In a bold move that signals a seismic shift in the music industry, Neon Gold Records and Avenue A have joined forces to launch Futures Music Group, a new music collective poised to redefine the label paradigm. This innovative venture promises to empower artists, prioritize transparency, and leverage cutting-edge technology to reshape the business of music.

Unlocking the Future of Music: Futures Music Group's Transformative Vision

Pioneering a New Era of Artist Empowerment

Futures Music Group is a collective of forward-thinking labels, artists, and executives determined to disrupt the traditional label model. Co-founded by Neon Gold's Derek Davies and Avenue A's Dave Wallace, the company is committed to delivering "major results on indie terms" for its artists. By offering flexible, transparent deal structures that prioritize incentive alignment and artist empowerment, Futures Music Group aims to redefine the industry's approach to artist ownership and control.The launch roster of Futures Music Group boasts an impressive lineup, including the likes of Phantogram, Good Neighbours, The Knocks, Barns Courtney, Palace, and the recently added Mt. Joy, through a joint venture with the band's own Bloom Field Records. This diverse array of talent underscores the collective's dedication to nurturing and elevating artists across genres.

Harnessing the Power of Technology

Futures Music Group's vision extends beyond traditional label structures, as the company has strategically invested in various tech ventures that push the music business forward. These investments include partnerships with innovative platforms like Big Effect, a digital marketing solution founded by former Spotify and Universal Music Group data experts, and Notes.fm, a royalty management platform from Stem co-founder Tim Luckow.The partnership with Notes.fm has already proven fruitful, with the platform identifying "seven figures" of unrealized revenue for Futures' launch artists in the form of previously unclaimed royalties. This demonstrates the collective's commitment to leveraging technology to maximize value and transparency for its artists.

Redefining the Label Paradigm

Futures Music Group's co-founders, Derek Davies and Dave Wallace, are acutely aware of the industry's current inflection point. They believe the music economy is rightfully trending towards artist ownership, and they see a significant opportunity for a well-financed and resourced label group to deliver major results for artists on independent terms."The industry has reached what we believe to be the largest inflection point in the history of the label system, as we are moving into a new music economy that is rightly trending towards artist ownership," said Davies. "We believe there's a meaningful opportunity for a well-financed and resourced label group with a proven track record to deliver major results for artists on indie terms, which is what we've set out to build with Futures."

Harnessing the Power of Partnerships

Futures Music Group's launch comes on the heels of Neon Gold Records' multi-year global distribution agreement with UMG's Virgin Music Group. This partnership allows Neon Gold to maintain its independent spirit and artist-centric ethos while benefiting from the scale, global infrastructure, and team of Virgin Music Group."The partnership allows us to maintain our independent spirit and artist-centric ethos, while benefiting from the scale, global infrastructure and team of Virgin Music Group," Davies explained. "It's the perfect combination to support our mission of delivering major results on independent terms for artists, carving out new lanes for our acts to have more control both creatively and commercially."

Building a Diverse and Talented Team

Futures Music Group's leadership team is a formidable one, comprising industry veterans with a proven track record of success. In addition to co-CEOs Davies and Wallace, the company's leadership includes Sarah Kesselman (CMO and General Manager), Nicky Berger (COO), and Jeff Lin (CFO).This experienced team is currently in the process of building Futures' "internal team of core services," which includes digital, sync, sales, and content production. By assembling a diverse and talented group of professionals, Futures Music Group aims to provide its artists with a comprehensive suite of resources and support to help them thrive in the evolving music landscape.

Charting a New Course for the Music Industry

Futures Music Group's launch represents a bold and innovative approach to the music industry, one that prioritizes artist empowerment, technological innovation, and a commitment to redefining the traditional label model. As the industry navigates a period of significant change, this collective's vision and strategic investments position it as a trailblazer, poised to lead the charge towards a more artist-centric and equitable future for the music business.