Nick Stevens

Background

About Nick Stevens

As a Client Relationship Manager, I help clients with fascinating projects reach the audience they deserve. Naxos of America distributes hundreds of independent record labels to our territories, and my portfolio of 100+ labels, ranging from family businesses to global household-name brands, inspires me to bring my full range of expertise to each project. When clients work with me, they have a guide who brings deep knowledge and meaningful analysis to every conversation; a former college professor who can help them understand and master key sales and marketing strategies; a writer and editor who can help them retell company and product stories for audiences they may not have experience with; and an advocate who can listen when the going gets tough and shout their success from the rooftops when an album resonates worldwide. My background includes both multi-year immersive projects and impactful sprints. After earning my PhD, I designed and led classes such as Hip Hop Arts & Culture at Case Western Reserve University and A Brief History of Live Music at Wichita State University, each time starting with an idea and a few articles and building to a semester's worth of skill-building assignments and interactive presentations. But I always wanted to tell the stories of great artworks and arts institutions to bigger audiences. A quick summer on the Cleveland Museum of Art's Street Team taught me how to hone a pitch, make a stranger feel welcome, and educate without lecturing. I published academic research, but also filed concert reviews. I taught formal classes, but also led pre-concert chats. I taught students of "traditional" age in person, but also lifelong learners via Berklee Online. It's always been about bringing the largest, most diverse crowd possible into a community of enthusiasts. Today, as a Label Relations Manager, I pitch upcoming albums to publicists, accounts, media pros, and coworkers in sales and marketing. I spot opportunities and anticipate obstacles for each album project. And as needed, I write and edit original copy on clients' behalf. I built my experience in this world on Naxos of America's D2C marketing team, where I served as the main content marketer for a retail brand, ArkivMusic, with an audience of subscribers. Whether running live-streamed artist interviews, developing blog posts, or curating social media features, I learned and adapted fast. Curious about the record business, or what it takes to help a client of any size maximize their product's reach? Get in touch! My clients will confirm: I'm always open to a chat.