Robert Olivia is a music industry professional with 20 years experience working for orchestras & jazz, rock and pop performers. Experience includes licensing, synchronization, clearance, negotiating contracts, rights, financial forecasting, reporting to performing rights organizations such as ASCAP and BMI and tracking publisher sources and copyright holders globally. Has also worked as an arranger, clarinetist, personal music library representative.   

In these capacities he works collaboratively and across global platforms with marketing, legal and artist management representatives. He has a demonstrated ability to be flexible in approach to problem solving, complicated world-wide logistics with a strong ability to shift focus and work priorities at a moment’s notice. 

In Los Angeles he worked for JoAnn Kane Music in a diversity of roles and on more than 100 motion pictures, television shows and popular artist recording sessions.

He is currently the Associate Librarian of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Previously he served as librarian for the Oregon, Naples, Detroit, New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestras.

Responsibilities in current and past capacities include preparation of music performed on stage and project management of logistics involving music performed and recorded. Music genres are not limited to classical and are diverse ranging from Pop to Jazz, Rock and Hip Hop. For Seattle Symphony Media, the SSO's own record label, he is responsible for reporting and negotiating contracts with music publishers, synchronization, and mechanical licenses.

He has worked with many recording/performing artists including Doc Severinsen, Pink Martini, Brandi Carlile, Mike McCready/Mad Season, Grieves, The Decemberists, Cowboy Junkies, Tony Bennett, Frederica von Stade, Samuel Ramey, John Williams, Marvin Hamlisch and many others. He has collaborated with publishers on critical editions including Universal Edition on their new printing of Schubert/Webern Deutsche Tänze and with Janen Music for the restoration of Henry Mancini arrangements. He has given presentations, lectures and written for journals and a book soon to be published.

Since 2006, Robert Olivia participates as part of the Mentor/Supervisor Directed Fieldwork Program at the University of Washington Information School. He is a member of Los Angeles Musicians Local 47, ASCAP, Recording Musicians of America and of the Major Orchestra Librarians Association.