There’s been a colossal shakeup in the independent music sector. After dedicating her life to the industry, Laura Ballance, the co-founder and co-president of Merge Records, is leaving the business.
But that isn’t the only major announcement to come out of the label’s headquarters. Today (June 12), Merge Records and Secretly Group announced a new partnership. As part of the deal, Secretly Group (home to the minor labels Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, and Dead Oceans) has acquired a 50% ownership stake in Merge.
While Secretly has aided Merge with marketing and distribution services outside of North America, the deal has expanded their connectivity. Merge will continue its day-to-day operations, moving forward, it will tap into all of Secretly’s offerings (worldwide distribution, accounting, artist royalties, business affairs, licensing, IT, and HR).
“Our aim is to support Merge with the independent ecosystem we’ve built at Secretly. While preserving what’s truly special about what Mac and Laura have built over the past 36 years, such that we can support Merge’s growth in the decades to come,” said Secretly Co-Founder Ben Swanson.
Merge co-founder Mac McCaughan will remain on as label president and head of A&R. The same goes for Christina Rentz, Merge’s label director, Jamie Beck (marketing director), Wilson Fuller (head of digital).
“We continue to be inspired and amazed by the musicians we work with,” said McCaughan in a statement. “I have known many of the people in the Secretly world for decades, and I know that they share Merge’s dedication to artists and getting their music into the hands of as many people as possible. We have seen this in action working with Secretly Distribution’s international team since 2012, and are excited about what the future looks like with the strength and experience of Secretly Distribution working for Merge artists around the world, and now here at home. I know Laura has her own exciting future ahead, and I am excited to continue and expand upon the label we’ve run for 36 years.”
Ballance spoke on her departure, saying: “It was never my goal to start a record label when I was 21 and run it for the rest of my life. I have been doing this for 36 years now. Life is short. There are other things I have always wanted to do: make more art, travel for fun, volunteer more, write a book, and lots of other things that being so entrenched in running a business does not allow me to do. Merge Records started as a literal bedroom label, in my bedroom, and lived there for a few years before we were able to give it some space of its own. It has always been a labor of love. I am going to miss it and all the people and bands tremendously.”
“When we heard that Laura was looking to move on from Merge, we immediately engaged in conversations with Mac and Laura about what a new partnership with Secretly could look like,” said Secretly co-founder Phil Waldorf. “We looked up to Merge as we started our labels. We are not just fans of the music they’ve released, but their independent ethos and commitment to being an artist-first company. Becoming a partner in Merge is beyond a dream for me – I saw Superchunk for the first time when I was a teenager, before I even knew you could have a full-time job in independent music, and attended Merge’s 5th Anniversary celebration at the Cat’s Cradle while I was a college student in Athens, GA, making this a real ‘pinch me’ moment three decades later.”
The first album to be shared following the partnership is Superchunk’s Songs in the Key of Yikes, which is set to be released on August 22, 2025.
