TWO MORE EXECS CLIMB ABOARD THE VENICE GONDOLA

Sophia Bacuros and Deryck Vanderbilt-Nicholson have joined Troy Carter and Suzy Ryoo’s Venice Distribution as VP of Digital Marketing and Head of U.S. Audience and Culture, respectively. Bacuros will be based on the West Coast, while Vanderbilt-Nicholson will work out of NYC. These hires will facilitate the music and technology company’s intention to become a distribution partner for entrepreneurs and indie artists.

Bacuros previously spearheaded digital marketing and content strategy at HITCO Entertainment following a stint at Warner Records. At Venice, she’ll handle marketing initiatives, creative-content strategy and artist relations. Bacuros enters her new job “excited to continue empowering artists in telling their unfiltered, authentic stories to a global audience."

Vanderbilt-Nicholson comes to Venice from Island Records/4th&B'way, where he served as Director of Media & Artist Relations. Prior to that, he led creator-media and product-tool communications at SoundCloud. At Venice, he’ll oversee artist development, creative-marketing strategies and cultural impact for artists. Vanderbilt-Nicholson is bringing Brooklyn-based musician KOTA the Friend to the platform in his continuing role as manager and GM/EVP of FLTBYS Music & Entertainment.

“Sophia and Deryck bring a combination of skill and taste that independent artists and labels appreciate,” reads Carter’s quote. “They have impeccable track records for breaking artists in innovative ways and will be welcome additions to the Venice team.”

Ryoo describes the new hires as “intensely thoughtful, brilliantly creative storytellers who have decisively chosen Venice as their home to empower the next generation of fiercely independent artists and entrepreneurs.”

Bacuros and Vanderbilt-Nicholson join Venice Global Head of Revenue + Services Operations Ray Kurzeka, Head of Streaming + A&R JR McKee and U.K. co-heads Theresa Adebiyi and Matt Ott.

Venice is the distribution arm of Carter, Ryoo and J. Erving’s Q&A.