FUGA Partners With Arketyp Group, the New Venture From YEAR0001 Co-Founder Oskar Ekman

10 July 2025 - Press release

Deal expands FUGA’s footprint in the Nordic region and follows new signings from Arketyp Group and YEAR0001


Downtown-owned, B2B distributor FUGA has today announced a new global partnership with Arketyp Group, the newly launched independent label group founded by Swedish music manager, label owner, and YEAR0001 co-founder, Oskar Ekman. As part of the deal, FUGA will provide digital and physical distribution, strategic marketing support, and Downtown sync services across Arketyp’s roster of independent artists and label clients.

Based in Stockholm, Arketyp Group was founded earlier this year by Ekman as a creative, marketing and back-office services hub for independent labels and artists, as well as bringing under the same umbrella a management company, publishing business, and a record store. The first label to join Arketyp Group is YEAR0001 - co-founded by Ekman and partner Emilio Fagone - who administers the back catalog rights of Yung Lean, Bladee, Drain Gang, and Viagra Boys, alongside an exciting roster of new artists.

A FUGA client since 2022, YEAR0001 has partnered closely with the company across global digital and physical distribution, sync licensing and audience engagement over the last few years, laying the foundation for this new, expanded collaboration. YEAR0001 additionally entered into an international neighbouring rights agreement with Downtown Neighbouring Rights in 2022.

“After 10 years of building YEAR0001, bringing left-of-centre Swedish artists to global audiences, it’s time to scale”, said Oskar Ekman, Founder of Arketyp Group.“Arketyp taps into the expertise of YEAR0001’s team and boutique creative and global marketing services which are bespoke for each artist and serves innovative talent and independent labels. YEAR0001 has always been fiercely independent and autonomous, so is Arketyp - which is why the partner of choice was always FUGA – a company who helps partners develop their businesses – and marks a natural continuation of the work we’ve been doing hand in hand with them over the last 3 years.”

The first release under Arketyp was acclaimed Swedish punk band Viagra Boys’ 4th studio album, Viagr Aboys, released on 25th April via the band’s own label, Shrimptech Enterprises. The album has been their most successful to date - supported by a multi-platform campaign powered by FUGA - entering the Billboard 200 for the first time and securing strong chart positions in the US across several categories - including #27 on the Independent Albums chart, #2 on the Indies Store Album Sales chart and #5 on the Current Rock Albums chart. Globally, the album debuted at #7 in Sweden, #15 in Germany and #44 in the UK, delivering the band’s highest-ever first-week sales worldwide.

The accompanying global tour is taking them to their biggest venues to date, with over 100,000 tickets sold and headline shows; including London’s Alexandra Palace in March 2026.

Arketyp’s growing client roster also includes Swedish/American indie band, Miike Snow, whose hits from the late 2000s onwards have accrued over 500M streams globally. Their newly-formed imprint, “Plastic Jungle’ will partner with Arketyp for reissues of their classic first two albums, as well as their forthcoming album - the band’s first in 9 years - due for release later this year.

YEAR0001 continues to be the home of exciting left-of-centre emerging talent, with the label releasing Los Angeles post-punk band, Provoker’s third album, with forthcoming album releases planned from Double Virgo, Namasenda, and Swedish experimental artist, Anna Von Hausswolff – her first for the label.

“Working with Oskar and YEAR0001 has always been about championing creativity without compromise,” said Liz Northeast, SVP EMEA of FUGA. “Arketyp takes that vision even further and we’re proud to be a partner in this next chapter and look forward to helping Arketyp’s artists connect with audiences around the world.”

The partnership follows additional key successes between FUGA and YEAR0001, including DJ Suzy - a developing act from the label -being named Apple Music Nordics' Up Next artist of the month and post-punk band, Provoker selected by Spotify as Lorem Artist to Watch 2024.