Secretly Distribution (SD) has promoted Kristian Downs to Executive Director, Platform Operations.
Downs will report to SD COO and Partner Chris Welz.
The role will see Downs continue to oversee SD’s Digital Operations team, while taking what the company called “strategic ownership, governance, and long-term operational direction” across its core platform infrastructure.
Central to that remit is RIOT, SD’s bespoke repertoire management system, which Downs helped build with the distributor’s development partner, Babel Ops.
He will lead RIOT’s continued development with the Babel Ops team, along with future operational and metadata infrastructure tools.
Downs will also work with SD’s senior leadership to align its platform strategy with the company’s wider goals as the tech stack grows.
“As we continue to invest in our technology and infrastructure, we’re thrilled for Kristian to be leading the next phase of our platform development.”
Chris Welz, Secretly Distribution
“Kristian has transformed our digital operations since joining Secretly Distribution six years ago,” said Chris Welz. “His strategic vision, technical expertise, and collaborative leadership have been instrumental in building the platforms that support our clients today.”
“As we continue to invest in our technology and infrastructure, we’re thrilled for Kristian to be leading the next phase of our platform development.”
Welz was named a Partner at SD in February, following what the company called its “biggest year ever”.
“I’m excited to step into this role at a time when technology is playing such an important part in helping independent labels grow and adapt,” said Downs. “A key part of my focus will be continuing to develop the systems and platforms that support our partners, ensuring they have access to best-in-class technology that enables them to operate more effectively and make informed decisions.”
“One of the real strengths of Secretly Distribution is that, as an independent business, we can work closely with our label partners, respond quickly to their needs and build technology that reflects the way they actually work,” Downs added.
“Together with our long-standing technology partner, Babel Ops, we’re investing in platforms that will continue to evolve alongside our labels and support the next phase of their growth.”
“A key part of my focus will be continuing to develop the systems and platforms that support our partners, ensuring they have access to best-in-class technology that enables them to operate more effectively and make informed decisions.”
Kristian Downs, Secretly Distribution
Downs joined Secretly Distribution in 2020.
He previously held senior leadership roles at AWAL/Kobalt and Beggars Group, and founded a music services distribution and rights platform for independent artists and labels.
He was named a Billboard UK Power Player in 2026.
Secretly Distribution acquired Babel Ops in April, bringing the technology company in-house along with its data and analytics platform Entertainment Intelligence (Ei).
Babel Ops, founded in 2020 by Erik Gilbert and Greg Delaney, builds bespoke data management, analytics and royalty processing tools for independent music companies.
Secretly Distribution CEO Darius Van Arman framed that acquisition against a backdrop of industry consolidation, with major companies acquiring distribution technology firms such as FUGA and Revelator.
The deal comes as independent music companies navigate a rapidly changing technology landscape.
Van Arman, who also serves as Chairperson of Merlin, the digital licensing agency for independent music companies, has previously highlighted some of these challenges, including the impact of generative AI on independent music businesses in an MBW op-ed published in February.
For more than 25 years, Secretly Distribution has operated as the in-house distribution arm of Bloomington, Indiana-based Secretly Group, whose labels include Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, Secretly Canadian and the Numero Group.
SD’s wider distribution roster also includes Third Man Records, Rhymesayers, Ipecac Recordings and Ghostly International, among others.Music Business Worldwide
Secretly Distribution (SD) has announced the promotion of Kristian Downs to Executive Director of Platform Operations. In this new position, Downs will report directly to SD’s COO and Partner, Chris Welz, and will maintain oversight of the Digital Operations team. His expanded responsibilities will involve strategic ownership, governance, and long-term operational direction of SD’s core platform infrastructure. A key component of this role is managing RIOT, SD’s custom repertoire management system that Downs played a significant role in developing with Babel Ops, an external software partner.
Downs is set to lead the ongoing development of RIOT in collaboration with the Babel Ops team and will also work on future tools related to operational and metadata infrastructure. His efforts will be aligned with the platform strategy of SD and its broader company objectives as the technology stack evolves. Welz expressed confidence in Downs’s capabilities, remarking on his transformative impact on SD’s digital operations since joining the company six years ago. He praised Downs for his strategic vision, technical expertise, and collaborative leadership, which have been essential in constructing the platforms that support SD’s clients.
Downs himself expressed enthusiasm about taking on this new challenge, especially during a time when technology plays a crucial role in the growth and adaptation of independent music labels. He emphasized that his focus would be on continuing to develop systems and platforms that equip their partners with top-tier technology, facilitating effective operations and informed decision-making. Downs noted that one of SD’s strengths is its ability to work closely with label partners as an independent entity, allowing for rapid responses to their needs and the creation of technology that aligns with their workflows. He reiterated the commitment to invest in evolving platforms, in partnership with Babel Ops, to support labels through their growth phases.
Kristian Downs joined Secretly Distribution in 2020, bringing with him a wealth of experience from previous senior leadership roles at AWAL/Kobalt and Beggars Group. He also founded a music services distribution and rights platform aimed at independent artists and labels. His contributions to the music industry have been recognized, including being named a Billboard UK Power Player in 2026.
In April, Secretly Distribution acquired Babel Ops, integrating the technology company along with its data and analytics platform, Entertainment Intelligence (Ei). Babel Ops, co-founded in 2020 by Erik Gilbert and Greg Delaney, specializes in creating bespoke data management, analytics, and royalty processing tools tailored for independent music companies. This acquisition was framed by SD CEO Darius Van Arman against the backdrop of industry consolidation, where larger companies are merging with distribution technology firms like FUGA and Revelator. This strategic move comes at a time when independent music companies are navigating a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Van Arman, who also chairs Merlin, a digital licensing agency for independent music companies, has previously discussed the challenges posed by generative AI and other technological advancements in the music industry. He has highlighted the need for independent companies to adapt to these changes in order to remain competitive.
For over 25 years, Secretly Distribution has served as the in-house distribution arm of the Bloomington, Indiana-based Secretly Group, which is known for its influential labels such as Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, Secretly Canadian, and the Numero Group. In addition to these labels, SD’s distribution roster includes Third Man Records, Rhymesayers, Ipecac Recordings, and Ghostly International, among others.
In summary, Kristian Downs’s promotion to Executive Director of Platform Operations at Secretly Distribution marks a significant step for the company as it continues to invest in technology and infrastructure. His leadership is expected to facilitate the development of innovative tools and systems that will enhance the capabilities of independent labels, ensuring they are well-equipped to thrive in a fast-evolving music industry landscape. The integration of Babel Ops into SD further strengthens its technological foundation, allowing for greater responsiveness to partners’ needs and the creation of tailored solutions that reflect the realities of independent music operations.
