Secretly Group is one of the world’s biggest independent music companies.
The firm, founded in 1996, owns record labels such as Secretly Canadian, Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, and The Numero Group. It is also home to Ghostly International.
Secretly Canadian was founded by Chris Swanson, Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill.
Jagjaguwar, also founded in 1996, merged operations with Secretly Canadian in 1999. Jagjaguwar was founded by now-Secretly group co-owner, Darius Van Arman.
Dead Oceans was founded in 2007 by the owners of Jagjaguwar and Secretly Canadian with Austin-based Phil Waldorf.
The Numero Group was established by Tom Lunt, Rob Sevier, and Ken Shipley in 2003. It became a part of Secretly Group in 2013 when company partners Ben Swanson, Chris Swanson and Darius Van Arman bought a stake in the reissue specialist and brought it into the Secretly family.
In June 2018, via a merger, Brooklyn-based label Ghostly International also became part of the Secretly Group.
In addition, Secretly Group is the parent to Secretly Publishing, and Secretly Distribution.
Secretly Group is headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, with offices in Brooklyn, London, Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin, and Berlin.
Secretly Group label rosters
Secretly Group’s individual frontline record labels each boast a distinct and successful roster of artists:
- Secretly Canadian’s roster includes artists such as Anohni, Jens Lekman, Whitney, The War On Drugs, and the catalog of Jason Molina.
- Jagjaguwar’s roster includes Grammy-winner Bon Iver, as well as Dinosaur Jr., Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra.
- Dead Oceans is home to artists such as Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers, Kevin Morby, Phosphorescent, Slowdive and The Tallest Man On Earth.
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