Job Description

Music is Universal



It's the passionate and dedicated team at Universal Music who help make us the world's leading music company. From A&R to finance, legal to digital, sales to marketing, Universal Music is the place to grow and develop your career within a truly commercial and innovative business that leads in everything it does.
Everyone is welcome to apply for our roles, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment because of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, age, marital status, background, pregnancy, or caring responsibilities. We also recognise the importance of diversity of thought within our teams and are fully committed to embracing the talents of people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other forms of neurocognitive variation.
We will always seek to make appropriate adjustments to recruitment, workplaces, and work processes to be fully inclusive to people with different needs and working styles. If you need us to make any reasonable adjustments for you from application onwards, including alternatives to the online form or to disclose a neurocognitive condition, please email UniversalMusicCareers@umusic.com.
Mercury Studios is a multi-faceted content studio established to develop, produce, globally distribute and invest in innovative, music-rooted storytelling across a range of media including film, television, podcasting, publishing and live-streamed performance.
Taking its name from the iconic Mercury Records label, Mercury Studios is powered by Universal Music Group and creates an open space for experimentation to unleash and amplify both emerging and established artists. With offices in London and Los Angeles, Mercury Studios harnesses its established relationships with best-in-class talent from music and film, seamlessly bridging the two worlds to create a completely distinctive community of trailblazers driven by original IP, innovation and collaboration.
The Commercial team oversees the strategic development, commercialisation and delivery of physical products and consumer experiences such as DVDs, Blu-ray, box sets, limited editions, deluxe packaging, merchandise, and special retail partnerships. Working closely with Production, Creative, Supply Chain, Legal, Marketing and global partners, the team ensures Mercury Studios' physical and consumer product offerings maximise revenue, artistic integrity and audience appeal.
The Role
The VP, Commercial will be responsible for leading the global commercialisation of the company's catalogue through consumer products, merchandise and strategic brand collaborations. This role will shape and execute a comprehensive strategy to extend the reach of our music-led IP into physical, ecommerce and consumer experiences.
Key Responsibilities:
Commercial Development & Release PlanningLead all commercial activities for consumer products across the catalogue. Source, negotiate, and manage deals, brand partnerships, and retail activations around the catalogue. Build product programs that resonate with fan bases and enhance brand recognition.

Cross-functional Collaboration:Collaborate closely with production, marketing, operations & technology, business affairs, and finance teams to ensure commercial strategy integrates with content lifecycles. Coordinate with creative and business teams to maintain consistent brand expression across consumer products.

Market & Trend Insight:Monitor industry trends, fan culture, and evolving consumer behaviour to identify new monetisation opportunities. Stay informed on innovation in collectibles, Web3/NFTs, and immersive merchandising experiences.

P&L Ownership:Drive revenue targets and manage budgets for consumer products initiatives. Provide regular forecasting, reporting, and analysis to executive leadership.

Stock Management & Manufacturing Oversight:Oversee end-to-end product lifecycle planning from manufacturing through to retail. Work closely with production partners and supply chain teams to align stock levels with demand forecasts and campaign windows. Set clear objectives for inventory control, lead times, and reorder strategies to reduce risk and minimise overstock and exposure. Ensure agile stock management to support limited drops, exclusives, and fast-reacting product lines tied to cultural moments.

Skills and Experience Required
Must haveExtensive experience in consumer products/licensing, with previous experience at a director-level role. Proven success in commercialising entertainment, music, or lifestyle IP. Deep relationships with global manufacturers, retailers, licensees, and brand collaborators. Strong negotiation, contract management, and partner development skills. Passion for music, film, and pop culture with a sharp instinct for what resonates with global audiences. Entrepreneurial mindset with a blend of strategic vision and efficient execution. Excellent leadership and communication skills; capable of building and inspiring a team.

Nice to haveBackground in music, film or entertainment consumer brands. Experience launching global consumer campaigns or managing multi-region licensing portfolios. Familiarity with rights management, royalty tracking, and entertainment IP monetisation models. Experience with digital consumer product formats (e.g., NFTs, metaverse goods) is a strong plus

Key BehavioursCommercially astute Audience-led and market aware Collaborative and communicative Creative yet pragmatic Highly organised with excellent attention to detail Strategic thinker with operational excellence

Additional Supporting Information
Mercury Studios' physical and consumer product offering is recognised globally for its quality and craft. This role is ideal for a commercially-minded leader who is passionate about premium music content, exceptional physical products and the evolving ways fans engage with iconic artists.
Just So You Know...
The company presents this job description as a guide to the major areas and duties for which the jobholder is accountable. However, the business operates in an environment that demands change and the jobholder's specific responsibilities and activities will vary and develop. Therefore, the job description should be seen as indicative and not as a permanent, definitive, and exhaustive statement.

Job Category:
Universal Music Group