[MXD Networking @ SPOT 2025] Meet Rich Thane

Name: Rich Thane

Company: Secretly Distribution

Title: Associate Director, Artist and Label Strategy

Based in: London

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

Founded in 1997 by independent label owners who were looking for a better path to market and a shared creative community. We have built a robust global digital and physical distribution network. With offices in New York City, London, Los Angeles, and Chicago, we offer hands-on development, marketing, technology, and investment support to a varied group of the most exciting and diverse labels and artists working today. We are a completely independent company, and our success is built on our ethical, responsible, and transparent support of great music.

We currently distribute over 100 labels globally, including Secretly Group (Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, Secretly Canadian), Captured Tracks, Rhymesayers, A24 Music, Numero Group and Run for Cover. Our European label partners include PNKSLM (Sweden), Smalltown Supersound (Norway) and Tambourhinoceros (Denmark)

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

We are always on the look out for exciting and innovative label partners to join Secretly Distribution’s ever growing roster. We offer a highly curated approach, with some recent new signings including Sweden’s PNKSLM Recordings, Denmark’s Tambourhinoceros and much revered UK label Invada. Our label services client list is also constantly evolving and diverse. Some recent signings include the critically acclaimed New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams, Hollywood actor and musician John C. Reilly and talented US-based newcomer Will Pacquin.

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

I launched the music website The Line of Best Fit in 2006 as a way to champion new and emerging artists. In the 18+ years of the website’s history, it has grown to be one of the most successful music publications in the United Kingdom and as such, was a catalyst in launching my professional career within the music industry. Having held down Senior roles at Warner Music Group and, since April 2024, at Secretly Distribution.

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

Fine, Elias Rønnenfelt, School of X, SLIM0, Yndling to name just a handful.

Best show you’ve ever seen hands down? 

There are too many to mention, but perhaps the most special and memorable would be The War On Drugs first ever festival headline at End of the Road, UK in 2015.