Director, Marketing and Artist Development - Santa Monica, 90404

Director, Marketing and Artist Development - Santa Monica, 90404, United States of America

How we LEAD:

Universal Music Group is seeking a Director, Marketing & Artist Development . This role will serve as a strategic and operational leader for a creative marketing team focused on artist development, release strategy, DSP initiatives, and business operations. Acting as a trusted partner to the EVP, this role will help drive priorities across artist product management, marketing strategy, project execution, team workflow, and cross-functional communication.

Key Responsibilities

Artist Product Management & Marketing Strategy

• Lead product management and marketing strategy for priority artists and releases, including singles, EPs, albums, video content, merchandise, D2C initiatives, live events, and other music-related products.
• Develop and execute marketing, creative, advertising, and artist development plans in partnership with artists, managers, label teams, DSPs, and internal stakeholders.
• Serve as a key liaison between artist management, label partners, and internal teams, ensuring clear communication and alignment across all phases of a campaign.
• Build a deep understanding of each artists goals, creative vision, audience, and management processes to support effective long-term planning.
• Develop artist branding and growth strategies across key verticals, including superfans, creative direction, A&R alignment, digital marketing, content, cultural positioning, and fan acquisition.
• Partner with digital strategy teams to build data-informed plans, evaluate campaign performance, and recommend pivots based on audience behavior, ROI, and market insights.
• Identify DSP, digital marketing, and emerging platform opportunities that drive artist relevance, engagement, brand awareness, and audience growth.
• Manage project budgets and ensure resources are aligned with campaign goals and priorities.

Project Management & Business Operations

• Lead day-to-day project management across artist campaigns, DSP initiatives, internal programs, and special projects, ensuring clear timelines, deliverables, agendas, follow-ups, and accountability.
• Drive operational clarity across the creative marketing team by establishing priorities, owners, next steps, and communication flows that keep projects moving efficiently.
• Identify blockers, gaps, and risks across projects, escalating and resolving issues as needed to maintain momentum.
• Oversee team workflows, internal systems, templates, documentation, and operating rhythms to improve efficiency, collaboration, and scalability.
• Maintain and evolve key resources, including artist development playbooks, industry landscape documents, cultural trend reports, project strategy maps, internal trackers, agendas, recaps, and executive-ready updates.
• Act as a senior leader within the creative marketing team, helping guide priorities, decision-making, execution, and cross-functional alignment.
• Support the EVP in tracking high-priority initiatives, preparing updates, and translating strategic decisions into clear action plans.
• Lead weekly internal meetings and artist-specific discussions to share updates, evaluate priorities, drive ideation, and ensure alignment.
• Maintain clear communication between A&R, marketing, digital, creative, artist management, DSPs, label partners, international teams, third parties, and executive leadership.
• Manage artist, management, third-party, and indie label communications, including newsletters, press strategy support, outreach, and brand development initiatives.
• Mentor and guide team members by providing direction, structure, feedback, and accountability.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in music marketing, artist product management, label operations, artist development, digital marketing, or a related role within the music or entertainment industry.
• Proven track record leading artist release campaigns across music, video, merchandise, live events, digital marketing, DSP strategy, fan engagement, audience development, and artist branding.
• Strong understanding of DSPs, digital platforms, fan acquisition, emerging music discovery channels, campaign performance, and data-informed marketing strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex cross-functional projects involving artists, managers, label teams, creative teams, digital strategists, DSP partners, third parties, and executive leadership.
• Strong operational mindset with experience building scalable processes, workflows, templates, team systems, timelines, budgets, and accountability structures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize information clearly for internal, external, and executive audiences.
• Strong leadership presence, emotional intelligence, and ability to drive accountability while maintaining a collaborative, creative team culture.
• Ability to balance creative instincts with business goals, data insights, timelines, budgets, and evolving priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Highly organized, proactive, solutions-oriented, and passionate about music, artist development, culture, fan communities, and innovative marketing.
• Consistent and punctual in-office attendance to support the companys collaborative and creative culture, mentorship, effective discussions, and team meetings.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint, SAP, and other role-specific systems.