Tooth & Nail Records

Tooth & Nail Records is an independent American record label associated primarily with Christian rock, alternative rock, punk, hardcore, metal, and related forms of contemporary Christian music. Brandon Ebel founded the label in California in November 1993 after working for Frontline Records. Ebel initially conceived Tooth & Nail as a joint venture with Michael Knott, although Knott withdrew before the label was formally established. The company subsequently developed a Seattle base and became one of the most influential specialist labels in Christian rock. The label's first album release was Wish for Eden's Pet the Fish. From its early catalog, Tooth & Nail built a reputation for releasing guitar-driven music that connected Christian themes and artist identities with styles often associated with the broader alternative, punk, and heavy-music scenes. Its roster and affiliated imprints helped introduce or develop artists including MxPx, the O.C. Supertones, and Underoath. National Public Radio later characterized the label as having changed the direction of Christian rock by helping launch and legitimize careers in the genre. Tooth & Nail expanded its activities through related labels and imprints. Solid State Records became the company's outlet for metal and hardcore releases. Although it operated within a Christian-label structure, Solid State also worked with bands whose members were Christian but whose public musical identity was not necessarily marketed as explicitly Christian. BEC Recordings was formed in 1997 in partnership with EMI Christian Music Group and focused on Christian rock. Plastiq Musiq, founded by Joy Electric's Ronnie Martin, concentrated on electronic music; its collaboration with Tooth & Nail ended in 2001. In 2002, Tooth & Nail bought Takehold Records, adding another significant transaction to its expansion. The label's commercial reach was demonstrated by eight affiliated albums receiving RIAA gold certification for sales of at least 500,000 copies. One of its most prominent chart achievements came in 2006, when Underoath's Define the Great Line debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The ownership and catalog structure changed substantially in 2013. Brandon Ebel sold the Tooth & Nail music catalog to Capitol Christian Music Group, then known as EMI Christian Music Group, while reacquiring EMI's 50 percent interest in Tooth & Nail. The transaction left Tooth & Nail operating as an independent label. Under the new arrangement, the label retained rights to future releases and used RED Distribution for distribution. This separated ownership of much of the historical catalog from the continuing independent label operation. Tooth & Nail's significance rests on its role as both a label and an ecosystem of affiliated imprints. It provided a bridge between Christian music markets and alternative, punk, hardcore, and metal audiences, while its catalog produced commercially successful releases and helped establish artists who became prominent within and beyond Christian music. The supplied reference material identifies the label as active and based in Seattle, but does not provide a current executive roster, official website, or a complete current artist list.

Tooth & Nail Records was founded in California in November 1993 by Brandon Ebel. Before establishing the label, Ebel worked for Frontline Records. He and Michael Knott originally discussed creating Tooth & Nail as a joint venture, but Knott withdrew from the arrangement before the label was formed. The company released Wish for Eden's Pet the Fish as its first album and gradually established a distinctive position in Christian rock and adjacent guitar-based scenes. Rather than restricting itself to a single conventional contemporary Christian format, Tooth & Nail developed a catalog spanning rock, alternative, punk, hardcore, and metal. This approach enabled the label to work with music that could participate in both Christian-market retail and the wider alternative-music culture. Artists associated with the label included MxPx, the O.C. Supertones, and Underoath. The label's influence was later described by NPR as significant in changing the course of Christian rock and legitimizing the careers of artists within that field. The company created and operated multiple affiliated imprints. BEC Recordings was established in 1997 in partnership with EMI Christian Music Group as a Christian rock label. Solid State Records served as an outlet for metal and hardcore releases. Its roster could include bands with Christian members whose music was not necessarily presented as explicitly Christian. Tooth & Nail also collaborated with Plastiq Musiq, an electronic-music imprint founded by Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric; that collaboration ended in 2001. Tooth & Nail expanded through the 2002 acquisition of Takehold Records. The label's affiliated releases achieved notable commercial results, with eight albums receiving RIAA gold certification for sales of at least 500,000 copies. A major milestone came in 2006 when Underoath's Define the Great Line debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, demonstrating that a release from a Christian-oriented specialist label could reach a high position on the mainstream U.S. album chart. The label's corporate structure changed in 2013. Brandon Ebel sold the Tooth & Nail catalog to Capitol Christian Music Group, formerly EMI Christian Music Group, while buying back EMI's 50 percent interest in Tooth & Nail. The arrangement made the label independent again while separating the historical catalog from the continuing label business. Tooth & Nail retained rights to future releases and adopted RED Distribution as its new distributor. The label later became associated with Seattle, where it is identified as being based. The provided reference material does not establish a current ownership structure, executive team, official web address, or complete contemporary roster. Tooth & Nail's documented historical importance comes from its multi-imprint model, its integration of Christian identity with rock-oriented genres, its artist-development record, and its ability to produce both specialist-market influence and mainstream chart visibility.

• 2013

  Catalog and ownership restructuring

  [1]Tooth & Nail Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Brandon Ebel sold the historical catalog to Capitol Christian Music Group and reacquired EMI's 50 percent stake in Tooth & Nail, returning the label to independent ownership.

• 2006

  Underoath reaches number two on the Billboard 200

  [1]Tooth & Nail Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Underoath's Define the Great Line debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.

• 2002

  Takehold Records is acquired

  [1]Tooth & Nail Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Tooth & Nail bought Takehold Records as part of its label expansion.

• 2001

  Plastiq Musiq collaboration ends

  [1]Tooth & Nail Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Tooth & Nail's collaboration with Ronnie Martin's electronic-music imprint Plastiq Musiq ended.

• 1997

  BEC Recordings is formed

  [1]Tooth & Nail Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  BEC Recordings was established in partnership with EMI Christian Music Group as a Christian rock imprint.

• 1993

  Tooth & Nail Records is founded

  [1]Tooth & Nail Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Brandon Ebel founded the label in California in November 1993 after working for Frontline Records.

• 1993

  First album release

  [1]Tooth & Nail Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label's first listed album release was Wish for Eden's Pet the Fish.

An independent Christian music label and multi-imprint platform that develops and distributes rock-oriented music across Christian rock, alternative, punk, hardcore, and metal.

• Christian rock and alternative music · 1993

  Tooth & Nail Records releases

  The core Tooth & Nail catalog consists of recorded music associated with Christian rock and adjacent alternative styles. The label became known for artist development across guitar-based genres, including punk and alternative rock, while maintaining a connection to the Christian music market.

• Metal and hardcore

  Solid State Records releases

  Solid State Records is the metal and hardcore-oriented imprint affiliated with Tooth & Nail. Its scope included bands with Christian members as well as acts whose public musical identity was not necessarily described as Christian, giving the imprint a broader heavy-music position.

• Christian rock · 1997

  BEC Recordings releases

  BEC Recordings was formed in 1997 in partnership with EMI Christian Music Group. It functions as a Christian rock imprint within the broader Tooth & Nail label structure.

• Electronic music

  Plastiq Musiq releases

  Plastiq Musiq was an electronic-music imprint founded by Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric. Its collaboration with Tooth & Nail ended in 2001, so it represents a historical rather than a continuing part of the label's documented structure.

• 2013

  Sale of the catalog and reacquisition of EMI's stakeM&A

  Background

  Tooth & Nail had both a historical music catalog and an ownership interest held by EMI Christian Music Group.

  Action taken

  Brandon Ebel sold the Tooth & Nail catalog to Capitol Christian Music Group, formerly EMI Christian Music Group, and bought back EMI's 50 percent stake in the label.

  Aftermath

  Tooth & Nail became independent again, retained rights to future releases, and used RED Distribution for distribution.

  Source

• 2002

  Acquisition of Takehold RecordsM&A

  Background

  Tooth & Nail was expanding its network of affiliated label activities and acquired Takehold Records.

  Action taken

  The company bought Takehold Records.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition became part of Tooth & Nail's documented multi-imprint and catalog expansion.

  Source

1. 1Tooth & Nail Recordsen.wikipedia.org