Exclusive: ADA Canada and Warner Music Canada Ink Global Distribution Deal With Toronto R&B Label Escape Records

ADA Canada, the distribution and artist services initiative of Warner Music Canada, has secured a global distribution deal with independent Toronto record label Escape Records, a label extension of the R&B-pop music discovery platform and events company, EscapeTracks.

Founded by Kyle Sassi, the label will fuse digital marketing with “hands-on” artist development, amplifying new voices on an international scale. Rising Minnesota-born artist 7AE will kick off the exclusive partnership with his new single, "Mashallah,” out July 3.

Escape Records was born out of EscapeTracks, an online platform that has amassed over five million followers across its social media pages.

Since 2014, EscapeTracks has played a role in amplifying songs from some of today’s biggest R&B artists, including Daniel Caesar’s breakout single “Best Part” ft. H.E.R, which garnered over 100 million views on EscapeTracks' YouTube. Meanwhile, Bazzi’s “Beautiful” amassed 25 million views and 6LACK’s hit “Loyal” hit 16 million views.

“After a decade of discovering and marketing artists with EscapeTracks, I’m excited to be working with ADA’s infrastructure and building on our shared vision to lay the foundation for our next chapter,” Sassi says.

The label’s first release is from 7AE, born Jeremiah Johnson. Thooug he is originally from Minnesota, he is influenced by the wave of hip-hop and R&B from Toronto over the last decade and a half, citing musical influences like Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR as well as Ty Dolla $ign. According to the labels, they will “work closely to ensure artists like 7AE reach their full potential on the world stage.”

“Kyle has established a strong track record of discovering talent through EscapeTracks, says Eric Wong, president of Warner Music Canada. “Bringing Escape Records into the ADA ecosystem allows us to support their artist-first development approach with our global infrastructure.”

The global distribution deal with Escape Records adds to ADA Canada and WMC’s expansive global distribution portfolio, much of which has brought Canadian talent and initiatives onto its roster.

In April, B.C. country singer Zach McPhee signed a deal with the company, a major moment for the emerging voice in the genre. Just over two years ago, country music label MDM Recordings inked a global distribution deal with ADA Canada/WMC. At the beginning of 2025, the labels also signed Punjabi music company EYP Creations and its label UrDebut to elevate and develop emerging Punjabi artists in Canada.