I'm Brian Furano, Senior Vice President of A&R at Global Merchandising Services, where I lead artist development and merchandise strategy for one of the industry's largest independent merchandisers.
Over the past decade, I've managed more than $250M in artist merchandise programs across 100+ artists, spanning pop, country, hip-hop, and rock. My work sits at the intersection of music, business, and technology — finding new ways to turn merch from an afterthought into a core revenue stream.
I'm based across LA, NYC, and Nashville, with a particular focus on expanding our presence in the country music capital. Nashville represents a massive opportunity — it's where country artists (who tour more than any other genre) call home, yet the merch infrastructure hasn't caught up to the market size.
I'm especially interested in how emerging technology changes fan behavior. Mobile ordering, social commerce, and livestream auctions aren't replacing traditional merch — they're creating new moments to connect with fans and capture revenue that used to walk out the door.
I'm always interested in connecting with artists, managers, and industry professionals who are thinking differently about merchandise and fan engagement.