{{Short description|American independent record label}} {{Paid contributions|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox record label | name = Secretly Group | image = 250px | image_bg = | parent = | founded = 1996 | founder = Chris Swanson<br/>Darius Van Arman<br/>Ben Swanson<br/>Eric Weddle<br/>Jonathan Cargill | defunct = | distributor = Secretly Distribution | genre = Indie rock | country = United States | location = Bloomington, Indiana | url = http://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.<ref name=spacelab>[http://www.thespacelab.tv/spaceLAB/2007/08August/MusicNews-01-VIDEO-SecretlyCanadianFeature.htm Secretly Canadian: Mythological Proportions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722221323/http://www.thespacelab.tv/spaceLAB/2007/08August/MusicNews-01-VIDEO-SecretlyCanadianFeature.htm |date=2011-07-22 }}. Spacelab, August 8, 2007. Accessed September 30, 2008.</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/record-labels/1568082/numero-group-joins-secretly-canadian-jagjaguwar-dead-oceans|title=Numero Group Joins Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans in Newly Formed 'Secretly Label Group' (Exclusive)|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> In 2025, it acquired a 50% stake in the influential independent label Merge Records. <ref>{{cite magazine| title=Secretly Group and Merge Records Form Partnership |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/secretly-group-and-merge-records-form-partnership/|magazine=Pitchfork | date=10 June 2025 }}</ref>
All five labels are distributed by Secretly Group's in-house distribution arm, Secretly Distribution.
==Artists==
A number of artists have appeared on the four labels over the years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/secretly-label-group-is-born-numero-dead-oceans-jagjaguwar-and-secretly-canadian-join-forces/055155|title=Secretly Label Group is born: Numero, Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar and Secretly Canadian join forces|work=Music Week}}</ref>
===Secretly Canadian=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} *Antony and the Johnsons *Anohni *Alasdair Roberts *Alex Cameron *Ativin *Ben Abraham *Bobb Trimble *Bodies of Water *BLK JKS *Cayucas *Catfish Haven *Cherry Glazerr *Damien Jurado *Danielson *David Vandervelde *Don Lennon *Dungeonesse *Early Day Miners *Electric Youth *Faye Webster *Foreign Born *Frida Hyvonen *Gardens & Villa *Havergal *The Horns of Happiness *The Impossible Shapes *Instruments of Science & Technology *Jason Molina *jj *Jens Lekman *Jorma Whittaker *June Panic *I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness {{Col-2}} *Little Scream *Luke Temple *Magnolia Electric Co. *Major Lazer *Marmoset *Molina and Johnson *Music Go Music *Nightlands *Nite Jewel *Songs: Ohia *Porcelain Raft *Porridge Radio *Racebannon *Richard Swift *Scout Niblett *serpentwithfeet *Shura *Simon Joyner *Stella Donnelly *Steven A. Clark *Suuns *Swearing at Motorists *Swell Maps *Taken By Trees *Throw Me The Statue *Tig Notaro *Tomas Barfod *The War on Drugs *Whitney *Windsor for the Derby *Woman's Hour *Yeasayer *Yoko Ono {{Col-end}}
===Jagjaguwar=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} *Angel Olsen *Aspera *The Besnard Lakes *Black Mountain *Bon Iver *Briana Marela *S. Carey *The Cave Singers *Company *Robert Creeley *The Dead C *Diana *Dinosaur Jr. *Foxygen *Fuck *Gayngs *Gordi *Jamila Woods *Julie Doiron *Ladyhawk *Lia Ices *Lightning Dust *Lonnie Holley *Love Life *Manishevitz {{Col-2}} *Minus Story *Moonface *Moses Sumney *Mustafa the Poet *Nad Navillus *Nagisa ni te *Nap Eyes *Odawas *Okkervil River *Pink Mountaintops *Preoccupations *Richard Youngs *Sarah White *Simon Joyner *Sharon Van Etten *Small Black *Sunset Rubdown *Supreme Dicks *Swan Lake *Unknown Mortal Orchestra *Volcano Choir *Wilderness *Wolf People *Women {{Col-end}}
===Dead Oceans=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} *A Place to Bury Strangers *Akron/Family *Alex Lahey *Bear in Heaven *Better Oblivion Community Center *Bill Fay *Bishop Allen *Bleached *Bowerbirds *Brazos *Bright Eyes *Califone *Citay *Destroyer *Dirty Projectors *The Donkeys *Dub Thompson *Durand Jones & The Indications *Evangelicals *The Explorers Club *Frog Eyes *Gauntlet Hair *Japanese Breakfast {{Col-2}} *John Vanderslice *Julianna Barwick *Khruangbin *Kevin Morby *The Luyas *Mark McGuire *Marlon Williams *Mitski *Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band *Nurses *On Fillmore *Phoebe Bridgers *Phosphorescent *Ryley Walker *Shame *Slowdive *Strand of Oaks *Sun Airway *The Tallest Man on Earth *These Are Powers *Tom Rogerson *Toro y Moi *White Hinterland {{Col-end}}
===Numero Group=== *Trevor Dandy *Duster *Syl Johnson *Luxury *Caroline Peyton *Shoes
==All Flowers Group== The '''All Flowers Group''' is a label group which is part of the ''Secretly Group'' family of record labels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Secretly Hires Multiple New A&R Team Members |url=https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/secretly-hires-multiple-new-ar-team-members |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Shore Fire Media |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Secretly’s 2022 in Review: New Artists, Companies & Staff Lead a Year of Growth, Change & Independent Music |url=https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/secretlys-2022-in-review-new-artists-companies-staff-lead-a-year-of-growth-change-independent-music |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Shore Fire Media |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Secretly Group Affiliate All Flowers Group Welcomes Sacred Bones Records |url=https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/secretly-group-affiliate-all-flowers-group-welcomes-sacred-bones-records |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Shore Fire Media |language=en}}</ref>
===drink sum wtr=== '''drink sum wtr''' is an American independent record label founded in 2022. It operates under the All Flowers Group.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leight |first=Elias |date=2022-05-12 |title=Ghostly International Forms All Flowers Group With New Label drink sum wtr |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/ghostly-international-all-flowers-group-drink-sum-wtr/ |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> ''drink sum wtr'' was founded in May 2022 by music executive Nigil Mack, Chris Swanson and Sam Valenti IV.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Needham |first=Jack |date=2022-05-13 |title=Ghostly International and Secretly form All Flowers Group |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/ghostly-international-and-secretly-form-all-flowers-group/ |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalugdug |first=Mandy |date=2025-10-14 |title=Sacred Bones Records joins Secretly’s All Flowers Group portfolio of labels |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sacred-bones-records-joins-secretly-groups-all-flowers-group-portfolio-of-labels/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}}</ref> It primarily releases music in genres such as hip hop and R&B.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=2022-05-12 |title=Ghostly International and Secretly Form New Record Label Company All Flowers Group |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/ghostly-international-and-secretly-form-new-record-label-company-all-flowers-group/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> Its first signing was Queens-based rapper Deem Spencer in 2022, followed by poet Aja Monet.<ref name="npraja">{{cite web |date=1 December 2023 |title=aja monet: Tiny Desk Concert |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/12/01/1215359803/aja-monet-tiny-desk-concert |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=NPR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=Deem Spencer Announces New EP 'yung' {{!}} News |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/deem-spencer-announces-new-ep-yung/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=staff |first=Treble |date=2022-05-12 |title=Ghostly and Secretly announce new label partnership, All Flowers |url=https://www.treblezine.com/ghostly-and-secretly-announce-new-label-partnership-all-flowers/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Treble |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2023, ''drink sum wtr'' signed Annahstasia, who later released the album ''Tether'' and the EP ''Surface Tension'' under the label.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-09 |title=Annahstasia Announces New EP 'Surface Tension' {{!}} News |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/annahstasia-announces-new-ep-surface-tension/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-04 |title=Le Top 100 2025 de Magic, partie 2 – de la 70ème à la 41ème place |url=https://www.magicrpm.com/le-top-100-2025-de-magic-partie-2-de-la-70eme-a-la-41eme-place/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Magic RPM |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Interview: Annahstasia - Tether |url=https://www.someothertime.co.uk/articles/annahstasia-tether |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Some Other Time |language=en-GB}}</ref>In 2025, the label signed Yaya Bey, and released her album ''Do It Afraid''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |date=2025-04-23 |title=Yaya Bey Announces Tour and New Album Do It Afraid, Shares New Songs |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/yaya-bey-announces-tour-and-new-album-do-it-afraid-shares-new-songs-listen/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yaya Bey signs to drink sum wtr and shares new single, "merlot and grigio" |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/yaya-bey-signs-to-drink-sum-wtr-and-shares-new-single-merlot-and-grigio |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Alper |first=Eric |date=2025-03-27 |title=Yaya Bey Shares New Single "Merlot and Grigio" Featuring Father Philis |url=https://www.thatericalper.com/2025/03/27/yaya-bey-shares-new-single-merlot-and-grigio-featuring-father-philis/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=That Eric Alper |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yaya Bey announces new album Do It Afraid and 2025 tour details |url=https://www.thefader.com/2025/04/23/yaya-bey-do-it-afraid-release-date-tour |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yaya Bey Announces New LP “Do It Afraid,” Shares Two Singles |url=https://floodmagazine.com/192895/listen-yaya-bey-do-it-afraid-dream-girl-wake-up/ |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=FLOOD |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=JEMS! Announce New Album 'GEMS IN THE CORNERSTORE II' {{!}} News |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/jems-announce-new-album-gems-in-the-cornerstore-ii/ |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gareth Donkin Shares “Nothing We Can’t Get Through” Ahead Of New Album “Welcome Home” |url=https://floodmagazine.com/136741/listen-gareth-donkin-nothing-we-cant-get-through/ |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=FLOOD |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Your Grandparents: 'The Dial' Album Review |url=https://thedailymusicreport.com/reviews/your-grandparents-the-dial-05162025/ |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=The Daily Music Report |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Say She She's new LP, Cut & Rewind! |url=https://www.coleminerecords.com/blogs/news/say-she-she-joins-drink-sum-wtr-for-new-lp-cut-rewind |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Colemine Records |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-25 |title=Halima Announces Debut Album 'SWEET TOOTH' {{!}} News |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/halima-announces-debut-album-sweet-tooth/ |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Keithan |date=2025-02-15 |title=R&B Duo THEY. Release New Album 'Love.Jones': Stream |url=https://ratedrnb.com/2025/02/rb-duo-they-release-new-album-love-jones-stream/ |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=Rated R&B |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Panther Imagines a Future Beyond Our Strange World on New Single with Rae Khalil |url=https://floodmagazine.com/206085/st-panther-rae-khalil-strange-world-first-listen/ |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=FLOOD |language=en}}</ref>
==See also== *List of record labels
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Music industry}} {{Authority control}}
Category:American record labels Category:Alternative rock record labels