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Audiobook Licensing & Partnerships Manager - Japan

Spotify· Business Team
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Hybrid (Tokyo)PermanentPosted 4d ago

About the role

Leader for Spotify's audiobook business in Japan, focusing on building and growing relationships with Japanese publishers, securing catalogues and partnerships, and driving long-term value for Spotify and publishing partners.

Responsibilities

  • Map the Japanese publishing and audiobook landscape and identify priority publishers, rights holders, and catalogue opportunities.
  • Build a strong pipeline of major and independent publishers, and take partnerships from first conversation through negotiation, agreement, and onboarding.
  • Lead commercial and licensing negotiations, including distribution terms and content licensing budgets, and design creative deal structures that improve economics and share risk.
  • Identify and prioritize the audiobook catalogues and titles that matter most to listeners in Japan, using data, financial models, and market insights.
  • Own long-term publisher relationships, aligning on shared goals and running regular performance reviews informed by data and partner feedback.
  • Partner with operations and publishers on catalogue onboarding, metadata readiness, and smooth content delivery, resolving issues that affect partners or listeners.
  • Represent publishing partners internally, working with product, editorial, growth, operations, and cost management teams on launch priorities and long-term improvements.
  • Stay close to developments in the Japanese publishing and audiobook market and turn them into new partnership and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

  • Full professional proficiency in Japanese and English and the ability to lead complex commercial negotiations in both languages.
  • Experience in licensing, partnerships, business affairs or business development in digital content (books, audiobooks, music, podcasts, video or TV) with a track record of managing complex commercial relationships with rights holders.
  • Knowledge of the Japanese book publishing and audiobook ecosystem, including publishers, rights holders and distribution models, with an established network preferred.
  • Understanding of licensing and commercial models between rights holders and digital platforms, and experience leading or supporting negotiations in a digital content environment.
  • Ability to assess catalogues, interpret performance data and financial models, and manage budgets to balance partner value, cost, and long-term growth.
  • Confident, collaborative negotiator who can find solutions benefiting both Spotify and partners.
  • Strong ownership mindset, relationship-building, and ability to operate in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
  • Capacity to balance immediate launch priorities with building a sustainable long-term publisher strategy.

Skills

Required:Japanese and English bilingual proficiencyCommercial negotiationsLicensing knowledge (digital content)Market and data analysisBudget management

Benefits

  • We offer you flexibility to work where you work best with some in-person meetings.
  • Equal opportunity employer commitment; inclusive recruitment process and accommodations available upon request.
Last updated Oct 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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