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    Smithsonian Folkways Seeks Royalties Contractor

    Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the award-winning, non-profit independent record label of the Smithsonian Institution, seeks a contractor who will support the royalty operations of the label by ensuring that artists, songwriters, and music publishers receive their royalties in a timely manner. The ideal candidate is highly organized, has good Excel skills, and likes to work with people.

    Hours: 30-40 hours per week during business hours, Monday-Friday
    Term: 6 months
    Hourly rate: commensurate with experience
    Location: hybrid remote with onsite work 1 day each week to process mail at the Smithsonian Folkways offices near the National Mall in Washington, DC.
    How to Apply: send your resume and a cover letter with your proposed hourly rate to royalties@si.edu by 5pm ET on Friday, June 2.

    Duties:
    – Serves as the point of contact for royalty-related inquiries from artists, songwriters, and music publishers
    – Handles mail, monitors the royalties phone line and email account
    – Drafts correspondence, answers phone calls, and follows up with other departments as needed to ensure that all inquiries are promptly addressed
    – Maintains the royalty database by updating work tickets and contact/payment information
    – Scans and uploads documents to databases
    – Processes vendor applications to create accounts in the financial system
    – Coordinates royalty claims and obtains documentation for royalty transfers
    – Conducts research to establish contact with artists or their heirs
    – Records incoming royalties and processes sales data
    – Assists in production and distribution of royalty statements

    Qualifications:
    – Undergraduate degree, preferably in a business-related field
    – 2-3 years of administrative experience in a business environment
    – Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)
    – Self-motivated and highly organized; ability to meet deadlines is a must
    – Strong customer service orientation; must be able to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds in a courteous and professional manner
    – Keen attention to detail; must be able to enter numbers and perform calculations with accuracy

    The following are not required, but would be a plus:
    – Accounting, bookkeeping, or music business experience
    – Proficiency in Spanish
    – Experience working with databases (e.g., Filemaker Pro or Access)