IDOL signs Full Time Hobby & Hassle Records, hires UK DSP Editorial & Partnerships Manager

19 November 2024 - Press release

 

Deal covers digital distribution, marketing, international coordination and audience development
IDOL to service new releases from Canty, Tunng, BRUTUS, Dead Pioneers, and more in the coming months
Hires ex-[PIAS] Rayen Gonzalez to support growing UK roster

Independent distributor IDOL, which provides world-leading artist and label services to its curated roster, has agreed a global partnership with Full Time Hobby and its sister alternative rock imprint, Hassle Records.

IDOL will handle worldwide digital distribution, marketing and audience development for both London-based labels’ frontline and catalogue releases, excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

IDOL’s specialist marketing and audience development division will work closely with Full Time Hobby, Hassle Records, and their artists, to build their respective international audiences and online fan communities. IDOL will also apply its analytical expertise, using state-of-the-art tools to monitor playlists additions and consumption.

2025 will mark Full Time Hobby’s 21st anniversary, with FTH and its Hassle imprint having developed artists including GHOSTWOMAN, Michael Nau, Squirrel Flower, The Saxophones, Casey and more. Under the agreement, IDOL will service new releases from artists including Bananagun, Canty and Tunng, as well as upcoming Hassle Records music from BRUTUS, Dead Pioneers and Jools.

Roo Currier, UK General Manager at IDOL, said: “We have long been admirers of Full Time Hobby and Hassle Records, with both sharing IDOL’s artist-first ethos and independent values. We look forward to further developing both label’s eclectic rosters as they embark on an ambitious new phase of growth.”

Nigel Adams, co-founder of Full Time Hobby & Hassle Records, commented: “‘In an ever-changing music industry landscape, Wez and I were drawn to work with IDOL as they’re independent, have a focus and attention to detail combined with an ability to compete on a global scale. We share much the same ethos and feel like we’ve found the ideal partner to grow our labels further – we’re excited to celebrate our 21st anniversary with them next year and work together on new releases from artists like Tunng, Canty, Dead Pioneers, Ghostwoman and more …”

To support its growing client base, IDOL has appointed Rayen Gonzalez as DSP Editorial & Partnerships Manager (UK). Based in London, Gonzalez has previously held a Digital Coordinator role at [PIAS], and will report to IDOL’s UK General Manager Roo Currier, and Head of DSP Editorial & Partnerships Paul Pétel.

IDOL continues to expand its European footprint, with the distributor signing Berlin-based label City Slang in September. Other deals within the last year include US labels Le Plan Recordings, Old Soul Music, and TOKiMONSTA’s own Young Art Records, as well as Japan imprint Schole Records.

In July, IDOL also integrated royalty accounting software from Details and Eddy to automate delivery of its distributed clients monthly sales data.