Jump to content

Secretly Group

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Secretly Distribution)
Secretly Group
Founded1996
FounderChris Swanson
Darius Van Arman
Ben Swanson
Eric Weddle
Jonathan Cargill
DistributorSecretly Distribution
GenreIndie rock
Country of originUnited States
LocationBloomington, Indiana
Official websitehttp://secretlygroup.com/

Secretly Group is a family of American independent record labels based in Bloomington, Indiana. The group is made up of Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, and Dead Oceans, as well as a 50% stake in Merge Records. Secretly Canadian, the first of the labels, was formed in 1996 by brothers Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic. Weddle later left to form label Family Vineyard; the remaining trio were joined by Darius Van Arman, as well as his label Jagjaguwar, in 1999. The two labels had worked closely before Jagjaguwar's offices moved to Bloomington to work alongside Secretly Canadian's.[1]

In February 2007, the partners behind Secretly Canadian and Jagjaguwar, along with Phil Waldorf, former label manager of Misra Records, announced a third label, Dead Oceans. The three labels share offices and staff in Bloomington, IN; however, they maintain distinct and separate aesthetic visions. In June 2013, The Numero Group, an existing re-issuer out of Chicago, joined forces with Secretly Canadian and the collection of labels known as Secretly Group.[2] In 2025, it acquired a 50% stake in the influential independent label Merge Records. [3]

All five labels are distributed by Secretly Group's in-house distribution arm, Secretly Distribution.

Artists

[edit]

A number of artists have appeared on the four labels over the years.[4]

Secretly Canadian

[edit]

Jagjaguwar

[edit]

Dead Oceans

[edit]

Numero Group

[edit]

All Flowers Group

[edit]

The All Flowers Group is a label group which is part of the Secretly Group family of record labels.[5][6][7]

drink sum wtr

[edit]

drink sum wtr is an American independent record label founded in 2022. It operates under the All Flowers Group.[8] drink sum wtr was founded in May 2022 by music executive Nigil Mack, Chris Swanson and Sam Valenti IV.[9][10] It primarily releases music in genres such as hip hop and R&B.[11] Its first signing was Queens-based rapper Deem Spencer in 2022, followed by poet Aja Monet.[12][13][14]

In 2023, drink sum wtr signed Annahstasia, who later released the album Tether and the EP Surface Tension under the label.[15][16][17]In 2025, the label signed Yaya Bey, and released her album Do It Afraid.[18][19][20][21][22] Other artists the label has signed include Gareth Donkin, Your Grandparents, JEMS!, Seafood Sam, Halima, St. Panther, Kari Faux, THEY., Elujay, Aundrey Guillaume, and Say She She.[23][24][25][26][27][28][29]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Secretly Canadian: Mythological Proportions Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. Spacelab, August 8, 2007. Accessed September 30, 2008.
  2. ^ "Numero Group Joins Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans in Newly Formed 'Secretly Label Group' (Exclusive)". Billboard.
  3. ^ "Secretly Group and Merge Records Form Partnership". Pitchfork. 10 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Secretly Label Group is born: Numero, Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar and Secretly Canadian join forces". Music Week.
  5. ^ "Secretly Hires Multiple New A&R Team Members". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  6. ^ "Secretly's 2022 in Review: New Artists, Companies & Staff Lead a Year of Growth, Change & Independent Music". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  7. ^ "Secretly Group Affiliate All Flowers Group Welcomes Sacred Bones Records". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  8. ^ Leight, Elias (2022-05-12). "Ghostly International Forms All Flowers Group With New Label drink sum wtr". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  9. ^ Needham, Jack (2022-05-13). "Ghostly International and Secretly form All Flowers Group". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  10. ^ Dalugdug, Mandy (2025-10-14). "Sacred Bones Records joins Secretly's All Flowers Group portfolio of labels". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  11. ^ Corcoran, Nina (2022-05-12). "Ghostly International and Secretly Form New Record Label Company All Flowers Group". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  12. ^ "aja monet: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  13. ^ "Deem Spencer Announces New EP 'yung' | News". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. 2025-03-12. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  14. ^ staff, Treble (2022-05-12). "Ghostly and Secretly announce new label partnership, All Flowers". Treble. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  15. ^ "Annahstasia Announces New EP 'Surface Tension' | News". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. 2024-10-09. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  16. ^ "Le Top 100 2025 de Magic, partie 2 – de la 70ème à la 41ème place". Magic RPM (in French). 2025-12-04. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  17. ^ "Interview: Annahstasia - Tether". Some Other Time. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  18. ^ Corcoran, Nina (2025-04-23). "Yaya Bey Announces Tour and New Album Do It Afraid, Shares New Songs". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  19. ^ "Yaya Bey signs to drink sum wtr and shares new single, "merlot and grigio"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  20. ^ Alper, Eric (2025-03-27). "Yaya Bey Shares New Single "Merlot and Grigio" Featuring Father Philis". That Eric Alper. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  21. ^ "Yaya Bey announces new album Do It Afraid and 2025 tour details". The FADER. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  22. ^ "Yaya Bey Announces New LP "Do It Afraid," Shares Two Singles". FLOOD. Retrieved 2025-12-22.
  23. ^ "JEMS! Announce New Album 'GEMS IN THE CORNERSTORE II' | News". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  24. ^ "Gareth Donkin Shares "Nothing We Can't Get Through" Ahead Of New Album "Welcome Home"". FLOOD. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  25. ^ "Your Grandparents: 'The Dial' Album Review". The Daily Music Report. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  26. ^ "Say She She's new LP, Cut & Rewind!". Colemine Records. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  27. ^ "Halima Announces Debut Album 'SWEET TOOTH' | News". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. 2025-06-25. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  28. ^ Samuels, Keithan (2025-02-15). "R&B Duo THEY. Release New Album 'Love.Jones': Stream". Rated R&B. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  29. ^ "St. Panther Imagines a Future Beyond Our Strange World on New Single with Rae Khalil". FLOOD. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Secretly_Group&oldid=1348249205"