Senior Vice President, Global Retail Sales & Licensing

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.
 

How We LEAD

Universal Music Group’s direct-to-fan and merchandise growth engine, Famehouse, is seeking a Senior Vice President, Global Retail Sales & Licensing to lead the global commercial strategy across wholesale distribution, retail partnerships, and licensing.

This executive leader will be responsible for driving global revenue growth, expanding strategic partnerships, and scaling licensing opportunities that unlock new commercial pathways for artists and fans worldwide. The role will oversee Famehouse’s global retail sales and licensing ecosystem, ensuring alignment with UMG’s merchandise, brand partnerships, and superfan growth strategies.

Reporting into the Merchandising & Commercial Strategy leadership team, the SVP will define the long-term global roadmap for retail sales, wholesale distribution, and brand licensing while building strategic partnerships that amplify artist brands and maximize commercial performance.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in global commercial leadership, licensing strategy, and retail distribution, with a proven track record of building scalable revenue models across international markets.

How You'll CREATE Impact – Global Commercial Strategy

• Define and lead Famehouse’s global retail sales and licensing strategy, driving sustainable revenue growth across wholesale, retail, and brand licensing channels.

• Establish long-term commercial roadmaps and revenue targets aligned with UMG’s global merchandise and superfan initiatives.

• Identify and unlock new licensing, retail, and distribution opportunities across international markets, lifestyle brands, and emerging retail formats.

• Develop scalable commercial frameworks that support global artist campaigns, catalog programs, and long-term brand partnerships.

Strategic Partnerships & Licensing

• Lead Famehouse’s global portfolio of wholesale accounts, retail partners, and licensing relationships.

• Negotiate and structure high-value global licensing agreements, strategic partnerships, and distribution deals.

• Partner with Business Affairs and Finance to build scalable deal structures and licensing models that maximize revenue while protecting intellectual property and artist brand equity.

• Cultivate strategic relationships with global retailers, lifestyle brands, distributors, and cultural partners.

Global Go-To-Market Leadership

• Drive global commercial launch strategies for priority artist campaigns, cultural moments, and merchandise programs.

• Partner with Labels, Creative, and Marketing teams to align product, retail activations, and licensing collaborations with artist vision and fan demand.

• Leverage fan insights, consumer data, and market trends to inform assortment strategy, pricing architecture, and licensing opportunities.

• Expand innovative commercial channels including brand collaborations, experiential retail, touring partnerships, and specialty distribution.

Commercial Performance & Governance

• Oversee global sales performance, licensing revenue, and commercial KPIs, ensuring strong financial performance and margin growth.

• Lead global commercial reviews with regional teams and strategic partners to assess performance and identify growth opportunities.

• Align forecasting, pricing strategy, and inventory planning in partnership with Finance and operational teams.

• Build and lead a high-performing global commercial organization across sales, licensing, and distribution.

Bring Your VIBE

• 15+ years of senior leadership experience in global sales, licensing, wholesale, or commercial partnerships within entertainment, apparel, lifestyle, or consumer products.

• Proven experience building and scaling global revenue businesses across multiple commercial channels.

• Deep expertise in global licensing strategy, retail partnerships, wholesale distribution, and commercial negotiations.

• Strong P&L leadership experience with accountability for large-scale revenue growth and margin expansion.

• Demonstrated ability to structure and close complex, multi-market licensing and partnership agreements.

• Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to translate consumer insights, sales data, and market trends into strategic growth initiatives.

• Executive presence with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, global partners, and cross-functional teams.

• Passion for music culture, fandom, and building meaningful connections between artists and fans.

About Famehouse

Famehouse, a division of Universal Music Group, is a global direct-to-fan and merchandise services company that helps artists build deeper relationships with fans through innovative commerce, creative storytelling, and scalable digital infrastructure. Famehouse powers global merchandise, fan experiences, and commercial partnerships for some of the world’s most influential artists and brands.

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.

Please note, UMG is not enrolled in E-Verify in California and New York, and cannot support employment of candidates whose employer must enroll in E-Verify, for example candidates on STEM-OPT.

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:

Salary Range:

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.