Creative - Art Director

Creative Director

Location:

New York, NY (Hybrid - 4 Days On-Site)
Salary:

$70,000 annually
Department:

Creative / Content / Brand Innovation
Reports to:

Head of Original Content, Digital Growth Lead
Employment Type:

Full-Time

About the Role

HOT 97 and WBLS are seeking a

culture-driven Creative Director

to lead the visual evolution of two of the most influential brands in music, media, and New York culture.

This role is responsible for shaping, guiding, and executing creative across

radio, digital platforms, social media, FAST TV, live events, and experiential marketing -ensuring the brands remain culturally resonant while evolving for modern, multiplatform audiences.

As Creative Director, you will set creative direction, design high-impact visuals, and collaborate closely with programming, on-air talent, production, marketing, and digital teams. You'll balance hands-on creative execution with high-level vision, helping translate legacy brands into bold, future-facing visual systems.

This position follows a

hybrid work model , with

four days per week required on-site

at our Manhattan headquarters.

Why You'll Love This Role
Lead Iconic Brands:

Define and elevate the visual identity of HOT 97 and WBLS-cornerstones of Hip-Hop, R&B, and urban culture.
Culture at the Core:

Your work will live at the intersection of music, media, and real-time cultural moments.
Creative Ownership:

Own visual direction across platforms-from social and broadcast to FAST TV and live events.
Massive Reach:

Your creative will be seen by millions of listeners, viewers, and fans nationwide.
Influence & Collaboration:

Work directly with talent, executives, producers, and partners to shape how culture is presented and experienced.
What You'll Do

Creative & Visual Direction

Lead the evolution of HOT 97 and WBLS visual identities across all platforms
Define creative direction for campaigns, programming, and brand initiatives
Ensure consistency and excellence across digital, broadcast, social, and experiential creative
Translate station legacy and culture into modern, culturally impactful visual storytelling
Digital & Social Creative Leadership

Oversee and design creative supporting station and talent-led programming, including:

Mornings with Mero
Nessa On Air
Funk Flex programming and freestyles
DJ Camilo mixes
Weekend specialty programming
Interview series and talent-led content
Podcast visuals and episode packaging
Artist announcements and music releases
Key deliverables include:

YouTube thumbnails and channel branding
Instagram and TikTok graphics
Web editorial visuals
Promotional templates
Multi-platform campaign rollouts
FAST Channel & Broadcast Creative

Lead creative direction and visual standards for

HOT 97 TV

and FAST channel programming, including:

Lower thirds and chyron systems
Show title cards
Promotional graphics and brand toolkits
Transition and branding elements
The FAST channel expands the station's cultural reach beyond radio into national streaming audiences.

Experiential & Event Creative

Lead creative development for major events and activations, including:

Summer Jam
Circle of Sisters
Concerts and station events
Sponsor activations and branded integrations
Community initiatives and pop-ups
Editorial & Campaign Leadership

Drive creative across marketing and content initiatives, including:

Artist interview and content launches
Seasonal and tentpole programming campaigns
Cultural moments and heritage storytelling
Sponsorship and partner integrations
Station-wide announcements and brand moments
Core Responsibilities

Set and execute creative direction across platforms
Design and approve campaign key art
Maintain brand systems and visual consistency
Lead talent-driven branding and show identities
Develop scalable design templates and toolkits
Create sponsorship-ready layouts and creative systems
Support merchandise and brand extension concepts
Build presentation decks for executives and partners
Collaborate cross-functionally with producers, editors, marketers, and digital teams
Ideal Candidate Profile

You are:

Deeply embedded in music, culture, and visual storytelling
Fluent in

social-first, digital creative leadership
Comfortable leading creative across multiple platforms and formats
Skilled at evolving iconic legacy brands into modern visual systems
Bonus if you understand:

Hip-Hop visual language and cultural aesthetics
Urban lifestyle branding
Broadcast and FAST channel packaging workflows
Youth audience and internet culture trends
Event, experiential, and moment-driven campaign creative
Required Skills

Adobe Creative Suite ( Photoshop & Illustrator required )
Strong typography and visual system design
Social-first creative workflows
Broadcast-safe asset development and delivery
Preferred / Bonus Skills

After Effects and motion design
Figma for collaborative design systems
3D design or animation
UI / web design experience
AI-assisted creative workflows
Experience & Portfolio
3-7+ years experience in one or more of the following:

Media or entertainment
Music platforms or labels
Broadcast environments
Digital publishing
Culture-forward consumer brands

Portfolio required , demonstrating:

Campaign creative
Brand systems and visual direction
Social and digital storytelling visuals
Show and talent branding
Event graphics
What You'll Help Build

You'll help define creative supporting:

HOT 97 programming
WBLS programming
Summer Jam and signature events
FAST channel visual systems
Talent-driven and original content
Sponsor and brand partner campaigns
Next-generation multicultural storytelling

Together, these platforms reach

millions of listeners, viewers, and fans

across radio, digital, streaming, and live experiences each year.