a plus

Business/Contract Administration REPUBLIC Corps (NY):

How You’ll CREATE:

The legal and business affairs team handles the legal and business matters for REPUBLIC Corps. Its responsibilities include structuring and negotiating artist signings and other music or entertainment related deals, managing legal matters in connection with album releases and advising on other label business.

• Assist with clearance work for third party materials which are incorporated into audio- and audio-visual content release by UMG East Coast Labels
• Research details on various third-party licensors, assist in drafting label waivers, assist with tracking third party profit participations, assist with updating clearance charts for East Coast releases

Ideal candidates will have:

• Comprehend basic legal documents
• Experience with Monday.com (a plus)

Business & Legal Affairs REPUBLIC Corps (NY):

How You’ll CREATE:

The legal and business affairs team handles the legal and business matters for REPUBLIC Corps. Its responsibilities include structuring and negotiating artist signings and other music or entertainment related deals, managing legal matters in connection with album releases and advising on other label business.

• Organizing agreements (i.e., reading contracts for specific info and compiling data/creating charts or logs)
• General departmental support as needed
• Assist in drafting and revising various types of proposals
• Draft memoranda and summarized recording proposals for distribution to company executives
• Participate in production and clearance meetings

Must be enrolled as a full-time law student (2L or 3L preferred)

Ideal candidates will have:

• Exposure to contract coursework
• Minimum 20 hours of availability each week during regular business hours

Business & Legal Affairs UMLE, Bilingual (English/Spanish) (FL):

How You’ll CREATE:

• Maintain guest artist records for UMLE artists, including: (i) liaising with third parties and managing participation requests; (ii) coordinating approvals of participations internally; (iii) tracking all participations (external and internal) via a digital database.
• Create and manage centralized artist rosters and artist contact sheet for UMLE labels.
• Help maintain and update various internal contract databases and spreadsheets of all artist agreements and related rights. 
• Support BA with option tracking/exercising and deal termination processes. 
• Conduct general legal and contractual research as required; review music agreements, amendments and related documents as requested by BA, A&R/Admin, Finance, etc., and prepare ad hoc contract summary reports and memos. 
• Assist with non-publishing matters (i.e., reviewing master-use & synch licenses, and draft and issuing same upon request).
• Review and analyze chain of title documents to confirm necessary transfer of rights for applicable exploitation, as well as prepare written analysis to identify issues (if any). 
• Review and analyze video footage to identify clearance issues, including product placement, trademark and copyright matters.
• In the event of overflow, assist in reviewing and interpreting audio and video checklists and related documents to check for legal issues and accuracy.
• Participate in department discussions regarding best practices, standard language and policies in order to enable drafting consistency and improve workflow/streamline processes. 

Must be enrolled as a full-time law student (2L or 3L preferred)

Ideal candidates will have:

• Fluent Spanish proficiency; speak, read, and write
• Strong analytical skills
• Drafting skills

Business & Legal Affairs Virgin Music Group (CA):

How You’ll CREATE:

The Business Affairs Department works at the intersection of entertainment law, business strategy, and creative licensing, ensuring that all agreements with artists, labels, and other partners are negotiated, drafted, and executed in accordance with legal standards. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the legal aspects of the music industry, particularly in music licensing, contract negotiation, and business operations.

• Draft and review a variety of legal agreements, including, exclusive recording, management, distribution, license, profit sharing, production, producer, performer and featured artist agreements, video, photo, remix and other entertainment and music industry related agreements.
•  Provide legal support in connection with the entertainment business strategies and the implementation thereof.
• Responsible for the review of data briefs, monitoring of critical dates, payments, and other ongoing rights and obligations set forth in the agreements, and informing appropriate company personnel of such information.
• Conduct legal research to assess potential business opportunities, evaluating the legal landscape and viability of various companies to determine their potential for successful outcomes in collaboration.
• Maintain internal rights management systems.

Must be enrolled as a full-time law student (2L or 3L preferred)

Ideal candidates will have:

• Strong academic performance in law school, particularly in courses related to intellectual property, contracts, entertainment law, or media law.

Business & Legal Affairs Corporate (NY):

How You’ll CREATE:

Center legal team handling wide range of commercial services/vendor/IT contracts. We negotiate and draft deals and provide legal support for UMG center business groups including eCommerce, Marketing, Supply Chain, GSO, and others.

• Redlining agreements
• Reviewing problems and conducting legal research
• Summarizing risk
• Sitting in on negotiations
• Drafting templates and clause libraries

Must be enrolled as a full-time law student (2L or 3L preferred)

Ideal candidates will have:

• Willingness to learn and take criticisms well
• Self-starter
• Analytical; critical thinker

Business & Legal Affairs: Litigation Corporate (CA):

How You’ll CREATE:

The litigation department investigates and handles claims for and against the companies of the Universal Music Group, including record labels, music publishers and distributors, as well as providing advice with respect issues that come up during the regular operations of the UMG companies.

• Legal research and writing
• Research into ownership/control of assets and the use by third parties of our works
• Research into the background of disputes that we may want to assert or are brought against us.

Must be enrolled as a full-time law student (2L or 3L preferred)

Ideal candidates will have:

• Experience and/or interest in copyright law

Public Policy (DC or NY):

How You’ll CREATE:

• Research and writing heavy: memos, talking points, advocacy pieces.

• Conduct research on legislation, press reports and other matters, as needed. Ability to probe online sources to find information and compile them into a comprehensible format

• Attend congressional staff hearings and industry meetings, as applicable, with Senior VP, Public Policy and Government Relations

• Assist Manager, Public Policy and Government Relations with the day-to-day operations; drafting legislative reports; coordinating special events and scheduling

• Research and prepare materials for congressional and UMG executive meetings

• ·Maintain distribution lists of internal and external contacts

Ideal candidates will have:

• Strong writing skills
• Exceptional attention to detail; rapid response/tight deadline environment
• Experience on Capitol Hill ideal.

Task Force for Meaningful Change (CA):

How You’ll CREATE:

UMG's Task Force for Meaningful Change serves as a driver of social change in support of marginalized groups through the philanthropic arm of the company. The job entails strategic assessments, data analysis, research & reporting, stakeholder engagement, philanthropic outreach, and event planning.

• Project assistance across all the TFMC committees
• Responsible for taking meeting minutes and/or holding meetings on the Executive’s behalf or her leadership team
• Prepare internal and external corporate documents/ presentations/analysis and reporting/run of show/one pagers and other project work as assigned
• Conduct SWAT analysis for improved process flow with philanthropic donations. Maintain databases of key data points for TFMC committees
• Shadow Executive team in high level meetings
• Assist with research projects, events, digital brand as needed

Ideal candidates will have:

• Extremely high level of professionalism as a front facing representative of UMG's social impact
• Strong organizational, research, and writing skills and ability to pivot or multitask
• Positive, mission driven attitude

Bring Your VIBE: (ALL ROLES)

• Strong attention to detail
• Strong organizational skills and efficiency
• Ability to multitask and meet tight deadlines in fast- paced, high-pressure environments
• High level of integrity
• Discretion in handling confidential information
• Professionalism in dealing with senior professionals inside and outside the company
• A “can-do” attitude
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) 
• Self-starter
• Excellent communication skills

Disclaimer: This job description only provides an overview of job responsibilities that are subject to change.

Universal Music Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an E-Verify employer in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah.

For more information, please click on the following links.

E-Verify Participation Poster: English / Spanish

E-Verify Right to Work Poster: English | Spanish

Job Category:

Salary Range:

The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include, as applicable, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.  All candidates are encouraged to apply.