Careers.Broadway is intended to be a resource through which students and interested people of all ages find information and opportunities relating to careers in the Broadway industry. We have tried to include as much information as we could find, and we will update the site whenever more information comes to our attention. While many people are aware of the jobs that are visible when attending theatre (actors, musicians, ushers, etc.), there are many behind-the-scenes jobs that make shows happen as well. We hope you enjoy learning more about these exciting careers!

If you know of a job or webpage that would be a good addition to this site, please contact us.

Careers.Broadway is a program of The Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to more than 30 million people in New York and more than 200 cities across the U.S. and Canada. Learn More

Licensing Agents

What does a Licensing Agent do?

A LICENSING AGENT is someone who handles the requests for the legal use of copyrighted material including songs, scripts, branding, etc. LICENSING AGENTS help negotiate on behalf of licensing houses with clients interested in using the copyrighted work. Licensing houses or agencies are in charge of the rights of an author’s work and help negotiate the contracts on behalf of the estates. They work for the licensing agencies.

Skills

Understanding of copyright law and licensing | Detail-oriented | Contracts | Negotiating | Strong written and verbal communication

Pathways

Degree in business administration and/or entertainment law | Interning

How to become a Licensing Agent

Many colleges and universities offer degrees and concentrations in music business and law, but not very many focus on licensing. Those interested may want to explore courses that focus on copyrighted material. The best experiences for those interested in becoming licensing agents would be to work or intern for a licensing agency.

Union/Professional Organization Affiliations

Resources

The Tony Awards’ “Freddie Gershon: Building the Broadway Audience by Empowering Young Performers”
American Theatre’s “The TYA Canon: How Licensing Agencies Build Artists and Audiences”

Gordon Firemark’s “Entertainment Law Asked & Answered – Licensing Music For Kids Performance School”