Merchandising Lead

Job Description

We are UMG, the Universal Music Group. We are the world’s leading music company. In everything we do, we are committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship. We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world.
 

Famehouse, a division of UMG, is the preeminent leader in D2C solutions in music, defining & delivering the industry’s best-in-class service to connect artists with their fans. Established & headquartered in Philly, Famehouse powers eCommerce for UMG’s labels, artists, and Bravado, along with a select roster of 3rd party clients. Our success & culture is fueled by collaboration—both within FH and with our partners. We are passionate about the impact of eCommerce for artists, providing a full service solution to grow an artist’s owned business including strategy, creative, storefront merchandising, fulfillment, customer service, technology, and more.


How we LEAD:
Merchandise and commerce are a part of the fabric of music culture. For artists, it’s a way to develop and further articulate their brand. For fans, it’s another pathway to connecting with an artist and the culture they represent.


The Merchandising Lead owns the end-to-end merchandising strategy across a portfolio of key artists. You will be responsible for building and executing assortment strategies, pricing architectures, and inventory plans, while also serving as a trusted advisor to artists and their teams—often in high-profile, fast-paced, and high-pressure moments. Success in this role requires comfort operating with both data-driven rigor and relationship-based influence.


How You'll CREATE:


Merchandising Strategy
● Build seasonal and ongoing assortment strategies aligned to brand, consumer demand, and financial targets
● Develop and manage pricing architectures, including initial pricing, margin targets, and promotional considerations
● Oversee demand forecasts, inventory plans, and buy quantities to optimize revenue, margin, and sell-through
● Analyze sales performance, conversion, and inventory health; identify risks and opportunities
● Apply insights from consumer behavior, trends, and historical data to inform future assortments

Artist Partnership & Account Leadership
● Act as the primary merchandising partner for assigned artists and management teams
● Translate artist vision into commercially viable merchandise assortments
● Present clear, data-backed recommendations and guide artists toward the best paths for success
● Balance creative ambition, timelines, operational constraints, and financial outcomes

Product & Cross-Functional Collaboration
● Partner closely with design, product development, sourcing, marketing, and ecommerce teams
● Influence product direction using performance insights, fan data, and market trends
● Ensure assortments are right-sized, on-brand, and launch-ready
● Support go-to-market and launch strategies tied to tours, releases, drops, and promotional moments

Milestone Management & Execution
● Own key merchandising milestones from concept through launch
● Ensure timelines are met across multiple workstreams in a fast-moving environment
● Proactively identify risks and resolve issues to keep programs on track
● Drive post-launch reviews and apply learnings to future programs

Bring Your VIBE:
● 12+ years of experience in merchandising, buying, or planning, ideally within a large retail or ecommerce organization
● Demonstrated expertise in assortment planning, pricing strategy, and inventory forecasting
● Strong financial and analytical skills; comfortable working with sales, margin, and inventory metrics
● Experience managing external partners, clients, or cross-functional stakeholders
● Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, high-pressure, and highly visible situations
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Core Skills & Competencies
● Strategic assortment and line planning
● Pricing and margin management
● Demand forecasting and inventory optimization
● Consumer- and data-driven decision making
● Stakeholder influence and account management
● Calm, persuasive communication under pressure
● Strong organizational and prioritization skills

Perks Playlist:

Join an entrepreneurial, global organization where authenticity, boldness, creativity, connection, drive, and insight aren’t just values—they’re how we work every day. Here are some of the ways we support you along the way (and just a few of the benefits we offer):

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage

  • Including 100% coverage for out-patient in-network mental health services

  • Fertility coverage for eligible medical plan participants

  • Wellbeing reimbursements for fitness classes, spa treatments, meal services, travel, and so much more (up to $720/year)

  • Student Loan Repayment Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement

  • 401(k) with 100% immediate vesting on the first 5% of your contributions, plus an additional UMG contribution

A variety of ways to prioritize much-needed time away from work including:

  • Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) for exempt employees

  • 3-weeks PTO for non-exempt employees

  • 2-weeks paid Winter Break

  • 10 Company Holidays (including Juneteenth and Wellbeing Day)

  • Summer Fridays (between Memorial Day and Labor Day)

  • Generous paid parental leave for every type of parent

Check out our full overview of benefits on the Perks Playlist page of the career site.

Disclaimer: This job description only provides an overview of job responsibilities that are subject to change.

Universal Music Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an E-Verify employer in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah.

For more information, please click on the following links.

E-Verify Participation Poster: English / Spanish

E-Verify Right to Work Poster: English | Spanish


Job Category:

eCommerce

Salary Range:

$149,950 - $275,523

The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include, as applicable, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.  All candidates are encouraged to apply.