ATO Records

ATO Records, also known as According to Our Records, is an American independent record label based in New York City. It was established in 2000 by musician Dave Matthews and music manager Coran Capshaw. The label was created as an artist-focused outlet associated with Matthews's broader music business interests, but its roster has developed well beyond a single artist or genre. ATO has released and marketed recordings by acts working in alternative rock, indie rock, folk, Americana, soul, blues, hip-hop, metal, punk, world music, and related styles. The label's catalog includes releases by My Morning Jacket, Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard, Black Pumas, Brandi Carlile, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Radiohead, David Gray, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Amyl and the Sniffers, Drive-By Truckers, Okkervil River, Old 97's, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Primus, SOJA, Joseph, Blind Pilot, Benjamin Booker, Margaret Glaspy, Neal Francis, Lee Ann Womack, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, Mattiel, Nick Hakim, and other artists. This breadth has made ATO a recognizable independent-label home for established acts, emerging performers, and projects that sit between commercial alternative music and roots-oriented or artistically experimental scenes. ATO's commercial profile has been strengthened by several prominent albums. David Gray's White Ladder and Alabama Shakes' Sound & Color were identified as the label's highest-selling releases and received Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. Radiohead's In Rainbows and Alabama Shakes' Boys & Girls, along with David Gray's A New Day at Midnight, received Gold certification. Alabama Shakes's 2012 debut, Boys & Girls, became one of the most widely praised albums of that year and helped establish the group as a major ATO success. The company also operates or has operated the sublabel TBD Records, founded in 2007. TBD is particularly associated with North American distribution of Radiohead's In Rainbows and The King of Limbs. In the United States, ATO's releases are distributed through Universal Music Group's Virgin Music Label & Artist Services, while PIAS Group has handled European distribution. These relationships give the label independent creative positioning while providing access to international physical, digital, and commercial distribution infrastructure. ATO has received recognition from independent-music industry organizations, including multiple A2IM Libera Awards and nominations. Its artists have also earned Grammy and Americana Music Association recognition. Rodrigo y Gabriela won the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Mettavolution, while ATO-affiliated artists including Brittany Howard, Black Pumas, Emily King, Altin Gün, and Drive-By Truckers received Grammy nominations in the 2020 awards cycle. The label's identity is therefore based less on one narrowly defined sound than on long-term artist development, selective catalog building, and a willingness to release music across adjacent independent genres.

ATO Records was founded in 2000 in New York City by Dave Matthews and Coran Capshaw. Matthews was already known internationally as the frontman of the Dave Matthews Band, while Capshaw was his manager and a music-industry executive. Rather than functioning only as a vehicle for one performer, ATO developed as an independent label intended to support a wider range of artists and recordings. During its development, ATO built a roster spanning alternative rock, indie music, Americana, folk, soul, blues, hip-hop, metal, punk, and international acoustic music. Its catalog has included both established acts and newer artists, with releases by My Morning Jacket, Okkervil River, Drive-By Truckers, Old 97's, Blind Pilot, Primus, Brandi Carlile, Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard, Black Pumas, Rodrigo y Gabriela, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and many others. This broad roster became central to the label's identity: ATO was independent in its artist and catalog orientation, but not limited to a single scene or format. In 2007, the company created the sublabel TBD Records. TBD became especially visible through its North American distribution role for Radiohead albums. The arrangement connected ATO's independent-label infrastructure with high-profile international alternative releases and expanded the company's relevance beyond its own directly developed roster. ATO's catalog achieved important commercial milestones during the 2000s and 2010s. David Gray's White Ladder and Alabama Shakes's Sound & Color were identified as the label's highest-selling releases and were certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Other Gold-certified releases included Radiohead's In Rainbows, Alabama Shakes's Boys & Girls, and David Gray's A New Day at Midnight. Alabama Shakes's Boys & Girls, released in April 2012, was particularly significant: its critical reception helped turn the band into one of the label's most prominent contemporary acts and placed ATO at the center of a major alternative-rock success. The label continued to expand its genre range through signings and releases involving artists such as Brittany Howard, Black Pumas, Emily King, Altin Gün, Amyl and the Sniffers, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. This period also brought substantial awards attention. ATO received multiple A2IM Libera Awards and accumulated numerous nominations. In the 2020 awards cycle, ATO-affiliated artists received Grammy nominations across rock, R&B, instrumental, world-music, and new-artist categories. Rodrigo y Gabriela won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Mettavolution. ATO's distribution model combines independent-label identity with large-scale international infrastructure. In the United States, releases are distributed through Universal Music Group's Virgin Music Label & Artist Services, while PIAS Group distributes ATO material in Europe. The label's operating model therefore combines artist and repertoire selection, label marketing, and catalog development with external distribution partnerships. ATO remains an active independent record label. Its continuing significance comes from the combination of a commercially durable catalog, a cross-genre roster, relationships with established and emerging artists, and a distribution network that allows independently positioned releases to reach markets beyond the United States.

• 2020

  Rodrigo y Gabriela win a Grammy

  [1]ATO Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Rodrigo y Gabriela win Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Mettavolution.

• 2019

  ATO artists receive seven Grammy nominations

  [1]ATO Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Artists associated with the label receive nominations across rock, R&B, instrumental, world-music, and new-artist categories for the 2020 awards.

• 2012

  Alabama Shakes releases Boys & Girls

  [1]ATO Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Alabama Shakes's debut album is released in April and becomes a major critical and commercial success for ATO.

• 2007

  TBD Records is established

  [1]ATO Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  ATO launches the TBD Records sublabel, which becomes associated with North American distribution of selected Radiohead albums.

• 2000

  ATO Records is founded

  [1]ATO Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Dave Matthews and Coran Capshaw establish ATO Records in New York City as an independent label.

An artist-focused independent record label with a broad alternative, roots, Americana, rock, soul, and experimental music roster.

• Recorded music · 2000

  ATO Records album catalog

  ATO's principal output is a catalog of studio albums, live albums, singles, and related recordings by artists in alternative rock, indie, Americana, folk, soul, blues, hip-hop, metal, punk, and world music. The catalog combines new releases with commercially durable albums by established acts.

• Sublabel catalog · 2007

  TBD Records releases

  TBD Records is ATO's sublabel, founded in 2007. It is best known for its North American distribution association with Radiohead releases, including In Rainbows and The King of Limbs.

• Rock album · 2012

  Boys & Girls

  Alabama Shakes's debut album was released by ATO in April 2012. Its strong critical reception and commercial performance made it one of the label's signature releases and established the band as a major contemporary rock act.

• Rock and soul album

  Sound & Color

  Sound & Color is an Alabama Shakes album associated with ATO's strongest-selling catalog. The release illustrates the label's interest in records that combine alternative rock with soul, blues, and roots influences.

• Instrumental album

  Mettavolution

  Mettavolution by Rodrigo y Gabriela is an instrumental release associated with ATO. It received the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, reflecting the label's reach beyond conventional rock and Americana.

• Metal album

  Infest the Rats' Nest

  King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's Infest the Rats' Nest represents ATO's involvement in heavy and experimental music. The release was recognized in the A2IM Libera Awards cycle cited in reference material.

• 2007

  Creation of the TBD Records sublabelStrategy

  Background

  ATO expanded its label structure by creating a separate imprint for selected releases and distribution activities.

  Action taken

  The company established TBD Records, which became particularly associated with North American distribution for two Radiohead albums.

  Aftermath

  The sublabel broadened ATO's role in high-profile alternative-music releases beyond its directly developed artist roster.

  Source

• Use of external international distribution partnersStrategy

  Background

  ATO retains an independent-label identity while relying on specialist distribution infrastructure to reach major markets.

  Action taken

  Universal Music Group's Virgin Music Label & Artist Services distributes ATO releases in the United States, and PIAS Group distributes them in Europe.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement supports international circulation of ATO's catalog without establishing the label as a publicly listed major music company.

  Source

1. 1ATO Recordsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2ATO Records official websiteatorecords.com