20th June 2022 – Downtown-owned FUGA, the world’s leading full-service B2B distributor, continues its global expansion with new senior marketing hires and promotions. It also announces top-tier audience engagement services for alt-rock duo, Nova Twins.
Helen Barrass joins FUGA’s growing UK team and roster as Head of Marketing Strategy, following her role as Senior Marketing Director & Head of Artist & Label Development at AWAL UK. Based in the company’s London office and reporting directly to Craig May, FUGA’s Head of Marketing Services, Helen has accumulated over 15 years of industry experience across various independent labels – including Warp Records – running successful, UK chart-topping campaigns for high profile artists including Little Simz, Tom Misch, The Wombats, Gerry Cinnamon and more.
“FUGA is at the forefront of the independent music industry and I’m thrilled to join such an innovative, forward-thinking company at such an exciting time”, Helen Barrass comments, “I’m honored to be taking on such a pivotal role, helping bolster FUGA’s already strong marketing expertise and offerings, whilst amplifying our client’s campaigns on a global scale.”
Ryan Stockwell joins FUGA’s LA office as Senior Marketing Services Director – Americas. Previously the Director of Product Management at Create Music Group and Day-to-Day manager for Galantis and Skrillex, Ryan’s breadth of experience spans over 15 years across marketing, operations and social media. With a US team of now 15, Ryan joins a rapidly expanding LA office servicing clients such as Epitaph and Dim Mak; further strengthening FUGA’s growing global marketing presence.
Further new hires in the marketing team also include Juli Miranda who has joined FUGA’s Amsterdam office as Digital Campaign Manager, bringing with her 10 years of experience as a marketing strategist across major brands, including Paramount Pictures and GSK; alongside Gemma Hart and Chiara Benedetti who join FUGA as Digital Accounts Manager, UK and Marketing Operations Coordinator respectively.
FUGA’s round of recent promotions include Melissa Fernie who is now Head of Audience Engagement following her role as Audience Engagement Manager and Laura van der Sanden who moves into her role as Marketing Services Director – Analytics & Operations. Massimo Reali has also been promoted to Marketing Services Director – Southern Europe/Eastern Europe/Nordics alongside Karma Bertelson who has stepped into the Marketing Strategy Manager role for the UK following her position as Audience Insights Manager.
Craig May, Global Head of Marketing services for FUGA comments, “FUGA’s Marketing Services team continues to grow at an exceptional rate, and under the leadership of pioneering executives like Helen and Ryan, we’re able to expand our offering to clients even further.
The Marketing Services team and its work with artists such as Don Diablo and Will Joseph Cook – including extensive audience engagement campaigns – has been well acclaimed and I’m excited to work with everyone in their new roles.”
In her new role as Head of Audience Engagement, Fernie will work with breakthrough alt-rock duo, Nova Twins. The award-winning band will gain access to an enhanced partnership between label Marshall Records and FUGA, which includes audience engagement and insights, digital advertising, DSP pitching and social media strategy.
Recently releasing their sophomore album, ‘Supernova’ – which landed on Marshall Records 17th June – Nova Twins have been breaking boundaries and perceptions since forming in 2014.
Made up of Georgia South and Amy Love, the British duo received critical acclaim across the industry with their debut album, ‘Who Are The Girls’ in 2020. Their collaboration with Grammy-nominated band, Bring Me The Horizon, ‘1×1’, garnered over 52 million streams and led them to support the group on a 9-date tour in 2021. Following their recent European tour with Yungblud, the duo will be making an appearance at Glastonbury and supporting Rage Against the Machine in Edinburgh this August.
Winners of Best UK Breakthrough Band in the 2020 Heavy Music Awards, Nova Twins have been steadily changing the face of rock with their experimental sound and representation of diversity in the genre.
Peter Capstick, Label Manager for Marshall Records comments: “Nova Twins are one of the most unique and exciting bands in the world that demand creative, talented and dedicated people to support their incredible career. We are immensely proud of what we are achieving working with FUGA, with the access to insights and analytics that help inform strategy across the bands business, alongside social media strategy, digital advertising and nurturing relationships with DSP’s, FUGA once again show they are at the forefront of the independent music sector.”
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