Director Artist Relations and Entertainment Marketing bei Guitar Center

Position Summary

Director Artist Relations & Entertainment Marketing will be responsible for building and maintaining strategic relationships across the music, entertainment and cultural ecosystem, including artists, managers, labels, publishers, vendors, streaming platforms, and brands worldwide. This leader will leverage their network, creative vision, and business acumen to deliver unique collaborations, artist-driven campaigns, and original programming that reinforce Guitar Center’s role at the heart of global music culture.

This role requires someone with deep roots in the entertainment ecosystem who can identify opportunities, secure partnerships, and build narratives that resonate with artists and fans, while connecting cultural relevance directly to Guitar Center’s retail business.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnerships

• Cultivate relationships with artists, managers, labels, publishers, vendors, and platforms to secure collaborations, marketing programs, endorsements, and licensing agreements.
• Develop and manage global partnerships with international labels, platforms, and touring artists.

Cultural Programming & Storytelling

• Develop original and recurring entertainment programs (series, branded IP, digital platforms, live events) that consistently connect with audiences.
• Lead storytelling initiatives across films, digital content, podcasts, and artist-led campaigns that bring the Guitar Center brand to life authentically and memorably.

Licensing & Rights Management

• Negotiate and manage licensing agreements across artists, labels, and vendors to support brand campaigns, retail activations, and co-marketing initiatives.
• Ensure all agreements maximize cultural relevance while reducing costs, accelerating speed-to-market, and aligning with trade objectives.

Artist & Industry Engagement

• Lead Guitar Center’s Artist Relations program as a true hub for working musicians. A place where pros shop, collaborate, and connect with the brand.
• Position Artist Relations as both a cultural beacon and a commercial engine, leveraging professional relationships to drive vendor partnerships, retail activations, and customer acquisition.
• Create opportunities for artists to connect directly with Guitar Center customers through live performances, experiential activations, and digital community initiatives.

Commerce Integration

• Translate entertainment and marketing initiatives into measurable impact on retail sales, customer acquisition, and online engagement.
• Build programs that drive traffic into stores and onto digital platforms, connecting culture with commerce.

Innovation & Future Trends

• Anticipate and capitalize on emerging platforms, technologies, and cultural shifts from AI and immersive experiences to new modes of fan engagement.
• Ensure Guitar Center remains ahead of the curve in how artists and fans connect.

Brand & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Build and guide cross-functional initiatives that elevate Guitar Center’s brand in both culture and commerce.
• Develop a high-performing team, fostering innovation, accountability, and inclusivity while collaborating across brand, creative, digital, and merchandising teams.
• Lead a high-performing internal team and manage external agency partners, fostering creativity, accountability, and executional excellence while delivering integrated campaigns that drive cultural relevance and retail performance.