FUGA forms partnership with electronic label group Insomniac Music – Music Business Worldwide

Downtown Music Holdings-owned B2B distributor FUGA has struck a new partnership with US electronic label group, Insomniac Music Group (IMG), which houses a number of labels in the electronic music space.

Amsterdam-based FUGA will provide its distribution, marketing and label services for IMG’s several priority labels such as HARD Recs, Bassrush Records, Factory 93 Records, Lost In Dreams Records, and artist-driven imprints such as Shiba San’s Basement Leak, Dr. Fresch’s House Call, and JSTJR’s Group Chat.

The partnership with FUGA sees IMG and its brands gaining access to over 260 DSPs worldwide, the companies said in a joint release on Wednesday (November 23).

“Insomniac is a leading platform for electronic music, standing at the forefront of the genre, and we’re excited to be partnering with such a progressive music company. We look forward to working with the label group across our full suite of distribution, marketing and label services, and further expanding Insomniac’s audiences globally,” Sarah Landy, FUGA’s SVP Americas, said.

IMG will also use FUGA’s sync and audience engagement services and its extensive trends and analytics platform.

Additionally, IMG partnered with Downtown Neighbouring Rights, another unit of Downtown Music Holdings led by Pieter van Rijn. Downtown Neighboring Rights’ roster includes Justin Bieber, Ella Fitzgerald, Sub Pop Records,and Young T & Bugsy.

Commenting on the alliance, Joe Wiseman, Director of Insomniac Music Group, said: “We are excited to start the next chapter of Insomniac Music Group by joining forces with FUGA to enhance the overall reach and success of the records issued across our core imprints.”

FUGA was acquired by Downtown Music Holdings in 2020 and its marketing team has since expanded, now operating across 17 countries.

The company’s services including analytics, royalty accounting, neighboring rights, rights management, and white label services are used by more than 800 music rightsholders worldwide, according to the release.

“They have been raising the bar within the independent music distribution space, and FUGA’s global footprint is the perfect catalyst to help us connect with new fans around the world while continuing to shine a light on the artists and sounds that we believe in,” Wiseman adds. 

The partnership with IMG follows FUGA’s newly signed deal with specialist classical music company, Naxos Music Group, earlier this month. Naxos distributes more than 90,000 classical titles. 

Back in August, FUGA teamed up with Berlin-based artist management and label services agency, Odyssey Music Network, and with Vienna-based label and management company Phat Penguin.

FUGA has launched new offices across South Korea, Brazil, Sweden and Germany, expanding its staff by 30% from a year earlier.

In September, FUGA became part of a new unit under Downtown Music following a business shakeup. It’s now part of a new division called Downtown Music, led by FUGA CEO Pieter van Rijn. The division also includes Downtown Neighbouring Rights, Adrev and Downtown Music Services.

Music Business Worldwide