downtown-B2B distributor has ownership FUGA is opening an office in Berlin.
This follows a period of growth for FUGA in the GSA region, including a 30% increase in customer base last year.
Headquartered in Kreuzberg, FUGA’s Berlin office will serve as the GSA’s regional hub.
Curt Keplin, who joined FUGA in December 2021 as Director of Marketing & Business Development, has been promoted to Head of GSA Business Development.
Keplin will focus exclusively on FUGA’s customer relationship and business development efforts in the region, while continuing to shape and represent FUGA’s brand in German-speaking markets.
Joining him is Bernd Harbauer, who has been appointed Director of Digital Accounts & Marketing Strategy – GSA, with plans to further expand the team in Berlin in the coming months.
Harbauer will lead relationships with key digital partners and will oversee release campaigns and strategies to maximize revenue and artist visibility across DSPs.
He previously ran his own consulting firm and has held positions with Clouds Hill Music, earMUSIC, Popular music Germany and EMI Music Germany.
Elsewhere, FUGA is also entering into a global distribution partnership with the German electronic pop label and YouTube Unique Vibes music channel and Swiss ecstatic imprint Psyfeature Records.
Psyfeature holds a following on social media related to psytrance, while Unique Vibes’ YouTube channel has more than five million subscribers.
Single coming out A bit shy by Vibes unique CRÈME signer and collaborator tracking Boom Shakalaka by Memento Mori, Gonzi and Massivebass by Psyfeature, will be the first releases distributed by FUGA. Both will be released on April 8.
Having contracted CloudKid, FUGA’s client, German alt-pop artist Diana Goldberg becomes the first to benefit from FUGA’s Audience Engagement services in the region, the company said.
The Audience Engagement team will work closely with CloudKid and Diana Goldberg’s manager, Willy Ehmann, to drive engagement ahead of the release of her upcoming single, FOCUS…on April 8, as well as her debut EP, BLOSSOM IN THE NIGHT on July 8th.
“FUGA’s expansion across the GSA region has been exciting to watch.”
Bernd Harbauer
Bernd Harbauer, said: “FUGA’s expansion across the GSA region has been exciting to watch and I look forward to joining the global marketing team and Curt at its new Berlin office.
“It is clear that FUGA has become an important player in the region and the extensive set of marketing services it now offers will be very beneficial to music companies across the GSA.”
“Working with FUGA’s artist engagement services on Diana Goldberg has been an absolute pleasure.”
Yiannis Karavassilis, CloudKid
Yiannis Karavassilis, COO CloudKid, added: “Working with FUGA’s artist engagement services on Diana Goldberg has been an absolute pleasure.
“Their team is extremely professional, resourceful and is complementing all of our efforts as a brand perfectly and allowing us to focus on our core strengths, which are is to be a creative partner for artists and be able to maximize and focus our influencer strategy.”
“Working with FUGA with my company CloudKid to release my first EP was amazing!”
Diana Goldberg
Diana Goldberg, said: “Working with FUGA along with my company CloudKid to release my first EP was amazing!!
“I love the energy of the whole team and everyone who helped make my vision a reality.
“It’s been fun to discover audiences in places I never knew existed. Can’t wait to see where the next few months will take us.”
In JanuaryFUGA has signed a deal with independent music company Mascot Label Group, home to artists such as Black Stone Cherry, Beth Hart, Shaman’s Harvest, Vola and Dragged Under.
In November, company also reached a global delivery platform service agreement with Group of beggarsone of the world’s leading independent music publishers.
Headquarters in UK Beggar owns a 50% stake in brands such as XL Recordings, Matador and Rough Trade. It also 100% owns 4AD, runs its own publishing company within Beggars Music, and is home to indie label, Young.Worldwide music business
