Carved Records
An American independent record label founded in Dallas in 2009.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Carved Records is an American independent record label founded in Dallas, Texas, in 2009 by Tim Porter and Phil Thomas. Porter served as chief executive, while Thomas brought more than two decades of music-industry experience to the label's operating and artist-development activities. The company emerged with a focus on signing and promoting rock, southern rock, country-rock, and adjacent American roots acts, combining recorded-music releases with touring-oriented artist development. The label's first major signing was Texas Hippie Coalition, a band that had developed a following through extensive touring, grassroots promotion, equipment-company relationships, and corporate sponsorships. Carved released the band's national debut, Rollin', on July 6, 2010. The label also issued 2nd Avenue by No Justice on the same date and released the charitable compilation When They Come Back... We Give Back in September 2010. That compilation supported The Boot Campaign, a nonprofit organization focused on helping service members transition back from overseas deployment, and drew contributions from a broad group of Texas and country performers. Carved expanded its roster and genre reach with releases by Juke Kartel and HURT. In February 2012, it signed Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown after seeing the group perform live; the band's Wild Child became one of the label's subsequent full-length releases. Texas Hippie Coalition remained a central act for the company, with the album Peacemaker listed among Carved's releases. The available reference material gives conflicting dates for Peacemaker, identifying August 14, 2012 in the release list and August 14, 2013 in the artist-history section. In 2012, Carved secured a distribution arrangement with EMI and additional worldwide-distribution relationships with The Orchard and Cargo Records. These agreements represented an effort by the independent label to extend the reach of its catalog beyond its domestic base while retaining a focused roster. The label is documented as having released six albums and one compilation by the early 2010s. Publicly available information in the supplied references does not establish its current operating status, ownership structure, later catalog activity, or whether its original website remains actively maintained.
History
Carved Records began in Dallas in 2009 under the leadership of Tim Porter and Phil Thomas. Porter, identified as the company's chief executive, came to the label after working in several non-music business ventures. Thomas served as vice president of operations and was described as a music-industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience. Together, they established Carved as an independent label built around artist signings, album production, and distribution. Texas Hippie Coalition was the label's first signing. The band had attracted attention through self-generated success, persistent touring, relationships with music and equipment companies, and support from corporate sponsors. After the group met with Carved in late 2009, it became the foundation of the label's early artist roster. Carved released Rollin', the band's first national album, on July 6, 2010. The early catalog also included No Justice's 2nd Avenue, released on the same day as Rollin', and Juke Kartel's Levolution, released on September 28, 2010. In the same period, Carved pursued a community and charitable role through The Boot Campaign, an organization supporting the transition of returning military personnel. The label assembled and released When They Come Back... We Give Back on September 14, 2010. The compilation included music from Carved-associated artists and established Texas and country performers, with proceeds or support directed toward the campaign's work. Carved continued adding albums during the early 2010s. HURT's The Crux was issued on May 1, 2012. In February of that year, the label signed Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown after seeing the group perform live. Wild Child, the band's first full-length album for Carved, followed on January 22, 2013. Texas Hippie Coalition also released Peacemaker through the label; the supplied reference sources disagree about whether its release date was August 14, 2012 or August 14, 2013, so the date should be treated as unresolved. Distribution became a major strategic step in 2012. Carved secured a deal with EMI and arrangements with The Orchard and Cargo Records for worldwide distribution. These relationships gave the Dallas-based independent label access to broader distribution infrastructure and international markets. By the early 2010s, the company was reported to have released six albums and one compilation. The available material does not document later leadership, ownership, releases, financial performance, or the label's present status, and therefore cannot establish whether Carved Records remains active.
- 2012
Distribution network expands
[1]Carved secures distribution arrangements involving EMI, The Orchard, and Cargo Records.
- 2012
Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown signs with Carved
[1]The label signs Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown after seeing the band perform live.
- 2010
First national releases
[1]Carved releases Rollin' by Texas Hippie Coalition and 2nd Avenue by No Justice on July 6.
- 2010
Boot Campaign benefit compilation is released
[1]When They Come Back... We Give Back is issued on September 14 in support of The Boot Campaign.
- 2009
Carved Records is founded in Dallas
[1]Tim Porter and Phil Thomas establish the independent record label in Dallas, Texas.
- 2009
Texas Hippie Coalition becomes the first signing
[1]Following a meeting late in the year, the touring-driven Texas Hippie Coalition becomes Carved Records' first signed band.
Products and positioning
An independent, artist-focused label centered on touring-driven rock, southern rock, country, and American roots music, with an emphasis on grassroots artist development and selected charitable projects.
Studio album · 2010
Rollin'
The first national album by Texas Hippie Coalition released through Carved Records. It represents the label's early emphasis on hard-driving southern rock and touring-based artist development.
Studio album · 2010
2nd Avenue
An album by No Justice released by Carved Records on the same date as Rollin'. It formed part of the label's initial recorded-music catalog.
Benefit compilation album · 2010
When They Come Back... We Give Back
A charitable compilation assembled in partnership with The Boot Campaign. It features contributions from Carved artists and established Texas and country performers, including Robert Earl Keen, Wade Bowen, Stoney LaRue, Eli Young Band, Randy Rogers Band, and others.
Studio album · 2010
Levolution
An album by Juke Kartel released through Carved Records in September 2010, reflecting the label's broader rock-oriented roster beyond its Texas-centered acts.
Studio album · 2012
The Crux
An album by HURT released by Carved Records on May 1, 2012.
Studio album
Peacemaker
A Texas Hippie Coalition studio album associated with Carved Records. The supplied references identify August 14 as the release day but conflict over the year, listing both 2012 and 2013.
Studio album · 2013
Wild Child
The first full-length Carved Records release by Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown. It followed the band's 2012 signing and was released on January 22, 2013.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010The Boot Campaign partnership
United States
Carved Records partnered with The Boot Campaign, a nonprofit focused on easing the transition of returning military personnel. The label supported the initiative through the compilation When They Come Back... We Give Back.
Outcome. The benefit compilation was released on September 14, 2010, featuring a large group of Texas and country artists.
Brand decisions
2012
Expand distribution through EMI, The Orchard, and Cargo RecordsStrategyBackground
As an independent label with a developing catalog, Carved sought broader access to domestic and international distribution channels.
Action taken
The company secured a distribution deal with EMI and additional worldwide-distribution arrangements with The Orchard and Cargo Records.
Aftermath
The arrangements increased the label's distribution reach, although the supplied sources do not provide later performance or financial results.
2012
Sign Tyler Bryant & the ShakedownProduct launchBackground
Carved identified the band after seeing its live performance and viewed its members as a strong fit for the label's artist roster.
Action taken
The label signed Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown and released the band's full-length album Wild Child in January 2013.
Aftermath
The signing broadened Carved's active rock roster during its early-2010s expansion.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/carved-records · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled