Denise Melanson
Vice President, Global Social Impact & Community Engagement at Wasserman
In an era where celebrity talent and brands alike seek to find proven and committed purpose, Denise Melanson’s work as Vice President, Global Social Impact & Community Engagement at Wasserman provides a compass for meaningful social contributions. In her pioneering role for the company – and the industry – Denise consults with client teams and executives on philanthropic strategies and social impact engagement. Additionally, she is a leading voice on Wasserman’s DE&I council, overseeing the company’s global commitment to sustainability. Through collaboration and thought leadership, Denise ensures that all of Wasserman’s strategies can deliver a lasting impact on society through a variety of initiatives.
After 17 years as a music agent, Denise created the social impact department at Paradigm Talent Agency, prior to Wasserman’s acquisition and integration of the company in 2021. As leader of the social impact group, she was responsible for developing, implementing and overseeing all of Paradigm’s philanthropic strategies, with the goal of helping the agency and its represented artists effect positive change.
While leading the department, Denise established relationships with a variety of nonprofit organizations around the globe – bridging the gap between cause- related campaigns and the agency/its artists to co-create impactful campaigns while empowering staff and clients to engage with their communities. Further, Denise and the team developed programs and strategies that built industry connections and drove impactful results.
Throughout her career, Denise has worked on national campaigns with Planned Parenthood, Red Nose Day, Everytown for Gun Safety, The Trevor Project, NRDC, HeadCount, GLAAD and many more. She has also helped create game-changing industry tools, including: a music inclusion rider with Diversify The Stage; a first-of-its kind, interactive climate-conscious vendor database with Sound Future; and a live event accessibility checklist with Half Access in an effort to make live events accessible for everyone.
During Denise’s music agent tenure, she represented iconic clients including Stormzy, A-Trak, Knife Party, Pendulum, Chase & Status and many more, securing top spots on festivals and worldwide tours. In addition, she has also served as an advisor to Plus1, Propeller, Children in Conflict, and Half Access and is currently an advisory board member for the Music Sustainability Association. In May 2019, Denise was selected to represent Austin, Texas as part of the United State of Women, a national organization tackling gender equity.