Internship Program

Locations: Los Angeles, Nashville, Minneapolis, and New York

Departments: A&R, Publishing, Marketing, and Rights Management

Company: Arson Theory

Company Description Arson Theory is the leading music distributor in Heavy Music and Alternative, providing artists, labels, and managers with distribution, publishing, rights management, marketing, and artist development services.

Built by artists and industry veterans, Arson Theory is creating a modern, artist-first alternative to the traditional music business. Our team works across a rapidly growing roster of independent artists, labels, and creative partners while developing the infrastructure and services shaping the next generation of the music industry.

About The Program We are looking for ambitious, detail-oriented, and highly motivated individuals who are ready to learn by doing.

The Arson Theory Internship Program provides hands-on experience across real artist projects, releases, campaigns, catalogs, and business operations. Interns will work alongside our team and gain direct exposure to the day-to-day responsibilities involved in building and supporting careers in the modern music industry.

This is an opportunity for individuals who are passionate about music, eager to develop practical industry experience, and interested in contributing to a fast-growing company within Heavy Music, Alternative, and adjacent genres.

A&R

A&R interns will assist with artist and repertoire research, talent discovery, release evaluation, roster development, and internal artist discussions.

Responsibilities may include:

• Researching emerging artists, producers, labels, and music trends
• Identifying potential distribution, label, or publishing opportunities
• Reviewing music submissions and organizing internal notes
• Assisting with artist onboarding and release preparation
• Supporting the A&R team with roster and project research
• Maintaining artist, manager, and industry contact databases

Publishing

Publishing interns will gain exposure to music publishing administration, songwriter relations, catalog management, registrations, royalty collection, and synchronization.

Responsibilities may include:

• Assisting with song and catalog information management
• Reviewing songwriter splits, metadata, and ownership information
• Supporting catalog registrations and administrative processes
• Researching publishing societies, songwriters, producers, and catalogs
• Assisting with synchronization research and pitching preparation
• Organizing publishing documents and internal records

Marketing

Marketing interns will support artist campaigns, release strategies, social media, content development, audience research, and promotional initiatives.

Responsibilities may include:

• Assisting with marketing plans for artists and releases
• Researching audience trends, comparable artists, and digital platforms
• Supporting social media calendars and content development
• Preparing campaign materials, reports, and promotional assets
• Tracking campaign performance and audience engagement
• Assisting with playlist, press, influencer, and community outreach

Rights Management

Rights Management interns will gain experience across digital rights, neighboring rights, royalty collection, metadata, content identification, and catalog protection.

Responsibilities may include:

• Assisting with metadata review and catalog organization
• Researching ownership, licensing, and rights information
• Supporting YouTube, Meta, SoundExchange, and neighboring-rights workflows
• Reviewing potential ownership conflicts or claims
• Organizing royalty and usage data
• Assisting with internal rights-management documentation

The ideal candidate is:

• Passionate about music and interested in building a career within the industry
• Familiar with Heavy Music, Alternative, or adjacent genres
• Organized, dependable, and able to manage multiple assignments
• Comfortable working independently and collaborating with a team
• A strong written and verbal communicator
• Detail-oriented and willing to learn unfamiliar systems and processes
• Proactive, resourceful, and comfortable taking initiative
• Professional when handling confidential artist and business information

Previous music-industry experience is not required. We are primarily looking for candidates with strong judgment, curiosity, work ethic, and a genuine desire to learn.

Interns will receive hands-on experience working within a fast-growing music company and gain a practical understanding of how modern distribution, publishing, marketing, A&R, and rights-management operations work.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Contribute to active artist projects, releases, and campaigns
• Learn directly from experienced music-industry professionals
• Develop practical skills and professional experience
• Build relationships across the music and entertainment industries
• Gain insight into multiple areas of the modern music business
• Work within an artist-first company focused on long-term development

Please email contact@arsontheory.com with the following:

• Your résumé
• Your current location
• Your area of interest: A&R, Publishing, Marketing, or Rights Management
• A brief introduction explaining your background, career interests, and why you would like to intern with Arson Theory

Please include “Internship Application” and your preferred department in the email subject line.

Arson Theory is committed to creating opportunities for motivated individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. We encourage applicants who are passionate about music, eager to learn, and ready to contribute.