February 23, 2009

By By Robert Thompson, Toronto

EMI Music Canada has inked a distribution deal with indie label Secret City Records, home to acts such as Patrick Watson and Miracle Fortress, the label announced today.

Secret City was founded in 2006 by Justin West and Andrew Rose, but ran into problems when its Quebec-based distributor Fusion 3 went into bankruptcy protection last year. At the time, Fusion 3 had a deal with EMI to distribute the label's French language material in Quebec, while EMI would help with distribution of Fusion labels in the rest of Canada. Fusion 3 was founded and run by Jim West, father of Justin.

Secret City had been in negotiating with EMI for some time, though sources say the label also met with other distributors, including Fontana North.

Justin West says he feels the deal with EMI will benefit Secret City, which is expected to release the follow-up to Patrick Watson's award-winning "Close to Paradise" later this spring.

"We are very excited to be working with [EMI Music Canada president] Deane [Cameron} and the entire EMI team," West says. "There is no better fit for the label and we know that it will be a great relationship."

Cameron says Secret City's roster of artists is "one of international stature.

"We will be dedicated to helping the company grow," Cameron adds.

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