Licensing Manager

Company Overview:

Crazy Maple Studio is a fast-growing company based in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, focusing on mobile gaming, reading, and streaming. We are proud to have a global team that drives our innovation and success across diverse markets.

Our flagship platform, ReelShort, is the #1 vertical streaming app in the U.S., with over 3 million DAU, delivering bite-sized episodic content that keeps viewers hooked. Other standout products include Chapters, where users shape immersive stories across drama, fantasy, and romance, and Kiss, a platform for consuming and creating serialized romance.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Licensing Manager to join our team and drive the expansion of our content library at Crazy Maple Studio (CMS). In this role, you will focus on acquiring high-quality content for platforms like ReelShort, Chapters, and Kiss, ensuring alignment with our audience's tastes and the company’s growth strategy. This role requires a blend of negotiation expertise, market insight, and collaboration with content creators, publishers, and licensing partners.

Responsibilities:

Content Acquisition and Licensing:

• Discover, evaluate, and acquire standout stories, scripts, and IPs that resonate with CMS audiences.
• Build and nurture strong relationships with content creators, publishers, and third-party studios, establishing CMS as a preferred partner for high-quality content.
• Negotiate and secure acquisition agreements with favorable terms, ensuring that our library remains fresh, diverse, and engaging.
• Proactively seek opportunities to license trending and evergreen works that align with our audience's evolving tastes.

Market Analysis and Strategy:

• Stay ahead of industry trends, identifying untapped opportunities for content acquisition that fuel audience growth.
• Leverage performance data to refine acquisition strategies and optimize the ROI of licensed content.
• Develop and execute innovative plans to source both domestic and international content, catering to a global audience.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Partner with creative, product, and marketing teams to ensure acquired content aligns with CMS’s brand vision and strategic goals.
• Collaborate with legal and finance teams to navigate complex licensing agreements, ensuring compliance with copyright laws.
• Work with internal teams to adapt licensed content into high-quality formats optimized for CMS platforms.

Industry Representation and Networking:

• Attend major book fairs, entertainment expos, and industry conferences to represent CMS as a leading innovator in mobile storytelling.
• Build a strong professional network by fostering relationships with authors, agents, and publishers, ensuring CMS is a top contender for exclusive deals.
• Advocate for CMS’s unique value proposition, emphasizing our reach, rapid growth, and creative vision to potential partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in publishing, media studies, communications, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• At least 5 years of experience in content acquisition, licensing, or intellectual property management, preferably within publishing, entertainment, or digital media industries.
• Proven track record of successfully negotiating licensing agreements and managing intellectual property rights.
• Strong understanding of web novels, episodic storytelling, and audience engagement in mobile-first platforms.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to manage relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Familiarity with legal and financial aspects of licensing agreements, including royalties and sublicensing.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, startup environment.
• Passion for storytelling and a deep understanding of digital and mobile entertainment trends.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with international publishers and rights holders.
• A strong professional network within the author, agent, and publisher communities.
• Knowledge of popular storytelling platforms and the nuances of serialized fiction.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits

Crazy Maple Studio, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.