Apple Music is looking for a few good publisher relations employees to ensure songwriters around the world get paid — with an emphasis on that big red nation in Asia: China. The streaming music service launched in the world’s most populous country in late September with the same three-month free trial as the U.S., and now the company’s looking for a skilled number-cruncher with contacts in the music publishing world to keep things running smoothly once royalties start rolling.
The company posted three “music publisher relations” jobs on Nov. 4: USA and China, Europe and Russia and Greater China. While they all have identical qualifications (good communicator, problem solver… a wiz with data, etc.) and duties (preparing reports to publishers and Apple brass… dealing with invoices and claims for payment… sending checks on time, etc.) the latter requires applicants to be fluent in Chinese. All jobs are based California, but will involve international travel.
At the time of launch, Apple said there were “millions” of songs in Apple Music’s catalog for China. (There are 30 million in the U.S.) It costs 10 RMB per month, or only $1.50 US, but not before users exhaust a three-month trial membership. (The low price for Apple Music in China is actually in line with other streaming services there, like Tencent’s QQ Music.) Regardless of the size of its catalog, Apple Music and every other streaming have an uphill battle in the country, thanks to new rules issued by the Ministry of Culture earlier this week which require companies to scan their catalogs to make sure they aligns with the MoC’s content guidelines.
Apple Music was made available to Android phone users this week in nearly all territories where the streaming service operates. One big exception is China, though Apple’s Eddy Cue told Billboard that it’s coming soon.
