Secretly Distribution Promotes Chris Welz to Chief Operating Officer
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Today, Secretly Distribution announces the promotion of Chris Welz from Managing Director to Chief Operating Officer, a role that will continue to see him lead the company’s global digital and physical operations. Since joining the Secretly ecosystem in 2003, Welz has played a pivotal role in expanding the services, staff, international presence and double-digit annual revenue growth that have cemented Secretly Distribution as a leading solution for the world’s most exciting artists and independent record labels. In his earliest position as Shipping Manager, he handled warehouse operations while the sales for formative Sufjan Stevens, Explosions in the Sky, Songs: Ohia and ANOHNI releases hit new heights, before serving as Label Manager for Secretly Canadian and Jagjaguwar in 2005, and then the company’s first-ever Head of Digital shortly thereafter.
Chris Welz formed direct relationships with DSPs and ushered in the inaugural wave of new record label partners, rising to General Manager in 2009, and then Managing Director in 2013, where he constructed a team of more than 60 sales, marketing and operations staff, including divisions for DSP Account Strategy, Digital Operations, and Label Services for artist and management clients. Under Welz’s leadership, Secretly Distribution has also extended to project management and digital marketing teams in the UK and Europe, and in the past year the company expanded staff in all departments, invested in new technology and infrastructure for record label partners, created positions focused on heightened engagement in video and social media spaces, leaned into Neighboring Rights collection and elevated discoverability, and became a co-owner of longtime data and trending analytics partner Entertainment Intelligence, all while facilitating major releases from the likes of Japanese Breakfast, Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver and many more.
With a client base of 100+ labels and artists, Welz has helped the company achieve an annual double-digit revenue growth for the last 10 years. Since January 2020 alone, Secretly Distribution’s revenues have doubled, and now exceed $80 million annually.
"For over two decades, Secretly Distribution's hallmark has been a curatorial, quality-driven approach to global distribution. We've built this team as an extension of our labels and artists, pairing an unrivaled knowledge of repertoire with a suite of tools that brings the strongest possible day-to-day value for our partners."
Chris Welz, Chief Operating Officer
"Chris Welz's leadership has cemented Secretly Distribution as one of the most successful, truly independent global music distribution platforms in the world. Secretly Distribution wouldn't be what it is without Chris, and we are so very proud and excited that, as COO, he will continue to contribute his intelligence, work ethic and extraordinary team leadership skills to the Secretly Distribution community for many years to come."
Darius Van Arman, Co-CEO
After a two-year break, Secretly Distribution has also announced the in-person return of its annual Label Summit, taking place in its headquarters of Bloomington, Indiana from August 1st-4th. Since launching in 2005 as a group of folding chairs in an unfinished basement, the conference has grown into the clear-your-calendar event for the most influential sectors of the independent music business to steer the industry forward.
In addition to the full international, domestic and digital Secretly Distribution teams, all label partners, plus account guests such as Apple, Cargo UK, PIAS, Republic of Music, Rocket, Spotify and YouTube are invited to convene at Bloomington Convention Center, where they will participate in presentations, panels, roundtable sessions and one-on-one meetings to discuss relevant trends and the music industry at-large. New to the itinerary this year are smaller workshops that range from metadata to analytics, and international marketing strategies. Offering the opportunity to connect and collaborate, the Label Summit embodies one of Secretly Distribution's core principles: indie labels are stronger when they share knowledge and resources, together supporting groundbreaking artists and music.
"Summit is a true community experience," adds Chris Welz, who was recently named one of Billboard's Indie Power Players for 2022. "From the earliest days of a dozen individuals meeting around one table, to a full-scale convention with over a hundred partners. The core of summit is the immersive experience labels receive from meeting and sharing directly with one another."
About Secretly Distribution
Founded in 1997, Secretly Distribution is a global digital and physical distribution network serving all major markets worldwide, offering hands-on development, marketing, technology, investment, and support to some of the most exciting and diverse labels and artists including Secretly affiliates Dead Oceans, drink sum wtr, Ghostly International, Jagjaguwar, Saddest Factory Records, Secretly Canadian, The Numero Group and 37d03d, as well as Sacred Bones, Captured Tracks, Run For Cover, Rhymesayers, Joyful Noise, Father/Daughter, Big Crown, Colemine and many more.
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For more information, contact Matt Hanks or Greg Jakubik at Shore Fire Media,
(718) 522-7171