2 Minutes With ... Shara Katz, Director of Creative Licensing at BMG Production Music

Shara Katz, director of creative licensing at BMG Production Music, has over a decade of experience in music supervision and sync licensing. Over the years Shara has cultivated and maintained long lasting relationships with leaders of the music and advertising community. With a passion for playlisting, Shara is all about the thrill of the hunt for that one perfect track.

We spent two minutes with Shara to learn more about her background, her creative inspirations and recent work she’s admired.

Shara, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I grew up about 30 minutes outside of Boston on the South Shore. I’ve been living in NYC for over a decade, so I consider myself a New Yorker. I’m a Brooklyn gal, for sure.

Your earliest musical memory.

This is such a formative story for me. I was in the car with my aunt and uncle and older cousins and Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic” came on the radio. I was hooked. The first cassette I ever owned was Jagged Little Pill, which my dad bought for me, his 5-year-old daughter. He figured it was a good indication that I would grow up to have a decent taste in music, however, I was told I had to skip “You Oughta Know” anytime my mom was in the room.

Your favorite bands/musicians today.

The ultimate question. Honestly, there are too many to count. I’ve had Chappell Roan on repeat for the last few months and Vampire Weekend’s latest album is perfection. I’m a big fan of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Snail Mail—I love me some sad girl music. The New Pornographers, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Yo La Tengo, The Magnetic Fields. The list goes on.

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

The Girls on the Bus.

A recent project you’re proud of.

Working with J. Crew. I’ve been a huge fan of the brand for such a long time.

One thing about how the music world is evolving that you’re excited about.

Queer representation, not only at the artist level but in the songs themselves. More and more queer artists are getting big singing about same-sex/queer relationships, and I think it’s absolutely amazing. Having music you can relate to—if I had more of that growing up I probably would’ve come out sooner.

Someone else’s work, in music or beyond, that you admired lately.

Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. Period. No questions at this time.

An artist you admire outside the world of music.

Wes Anderson. He creates these elaborate worlds and characters within his films. His attention to detail, his quirks make it so the viewer can instantly recognize one of his films without being told it’s a Wes Anderson original. He has an artistic signature that sets him apart.

Your favorite fictional character.

Jo March

Someone worth following on social media.

Ethel Cain… if you know you know…

Your main strength as a marketer/creative.

My intuition. I’ve always had the ability to read people pretty well—their thoughts and feelings. When it comes to pitching music, you often need to be able to read between the lines.

Your biggest weakness.

My short-term memory. It’s all mush up there (points to forehead).

Something people would find surprising about you.

I’m a member of a kickball league, which, if you know me, is extremely surprising seeing as I have absolutely no athletic ability whatsoever.

One thing that always makes you happy.

Well, my boss wants me to pick her, but my real answer is my cat, Goose.

One thing that always makes you sad.

Anyone feeling left out.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in the music business.

I’d be an ethnomusicologist, but if that’s too music business adjacent, I’d probably be a religion professor.