Julie Russell of Fangirl Fantasy: Inside the Quest to Legitimize Fan Culture in the Music Industry

As a part of our series about business leaders who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Julie Russell

Fangirl Fantasy events celebrate the passion and enthusiasm that fangirls share for their favorite artists. The events feature artist favorites including The Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, One Direction, Bad Bunny and more, making it the perfect place for fans to indulge their love for music. With Julie Russell’s marketing background and JD Whitfield’s extensive experience as a DJ (having worked alongside celebrities like The Chainsmokers, E-40 and more), Fangirl Fantasy is sure to provide an unforgettable experience for all who attend.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

Growing up, I spent a lot of time attending concerts, you could always count on me to walk into school the day after a show wearing new merch. Music and concerts were my whole personality, more specifically the Jonas Brothers. I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in entertainment/music, so I started working in Radio promotions in Boston and that was really my breakthrough opportunity into what is now my career. I learned the backend of Record Labels and how music was played on the radio, artists coming through to do press etc. It was really where I built my network. I moved to NYC for a summer to intern at Atlantic Records because I truly thought that was the route I was going to take. I ended up not loving it and went back to Boston continuing networking, picking up any industry job possible while working in radio. I went on my first influencer tour in 2019 as VIP Coordinator, I handled all the M&G’s and worked with the talent. After the tour I moved to Los Angeles to work as a Digital Assistant at America’s Got Talent. Los Angeles definitely kicked me in the teeth my first go round. I moved back to Boston and accepted a job as a Promotions Coordinator at 98.5 The Sports Hub. This is also the timeframe I built and came up with Fangirl Fantasy.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

I am breaking the boundary of the stigma of fangirls working and breaking into the music and entertainment industry. I am the Founder of Fangirl Fantasy, a pop culture events company created by a fangirl for fangirls. It means a lot to me to create a safe place where you can go and listen to your favorite music with your friends and be unapologetically yourself.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I don’t know if I made any “funny mistakes”, but I have for sure made a lot of them! I think the biggest mistake that I am still learning day by day is not everyone has the same intentions as you do. Just because you wouldn’t do something to someone doesn’t mean they wouldn’t to you. I’ve had a lot of unfortunate outcomes when assuming and trusting something would be done the way I would do it.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

I am super lucky that I’ve had mentors since I first started out in the industry. Tanya Frazier, who I also jokingly refer to as “Mom” because I still call her about everything/anything, was/is the Marketing Director at the CBS Radio/Audacy where I started radio in Boston. Tanya trusted me with everything very early on and allowed me to ask all the questions and sit it on meetings and calls that I definitely had no business sitting in on. I’ve learned from Tanya to take no funny business from anyone, stand your ground and remember to have fun while doing your job. Steve Salhany — Program Director at CBS Radio/Audacy. I’m not too sure why or how I got lucky to be pulled under his wing. But he too allowed me to sit in on new music meetings and would introduce me to every record label representatives when they would come through. When I was trying to figure out what direction I wanted to go next for my career, Sal was the first person to make a phone call to refer me, call in a favor to set up an interview for me without any hesitation. Tanya and Sal saw something in 20-year-old Julie Russell that I had no idea was even there. I know and can confidently say I would not have the career I have today without them being my support system.

In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?

I think disrupting the industry is a positive, as it’s going against the grain and challenging the old ways of thinking and trying to ideate outside of the box. Questioning why things always need to be in a particular way when it could also work in a different and better way helps to change routine. I don’t see disrupting an industry to be a negative thing as long as it doesn’t hurt or harm anyone.

Can you share five of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.

The best advice and my favorite is to remember to still have fun. I work in an industry and career where it is fun, and it’s meant to be fun! In my early 20’s I was working nonstop 24/7 I never said no to a shift/project/favor etc. and I was getting burnt out with things I wasn’t even interested in. I wasn’t even enjoying going to shows anymore until I was having a conversation with a friend and they reminded me that I still needed to be having more fun.

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

I’m going to keep pushing the boundary and fighting for fans and fangirls to find their place in the industry. I still think in professional settings, fangirls who’ve become professions are not taken seriously. I think we’ve made progress, but I don’t think we are quite there yet in established entertainment spaces.

Do you have a book, podcast, or talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us? Can you explain why it was so resonant with you?

The Armchair Expert podcast episode with Jordan Peele there is a specific quote he said that I think about all the time “Past my largest failure even if I have a bigger failure I’m past the one that hurt me the most” I think it’s so important to remember that you’re going to keep failing but the one you thought you were never going to be able to overcome, you ultimately did, and now it’s done and in the past. This conversation during this podcast was so insightful about struggles but also being authentic to yourself and your craft.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“There is a past version of you that is so proud of how far you’ve come”. It’s so easy to compare yourself to your peers and think despite your success, that you haven’t accomplished something that someone else has. If 14 year old Julie could see 28 year old Julie she wouldn’t believe all that she’s done, and most of the time, I just need to remind myself of that.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I was speaking to my friend, Rafy about this recently and I really want to be a better mentor to others trying to pursue a career in entertainment. I want to be able to help others and be a resource for fans and fangirls trying to follow their passions. We didn’t have many people advocating for us before this time in the industry, and I know I’m in a unique position to get to mentor and champion new fangirls bringing fresh ideas to the table. I’m actively working on some sort of real way to support younger talented people, it’s going to be a slow build but it’s definitely coming.

How can our readers follow you online?

Follow Fangirl Fantasy on Instagram: @fangirl__fantasy

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!