Drake’s OVO Sound partners with – and secures investment from – Todd Moscowitz and Sony Music’s Santa Anna

Santa Anna, a JV between Sony Music Entertainment and Todd Moscowitz, has announced “an investment and partnership with” Drake’s independent record label OVO Sound.

According to the announcement on Tuesday (January 23), through the partnership, Santa Anna Label Group and its partners will provide OVO Sound with additional A&R support, production, finance and accounting, marketing and promotion, as well as artist and label services “to grow OVO Sound’s business and attract, retain and promote top Canadian and international artists”.

OVO’s current artists include PARTYNEXTDOOR, Majid Jordan, Naomi Sharon, Roy Woods, Smiley, Popcaan in addition to numerous Drake collaborations with artists such as Bad Bunny (Rimas), Central Cee, Blocboy JB, and Dave, in addition to the creation of the Top Boy soundtrack.

Santa Anna said on Tuesday that Toronto-based OVO Sound will remain a stand-alone record label distributed and marketed through Santa Anna Label Group.

OVO artists were previously distributed by ADA/Warner Music Group/Warner Records. That relationship appeared to end in late 2022 / early 2023.

The OVO Sound label was founded in 2012 by Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Noah “40” Shehib, and Oliver El-Khatib.

Santa Anna was launched in January last year by Sony Music and Todd Moscowitz, Founder and CEO of Alamo Records, as a new artist and label services joint venture.

SME said in a press release at the time that the new company would “support entrepreneurs and assist artists in maximizing their creative potential and build their businesses”.

Over the course of last year, SME/ Santa Anna struck partnerships with music executives including Baroline Diaz for her Great Day Records label, and Lucas Thomashow, formerly the Senior Vice President of Japanese entertainment conglomerate Avex’s US arm, for a JV record label, called SANA. 

Santa Anna also signed a distribution agreement with Los Angeles-based record label and management company LISTEN TO THE KIDS a JV between CEO Conor Ambrose and Universal Music Group-owned Interscope Records.

According to the latest announcement, the partnership with Drake’s OVO sound sees Santa Anna Label Group continue its “commitment to entrepreneurs and artists looking to maximize their creative potential and build their businesses”.

This partnership comes on the heels of OVO Sound artist PARTYNEXTDOOR’s new album P4, set to be released in Q1 2024.

“After 10 years, it’s exciting to reunite with Drake, Morgan, 40, Oliver and the OVO Sound team to collaborate on new ways to support their impressive roster of artists.”

Todd Moscowitz, Santa Anna

In making the announcement, Todd Moscowitz, founder of Santa Anna, said: “After 10 years, it’s exciting to reunite with Drake, Morgan, 40, Oliver and the OVO Sound team to collaborate on new ways to support their impressive roster of artists.

“Together, I look forward to working with a best-in-class management team to develop opportunities to help scale their business and take their artistry to new heights.”

“We feel strongly that the combination of our teams will allow for both our current and future artists to flourish.”

Mr. Morgan, OVO Sound

Mr. Morgan, President of OVO Sound added: “OVO has always been about music first. Together with Drake, 40, and Oliver, we’re excited to partner with like-minded people in Todd, Lee and the Santa Anna team.

“We feel strongly that the combination of our teams will allow for both our current and future artists to flourish.”Music Business Worldwide