Secretly Label Group formed

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: First it was the Arab Spring, now it’s the Indie-Alliance Summer. On the heels of reports that the Beggars Group, Merge and Secretly Canadian joining forces to form their own distribution group comes some seemingly related news. The Secretly Canadian family of labels, which also includes Jagjaguwar and Dead Oceans, has formed a partnership with Chicago-based indie reissue outfit the Numero Group, which will DBA the Secretly Label Group. The new company will have its headquarters in Bloomington, IN, with branches in Chicago, Brooklyn, Austin and London. The two partners will retain separate marketing and A&R staffs. Ben Swanson, Chris Swanson and Darius Van Arman (all partners in the Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar and Secretly Canadian labels) are joining Numero Group ownership as partners. About the transition, Numero’s Ken Shipley stated, “We've known Chris, Ben, and Darius since we were all on indie training wheels. Watching their companies grow from off-the-map vanity imprints to taste-making powerhouses has been a thrill to watch, and we're pumped to join what we know will be a formidable bloc of important record companies for decades to come.” Added Chris Swanson, “Numero Group is the greatest reissue label in the world. Partnering with Ken and Rob is a dream come true. Their impeccable taste, unparalleled research acumen and keen business instincts are already making us a stronger, more well-rounded label group." (6/25a)