Secretly Distribution Announces Global Distribution Deal with Third Man Records 19 Sep 2025
Secretly Distribution announces a worldwide distribution deal with Third Man Records. Launched by Jack White in Detroit, MI in 2001, Third Man Records is an innovator in the world of vinyl records and a boundary pusher in the world of recorded music. Together with Secretly Distribution, the company will further expand its aim to bring tangibility and spontaneity back into the record business. Secretly Distribution will now handle physical and digital music distribution, digital and retail marketing, and technological support for all of Third Man Records' forthcoming releases. The just-announced new albums from Snõõper and The Belair Lip Bombs will be Third Man's first new releases through Secretly Distribution.
"We're thrilled to welcome Third Man Records into the Secretly Distribution family of label partners," says Rich Thane, Associate Director of Artist & Label Strategy, Secretly Distribution. "As two fiercely independent, artist-first companies, our shared values and ethos make this partnership a perfect fit. With their iconic roster and passionate team, we're excited to amplify Third Man's global reach across both physical retail and digital landscapes."
"Third Man is very happy to be welcomed into the Secretly Distribution family. We have so much respect for their work; they lead creatively with artists' and labels' vision at the forefront," adds Ben Swank, Co-Founder, Third Man Records. "We're excited about Third Man's future working alongside the Secretly Distribution team, and proud to be included in their roster of legendary and heavyweight independent labels."
As a full-service partnership, Secretly Distribution will uphold Third Man Records' commitment to the undoubtedly sacred nature of music, amplifying the global reach of the label's expansive operations and extraordinary facilities. At home in Nashville, Third Man Records houses a record store, novelties lounge (featuring the Third Man Record Booth), label offices and distribution center, photo studio, and the world's only live venue with direct-to-acetate recording capabilities, while Detroit's Third Man Records Cass Corridor features a record store, novelties lounge, in-store performance stage, record booth and vinyl record pressing plant, currently celebrating 10 years as a retail location. Additionally, in London, Third Man has a retail store, office, and a live venue, The Blue Basement.
Through its deal with Secretly Distribution, Third Man Records joins a roster of Secretly affiliates such as Dead Oceans, drink sum wtr, Ghostly International, Jagjaguwar, Saddest Factory Records, Secretly Canadian and Numero Group, as well as label partners including Sacred Bones, Captured Tracks, Run For Cover, Rhymesayers, Chrysalis, A24 Music, Merge Records, Joyful Noise, Father/Daughter, Big Crown, Colemine, Jazz Is Dead, Oh Boy Records and more.
In addition to its new deal with Third Man Records, Secretly Distribution recently announced a global partnership with high-quality vinyl leader Org Music, a renewed deal with Asthmatic Kitty Records, and a global deal with Geoff Barrow and Redg Weeks' Invada Records, while also earning a nomination for Distributor of The Year at this summer's 2025 Libera Awards.
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THE HEADLINES
Spotify is completely unserious about combating AI music (see Comment)
Hw British and American musical tastes remain distinct (see Analysis)
Oliver Schusser on Apple’s strategy in music (see Features)
Europe’s music sector call for a comprehensive policy strategy and an ambitious budget for Europe’s music sector within AgoraEU (see News)
Artist-led lawsuit against Suno introduces stream-ripping claims (see Digital)
Music Tech has historically been a difficult bet. So why are investors still showing up? (see Comment)
IFPI publishes Music in the EU report (see Reports)
AI music - is it time to explore a blanket approach? (see Opinion)
The music video is back and more important than ever (see Features)
Author Liz Pelly discusses how streaming saved the industry from piracy, but not the artists (see Features)
Why Warner UK’s restructure is a bad thing for British music (see Opinion)
Why virality is not building fandom (see Reports)
Jeremy Sirota’s pre-exit interview: ‘The marketplace needs a strong Merlin’ (see Features)
Music managers contribute value worth £714m to the wider UK music business (see Reports)
New data shows why virality is not building fandom (see Reports)
The reunion tour's effect on music streaming (see Analysis)