[MXD Networking @ SPOT 2025] Meet Bethan Heaton

Name: Bethan Heaton

Company: Secretly Distribution

Title: International Marketing & Campaigns Manager

Based in: London

Can you tell us a bit about the company’s history and its roster?

Secretly Distribution is a committed music company with a global digital and physical distribution solution for the world’s most exciting independent labels and artists. We work with a global roster of labels and artists including, but not limited to Jagjaguwar, Secretly Canadian, Dead Oceans, All Flowers Group, Numero Group, Rhymesayers, Chrysalis Records, Bayonet, Asthmatic Kitty, Big Crown Records, Colemine etc.

And can you tell us a bit about the acts you personally work with at this moment?

I work within the international campaigns department to assist labels to run their campaigns on a global level beyond their home territory. This means I work with a diverse roster of labels and their artists, including the likes of Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar & Secretly Canadian with the likes of Bon Iver, Sharon Van Etten, Mitski; Big Crown Records with El Michels Affair and Lady Wray; Ghostly International with Mary Lattimore, the Minecraft soundtrack, Ginger Root, Julie Byrne, Tycho; Bayonet with Beach Fossils and Mei Semones; Chrysalis with Laura Marling, Marika Hackman and BODEGA, Record Kicks with Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 – just to name a few!

What was the moment you decided you wanted to work with music?

I’ve always had a deep love for music, growing up I played a number of instruments and knew even as a kid that I wanted to base my life around music (my first ever dream job as a 10 year old was to be a radio DJ or music video director!). I went on to study music production & studio engineering, but throughout my degree I realised that instead of making music, I wanted to be the person that helped others to discover music that connects with them and uplift artists profiles to turn their passion into a successful career – and now here I am, doing just that!

Which acts are you looking forward to seeing this year at SPOT?

School of X and Fine

Best show you’ve ever seen hands down? 

This is a very hard question to answer! I can only think of the most recent shows that have blown me away, which were Lambrini Girls at a very small, free show, and Maruja. Both of them make such a huge sound despite the number of members, and the pure passion they perform with, the energy they command & crowd engagement is nothing short of epic.