Brian Richards is Founder and Managing Partner of Artisan, one of the leading investment banks with specialty in the music and entertainment industries. Artisan works with high-profile publishers, labels, artists and songwriters to monetize their rights or raise capital to pursue acquisition strategies. With transaction capabilities across catalog deals, M&A, equity and debt financings, and structured finance, Artisan has completed 40+ transactions in the music industry in recent years.

Prior to founding Artisan, Brian was Co-Founder and Managing Partner at MESA, a premier investment bank specializing in the media and entertainment industries. As a leader at MESA, Brian was involved in transactions across all sectors of traditional and digital media, with a deep specialty in the content industries. MESA was acquired by Houlihan Lokey in 2015.

Prior to MESA, Brian was a strategy consultant for the media and entertainment industries with Price Waterhouse.

MBA, Wharton; JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School; BA, Tufts University