Derek Jones
Lake Havasu City
Summary
Grammy-nominated music production leader with 20+ years in film and television music, including music engineering and mixing for Netflix animated series such as Spirit: Riding Free and She‑Ra and the Princesses of Power, managing end‑to‑end music production and delivery for high‑volume episodic content.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Freelance Mixer and Sound Engineer
Self-employed
01.2001 - Current
- Music engineer for major label and indie artists
- Re‑recording mixer and score mixer for series and films for Netflix, Apple TV+, Warner Bros., Paramount and other major studios
- Collaborate with composers, music editors, and post production teams to deliver final music and mix assets on schedule and in spec for broadcast and streaming.
- Engineer recording sessions for major label and independent artists, overseeing session setup, tracking, editing, and mix delivery.
- Partner with production and post production to ensure accurate delivery of music stems and assets for dubbing, marketing, awards campaigns, and soundtrack releases when applicable.
- Spirit: Riding Free – Netflix / DreamWorks Animation Television – Music mixer / engineer, supporting episodic score and deliverables for Netflix’s kids & family animation slate, including interactive episodes
- She‑Ra and the Princesses of Power – Netflix / DreamWorks Animation– Music mixer / engineer, collaborating with composers and post teams to deliver episodic music assets and mixes
- Additional credits for Netflix, Apple TV+, WB, Paramount and other studios available on IMDB: Derek Alan Jones (I).
Director of Creative Services / Producer
Megatrax Production Music
01.2001 - 07.2026
- Manage music production for all 10 in‑house labels, overseeing planning, budgeting, scheduling, and delivery of a high‑volume slate of albums and custom projects.
- Produced, engineered, and mixed over 1,300 albums across multiple genres, aligning creative direction with client and production needs while maintaining strict delivery timelines.
- Developed, launched, and produce the Track Distillery and Sync Hero labels, collaborating cross‑functionally with marketing, sales, and operations to support sync and production music clients.
- Increased in‑house production by over 500% without increasing production budgets by optimizing workflows, vendor relationships, and resource allocation.
- Manage a global team of 200+ music creators (composers, producers, musicians), providing creative guidance and operational support from development to final delivery.
- Manage and produce custom music projects for television, advertising, and other media, acting as primary point of contact for production teams and stakeholders.
- Managed and maintained a world‑class 25,000 sq ft recording facility, including scheduling recording sessions, supervising staff and freelance engineers, and ensuring technical readiness for complex projects.
- Pioneered and revamped music distribution and delivery methods, including asset management, metadata standards, and downstream client delivery workflows.
- Created the company’s music metadata taxonomy and SEO initiatives, enabling accurate tracking, licensing, and downstream usage across platforms.
Instructor - Music Production and Engineering
UCLA Extension
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Developed and taught classes on music production
Education
Pro Tools Audio Editing for Music And Post - Expert Certification -
Video Symphony
01-2005
Bachelor’s Degree - Professional Music
Berklee College of Music
01-1997
Skills
- Music Editing & Mixing
- Music Production, in-person and remote using large teams worldwide
- Re‑recording Mixer
- Score Mixing
- Audio Post Editing (Dialogue, SFX, Music)
- Session Management
- Music Asset Management
- Music Copyright and Publishing
- Metadata & Taxonomy Design
- File Delivery Workflows
- Studio Operations
- Recording Facility Management
- Avid Pro Tools / Logic Pro / Ableton Live / Cubase / Digital Performer
- Microsoft Office
Timeline
Instructor - Music Production and Engineering
UCLA Extension
01.2021 - 01.2023
Freelance Mixer and Sound Engineer
Self-employed
01.2001 - Current
Director of Creative Services / Producer
Megatrax Production Music
01.2001 - 07.2026
Bachelor’s Degree - Professional Music
Berklee College of Music
Pro Tools Audio Editing for Music And Post - Expert Certification -
Video Symphony
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS & PANELS
- Production Music Conference 2025 – “The Secret Formula: How to Arrange Music for Different Types of Sync Placements” (Moderator/Speaker).
- Production Music Conference 2019 – “After the License” (Moderator/Speaker).
- Production Music Conference 2018 – “Music Library Audio Mastering Primer” (Moderator/Speaker).
- Production Music Conference 2016 – “Producing Music for Music Libraries” (Moderator/Speaker).
- NAB Conference 2015 – “How To Reach Your Audience with Music” (panelist).
- Podcast Interviews: Career Musician Podcast, Sync Gems Podcast & Trail Blazers Podcast – featured guest discussing music production, sync, and production library operations.
- 53rd Grammy Awards (2010) – Nomination, Best Contemporary Jazz Album.