Founded by Dayna Young, Fred & Augustus is a freelance music marketing service committed to harnessing the power of art and storytelling through strategic conceptualization.
Dayna is an impassioned music industry executive with 20+ years global experience in music, entertainment, culture, and in leading teams to success.
Our sweet spot is strategic marketing for small to mid-sized music industry teams - artist management, indie labels or emerging brands - who either don’t retain these services in-house, or do, but are looking for highly experienced support.
As teammates, we bring a sense of fun, while successfully balancing professionalism, empathy and compassion.
We’re driven by bringing out the best in artists, and come with a knowledge of international markets, primary music genres, sub-genres, key record labels and independent artists.
What gets us up in the morning is the knowledge that we’re not just creating opportunities for talent, but shaping platforms for them to flourish and thrive. We lead with one question: “how can artists think strategically about their careers?”
Fred & Augustus is founded on the values of kindness and integrity, loyalty and support and the pursuit of creating opportunities for musicians that help them grow. Whether financially, profile or positioning wise.
The name ‘Fred & Augustus’ wasn’t plucked from thin air. It's rooted in a story that's deeply personal and reflective of our ethos.
Fred, a close friend and confidant, has been a pillar of support throughout Dayna’s entrepreneurial journey. His name is a tribute to the invaluable guidance and encouragement that have propelled her - and other women leaders like her - forward.
Augustus, on the other hand, has been a life-long mentor, and the inclusion of his name exemplifies resilience and perseverance. His unwavering determination and optimism have always served as a source of inspiration.
So, Fred & Augustus isn't just a name on a signboard; it's a symbol of the enduring bonds of friendship, the pursuit of excellence, and the belief that with dedication and determination, anything is possible in today's dynamic business landscape.
Dayna is a highly experienced music marketer, mentor, and author who has worked extensively in artist development, marketing, PR, events, and talent booking across the Australian, UK, European and US markets.
Young knew she wanted to work in entertainment since her early teens, but it was in her 20’s (when she spent a sizable chunk of her weekends in Sydney’s nightclubs), that working in music became a passion. She remembers: "I realized that the people I was spending time with also had paid positions within the industry, and that this was something that I could also do!”.
Her first industry job was in the last 1990’s handling PR for Sydney’s iconic ‘home nightclub’, including for its regular club nights and their 10,000 capacity NYE event that featured artists including Basement Jaxx and Tiesto. Since then, her portfolio has expanded to include work in the e-commerce, food and beverage, and fashion and apparel industries, with extensive experience gained in both B2B and B2C marketing.
Past and present clients have included Beta Radio, DMA'S, PhaseOne, Erin LeCount, Crooked Colours, Miami Horror, Mipso, We Banjo 3, ShockOne, Paces, and ZZ Ward. She's helped launch three independent record labels, and implemented strategies that have driven over 100m streams for indie artists. She has also toured artists such as Axwell, Ingrosso, Z-Trip, Deadmau5, and James Brown, and produced video content featuring talent such as The Chainsmokers, Alison Wonderland, and Kaskade.
She is the author of "Artist Marketing 101: A Guide to Creating a Sustainable Music Business" and is a mentor for emerging industry leaders. Dayna's entrepreneurial drive has led to the success of three thriving music entities, including Fred & Augustus, FANDA and Archery Club (which merged with Select Music in 2013).
Dayna's work has been recognized in various industry publications, including Hypebot and Symphonic, and she holds a leadership position in Women in Music's Denver chapter.
For more information on Dayna, visit her website.
"Dayna really listens to our needs and goals, and helps prioritize our spends and build strategies that result in real audience and revenue growth. She is our trusted go-to".
Carrie Lombardi, Talent Manager/ Partner, Hatchery 17
"Dayna has already brought huge value to DIUO's growth & plans. Her strategic insight was really invaluable during our pre-launch phase, and now as we're ready to launch we're looking forward to working with her going forward. She's tenacious, insightful, massively experienced, and knows music marketing inside out. Highly, highly recommended".
Andrea Cockerton, CEO, DIUO
"Dayna is one of the best digital marketing strategists I've ever worked with in the music industry. She was instrumental in several major growth strategies for one of my artists".
Alex Tate, Director and Artist Manager, Fat Cat Music Group
"Dayna is an amazing strategist and collaborator. Always giving her honest opinion, Dayna is someone I trust and turn to often. She's an asset to any team, and I am so grateful to have her on mine. I could not recommend her more".
- Alyssa Joseph, Artist at Alyssa Joseph
Dayna played a pivotal role in the successful launch of Sounds Of Mayhem, demonstrating exceptional expertise in streamlining workflows, implementing best practices, and optimizing project management methodologies.
Her involvement in marketing and promotions further bolstered our label's visibility and reach.
I would highly recommend her services to anyone who is in the process of setting up a record label or moving into a self release model.
Alex Tate, Director, Sounds Of Mayhem