Creative Director - The Merch Collective

Sony Music Entertainment - Nashville, TN

Full-time - Senior

Nashville, TN

Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing

About the position

At Sony Music Entertainment, we fuel the creative journey. We've played a pioneering role in music history, from the first-ever music label to the invention of the flat disc record. We've nurtured some of music's most iconic artists and produced some of the most influential recordings of all time. Today, we work in more than 70 countries, supporting a diverse roster of international superstars, developing independent artists, and visionary creators. From our position at the intersection of music, entertainment, and technology, we bring imagination and expertise to the newest products and platforms, embrace new business models, employ breakthrough tools, and provide powerful insights that help our artists push creative boundaries and reach new audiences. In everything we do, we're committed to artistic integrity, transparency, and entrepreneurship. The Merch Collective is a boutique music merchandising company representing top Artists in touring, eCommerce, and retail channels. We have an immediate opening for a Creative Director. As the Creative Director at The Merch Collective, you will be the driving force behind the visual representation of our artist clients through merchandise. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including production, tour, eCommerce, retail, and artist relations, to conceptualize and execute compelling designs that connect with our client's fans. An ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of music culture, a keen eye for design trends, and a proven track record of delivering creative solutions that drive fan engagement and sales.

Responsibilities

• Provide creative direction and leadership to the art team, ensuring a cohesive and compelling visual identity across artist merchandise.
• Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration, inspiring the team to push creative boundaries and deliver groundbreaking designs.
• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of current music trends, artist aesthetics, and fan preferences to inform and guide design decisions.
• Collaborate with tour, eCommerce, retail, and artist relations teams to align merchandise design with overall artist strategy and business objectives.
• Lead brainstorming sessions and ideation processes to generate fresh and original concepts for artist merchandise.
• Translate creative concepts into tangible designs, considering market trends, production feasibility, and artist guidelines.
• Work closely with tour, eCommerce, retail, and artist relations to ensure seamless integration of creative concepts into product lines.
• Collaborate with artist management and support teams to capture the essence of their personality, fans, and campaigns, and translate it into compelling merchandise designs.
• Oversee production output to ensure that the final merchandise aligns with the approved creative vision and meets quality standards.
• Conduct regular reviews and provide constructive feedback to the art and production teams to maintain high-quality output.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Creative Director or in a similar leadership role within the music merchandise industry.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a diverse range of successful and innovative merchandise designs.
• In-depth knowledge of design software, industry trends, and production processes.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Passion for music and a deep understanding of various artist genres.

Benefits

• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) matching