Musicbusinessworldwide.com
Secretly Distribution is making a decisive move to strengthen the independent music ecosystem, acquiring Babel Ops, the data and analytics firm behind Entertainment Intelligence (Ei).
Announced April 8, the deal brings Babel Ops and its Enterlytics platform into Secretly’s orbit while allowing the company to continue serving its existing clients across the independent sector. Those tools already power reporting for more than 1.2 million artists and 55,000 labels, positioning Babel Ops as a critical piece of infrastructure in the indie music economy.
Founded in 2020 by Erik Gilbert and Greg Delaney, the company specializes in building systems for data management, royalty processing and analytics, services increasingly essential as music rights and revenue streams grow more complex.
The acquisition lands at a pivotal moment. Across the industry, major players are tightening their grip on distribution and backend technology, with Warner Music Group moving to acquire Revelator and Universal Music Group expanding its own infrastructure footprint through acquisitions like Downtown Music Holdings.
Secretly is taking a different approach, investing in technology not just to scale its own business, but to reinforce independence across the wider market.
CEO Darius Van Arman framed the move as a response to increasing consolidation and the growing importance of data control. Rather than centralizing power, Secretly plans to keep Babel Ops operating as a resource for the broader indie community, including companies that compete directly with its own distribution arm.
The deal also deepens an existing relationship. Babel Ops has long worked with Secretly Distribution, including developing its internal system. Now, that collaboration becomes fully integrated.
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