Downtown Music Holdings-owned B2B music distributor FUGA has struck a global delivery platform services deal with Beggars Group, one of the world’s leading independent music rights firms.
UK-headquartered Beggars owns 50% stakes in labels such as XL Recordings, Matador and Rough Trade. It also owns 100% of 4AD, runs its own publishing company in Beggars Music, and is home to indie label, Young.
According to FUGA, the partnership sees “extensive technical integration” between Beggars’ newly-developed technology platform and FUGA’s proprietary digital supply chain technology, in order to service all of Beggars’ global DSP partners with the group’s entire catalog and new releases across all five labels.
Supported by FUGA’s global engineering and London-based management teams, the two organisations have already completed the migration of Beggars’ catalog.
FUGA says that its London-based team has also doubled in size over the last twelve months, with the business actively expanding its presence in the region.
As a result of this expansion, Liz Northeast has been appointed as UK General Manager, reporting to FUGA’s SVP EMEA Dorothée Imhoff.
Northeast, who has previously occupied senior roles at The Orchard and AWAL, joined FUGA as Client Relations Director EMEA in early 2021.
She will spearhead FUGA’s London team, overseeing existing UK clients and partner relations, including Beggars Group, as well as handling all new business development for the region.
In September, FUGA rolled out spatial audio support and automated delivery to Apple Music, becoming the first B2B distributor to do so.
FUGA was acquired by Downtown Music Holdings in 2020, and works with more than 800 music businesses across fifty countries.
“FUGA’s industry-leading software and an impressive breadth of experience working with the independent music sector makes them an ideal delivery partner for us.”
Simon Wheeler, Beggars Group
Simon Wheeler, Director of Global Commercial Strategy at Beggars Group, said: “FUGA’s industry-leading software and an impressive breadth of experience working with the independent music sector makes them an ideal delivery partner for us.
“Their best-in-class supply chain will allow us to maintain full control over our rights and catalog while servicing our digital partners around the world and keeping up with the many and varied developments in the modern digital marketplace.”
“As one of the most influential label groups in both the UK and global independent music, Beggars Group is an incredibly exciting addition to our international clients, with FUGA now a route to market for a significant portion of the world’s new releases.”
Pieter van Rijn, FUGA
Pieter van Rijn, CEO of FUGA, added: “As one of the most influential label groups in both the UK and global independent music, Beggars Group is an incredibly exciting addition to our international clients, with FUGA now a route to market for a significant portion of the world’s new releases.
“I’d also like to acknowledge Client Relations Manager EMEA Sarah Johnston, the lead for the operational onboarding process, and Joost Calis, our Head of Supply-Chain Engineering, as well as the whole engineering team for their exceptional work, which was tremendously instrumental in the process.”
Across the course of 2020, Beggars Group turned over GBP £61.66 million ($79.2m), inclusive of its share of joint venture partnerships like XL, Matador etc.Music Business Worldwide