GIRLS IN MUSIC

Gap has recently appointed a new member in its board of directors, Jody Gerson, who is also the CEO and chairwoman of Universal Music Publishing Group. Jody Gerson prior to this job has been in the industry for years, serving as the co president in Sony Music Publishing for six years as well as many other companies. She has vital experience in the music industry and could help provide a new kind of support for Gap.

Fashion and music have always been closely tied together. In music all artists, big and small, try to create a brand or persona for themselves. This brand is linked to fashion and other themes as well. Gerson has personally signed multiple stars such as Lady Gag and Alicia Keys, helping to curate a brand for these people. Lady Gaga, particularly, is known not just for her music but for her avant-garde, bold, glamorous makeup looks and unique outfits. Alicia Keys in comparison is known for her ballads, powerful voice, and natural vulnerability. These singers have a brand which individuals such as Gerson know how to market. This ability to market a brand can be applied to what she can do for Gap as well.

Like artists, fashion brands have specific “aesthetic” features which sets them apart from others. Having an “in” in the music industry could help Gap stay more in touch with trends. The music industry is constantly searching for the newest trends and looking for patterns as is the fashion industry.

On August 19th Gap launched their KATSEYE ad which was part of their “Better in Denim” fall 2025 campaign. The campaign features the girl group dancing to Kelis’s “Milkshake” in various Gap jeans. The campaign proved to be a major success for gap, generating millions of views in just a few days and going viral on numerous platforms such as TikTok. Gap has already proved that they are merging fashion and music successful and Joy Gerson can only help to further advance this, driving the idea of fashion-entertainment forward.