Director, Artist Relations and Entertainment Marketing

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.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in music, entertainment, or brand marketing with strong industry relationships across a variety of functions, including labels, networks, publishers, streaming services, and artists/management.
• Proven success with sponsorships, licensing, artist contracts, and branded productions.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of securing high-value licensing, partnerships, or endorsements.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and executive presence.
• Strong understanding of both the business and creative sides of music marketing.
• Ability to perform and pivot in a fast-paced environment
• Being a musician is a HUGE perk.

Why Guitar Center? Here's just some of the rewards:

For our employees who are musicians we offer the unique opportunity of gig leave—take time off to share your music with the world and return to your job after your tour Guitar Center offers robust benefits and perks, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K plus company match, mental health support, paid sick/holiday/vacation time, employee discount program, and tuition reimbursement options.

Pay Rate: $125,000- $156,000/yr depending on background and experience. 

This position is eligible to participate in the Guitar Center Company bonus program based on Company performance 

The job posting is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, education, and other factors. The pay range(s) listed are provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations.

Why join us? 

With a career at Guitar Center, you become part of the world's largest multichannel musical instrument retailer. Whether at our Stores, Contact Centers, Distribution Centers, or Support Center, Guitar Center employees have a common goal: to help people find their sound and fill the world with more music. 

Love this gig and want to apply? 

Send your resume and cover letter today along with salary expectations 

Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job‐related requirements. 

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request reasonable accommodation by calling 1‐ ext. 2862 or by sending an email to