Job Summary:
THE TEAM
Merch Traffic is a division of Live Nation Entertainment that develops, produces, and distributes official artist merchandise through tour, e-commerce, retail, and licensing.
THE JOB
We are seeking a Senior Vice President, A&R to be a founding member of our team in Nashville, Tennessee. This senior executive will focus on sourcing, negotiating, and closing merchandise deals with top-tier talent, as well as driving the long-term success of those deals across tour, e-commerce, retail and licensing. A strong network within the Nashville music community at the highest level is essential, alongside the ability to cultivate new relationships. The Senior Vice President will collaborate closely with Merch Traffic's executive, legal, and finance teams to execute deals. Outside of dealmaking, the Senior Vice President, A&R will act as the most senior strategic partner to clients, guiding their brand and official merchandise business to achieve its maximum potential, while also serving as an effective thought partner and creative collaborator.They will oversee a team of artist relations, production, and creative professionals in Nashville – as well as cross-functional support teams within and outside of Merch Traffic - who will be executing the day-to-day management of the clients’ merchandise businesses, ensuring delivery of exceptional results and achievement of deal projections.
The ultimate goal is to generate long-term growth for clients and the company by securing profitable merchandising deals and fostering ongoing, collaborative client relationships.
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate for this role is an experienced leader in the music industry with a rolodex of top-tier talent and representation, substantial experience in the artist merchandise business, and a proven track record of profitable deal-making. They will have:
- 5+ years working on artist merchandise deals with knowledge of tour, e-commerce, retail and licensing business models and landscape
- Proven leadership in high-pressure environments
- Advanced negotiation skills
- Strong analytical and financial acumen
- Creative sensibilities around product and promotions
- Finger on the pulse of latest branding and merchandising trends
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as Merch Traffic’s senior artist relations executive in the Nashville market
- Scout emerging and established talent in Nashville music scene and beyond whose brand and merchandise potential align with Merch Traffic’s strategic goals
- Source, negotiate, and close merchandise deals that deliver positive financial and strategic results for Merch Traffic while building long-term value for clients
- Negotiate with top-tier talent/representation in a highly competitive environment; lead tough discussions with attorneys, artists, managers, and internal partners while demonstrating leading expertise in the merchandise and music business
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, artists, artist managers, music executives, and colleagues to facilitate dealflow and stay informed about market dynamics and competitor activities.
- Maintain a detailed pipeline of all deals and ongoing conversations
- Build deal projections, proposals and contracts based on internal/external data and a deep understanding of artist merchandise deal points and best practices
- Develop long-term strategic plans for client merchandise portfolios, including sales forecasts, expansion plans and brand development initiatives
- Be fully accountable for deal P&L’s, ensuring financial targets (revenue, cost of goods, expenses, net profit) are met
- Lead cross-functional teams (i.e. production, e-commerce, accounting, inventory management, creative, marketing), ensuring they are aligned with client goals and are working cohesively to deliver results at the highest level
- Serve as the senior liaison between clients and Merch Traffic, acting as a partner, advocate and expert while developing long-term, trusting business relationships.
- Manage crises and solve problems under pressure to ensure client satisfaction amidst various challenges with production, creative, sales performance, and more
- Constantly ideate and proactively pitch creative and strategic concepts to clients which maximize financial and brand equity impact
- Identify and implement cutting-edge merchandising trends and innovations that can set clients' merchandise offerings apart in the marketplace