My First Job in Music: Annie Brinn
This month, Queer Capita is highlighting LGBTQ+ Music Industry Leaders through our series, My First Job in Music. In honor of Women’s History Month, we are centering our series on the visionary women shaping the music industry from behind the scenes to the C-suite.
We continue the series with Annie Brinn (She/Her), the SVP of Copyright Administration at Warner Music Group. Based in Nashville, Annie is a titan of the administrative world, overseeing the complex engines of copyright, licensing, and royalties. Her journey is a masterclass in the power of the "long game"—turning a ground-breaking internship into a 14-year legacy of leadership and systems innovation. Annie reminds us that while the music business is built on songs, it is sustained by the strength of our reputations and the people we choose to lead.
Read about other LGBTQ+ Music Industry Leaders and Allies in our community.
What was your first job in music?
I started in the industry after interning at Sony Music Publishing for two summers, which led to a full-time role as a Licensing Coordinator right after graduation. Being the first intern to support their administrative teams gave me exposure across the business early on, and I made a point to say "yes" to every opportunity to learn. Over 14 years at Sony, I grew into a management role where I led key efforts during major catalog acquisitions of over 3 million songs. That experience ultimately led me to my current leadership role at Warner Music Group.
Who was someone who supported you to help you get your start in your career?
Don Cook was instrumental. At the time, he was the COO and SVP of Sony Music Publishing, and he helped me land that first internship in 2003—a role that was actually newly created on the administrative side. More importantly, he didn’t just open the door; he made a point to introduce me to key people on the creative side of the business. That early exposure was invaluable in shaping my path forward.
Annie with Luke Bryan after receiving my Service Award at Sony Music Publishing for 10 years at the company, taken in December 2015.
When Annie took her entire department at WMG to see Hamilton at TPAC in June 2022 as we handled the licensing for the Hamilton Soundtrack.
What was a lesson you learned at the start of your career that you still carry with you?
Relationships are everything. I intentionally surround myself with supportive, respectful, and highly skilled people who value collaboration, because that’s what drives long-term success. Early on, I also learned that leadership is about people, not just tasks. Supporting, mentoring, and building trust within your team leads to better results than focusing on output alone. Finally: stay comfortable being uncomfortable. Growth comes from pushing beyond complacency.
What was your favorite memory from your first job?
There are so many, but what stands out most is the excitement of being surrounded by experts who generously shared their knowledge of the publishing ecosystem. Those relationships had a lasting impact. I built lifelong friendships and a strong network of peers—many of whom I still work with today. Whether it was receiving my 10-year service award or seeing the growth of songwriters like Jack Antonoff from their first Nashville shows, the people have always been the highlight.
Annie with Sony peers backstage at the Bleachers show with Jack Antonoff. This was taken at Cannery Ballroom in October 2014 to support Sony songwriter, Jack Antonoff, at his first Nashville show with his newly formed band, Bleachers, just months after Taylor Swift’s 1989 was released when Antonoff made his breakthrough as a pop producer.
Annie with Taylor Swift at the Sony Music Publishing Holiday Brunch in December 2009 after she received the Sony Music Publishing 2009 Songwriter of the Year Award.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Work hard, but enjoy each season of life that you’re in. You’ll eventually make it to where you want to go, but you’ll never get back the time you let pass by because you were too busy hustling for the "next" opportunity.
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