Diamante Music Group
Encyclopedia
Diamante Music Group was a Newport Beach
, California
based independent record label
distributor active from 1993
through 2004
. During its heyday, Diamante was home to several dozen small independent record labels, some of whose artists later gained worldwide recognition.
Among such were Rescue Records
whose releases for San Diego based artists Tonéx
's Pronounced Toe-Nay and P.O.D.
's Snuff The Punk and Brown later signed contracts with Jive Records
and Atlantic Records
respectively elevating their Rescue Records releases to cult status. Another notable Diamante-distributed label is Tooth & Nail Records
whose artists Thousand Foot Krutch
and MxPx
first rose to prominence as independents. Multiple Dove Award winner Crystal Lewis
made Diamante Music Group home for her independent label Metro One Music. Diamante was also home to N'Soul Records, the boutique label of Christian dance music pioneer Scott Blackwell
and the best selling Nitro Praise series.
In 2001, it was merged with The Butterfly Group, a record label collective of the Christian music
industry stated by Mike Rinaldi and well known singer/songwriter Bob Carlisle
, to become Diamante-Butterfly Group, LLC. The company consolidated its operations to Nashville
, Tennessee
in 2003. Though numerous attempts had been made to resuscitate the once #1 independent distribution channel in the Christian music market, Diamante-Butterfly filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004 and was sold to CNI Distribution.
In 2006 Quality Junk, LLC d/b/a Syntax Records purchased the remaining assets of what was known as the Butterfly Group which included 3 P.O.D., titles, 6 Winan's titles, and many more before parting it out to other companies including but not limited to their new distribution partner Koch Entertainment
.
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
based independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
distributor active from 1993
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
through 2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
. During its heyday, Diamante was home to several dozen small independent record labels, some of whose artists later gained worldwide recognition.
Among such were Rescue Records
Rescue Records
-Artists:*P.O.D.*Dogwood*N.I.V.*Tonéx*Dirt*Fros'T*Unity Klan*E-Roc* FASEDOWN*Sackcloth Fashion*Nailed Promise*Point Of Recognition*Ancient of Days* Skratchline*BLAH...
whose releases for San Diego based artists Tonéx
Tonéx
Anthony Charles Williams II , better known by his former stage name Tonéx , and most recently as B.Slade, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, rapper, dancer, producer, preacher, and activist. He has gone by various names and aliases, but his primary stage name of choice...
's Pronounced Toe-Nay and P.O.D.
P.O.D.
Payable on Death is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992. The band's line-up consists of vocalist Sonny Sandoval, drummer Wuv Bernardo, guitarist Marcos Curiel, and bassist Traa Daniels. Their Christian faith is an important part of their music.They have released seven studio albums and...
's Snuff The Punk and Brown later signed contracts with Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
and Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
respectively elevating their Rescue Records releases to cult status. Another notable Diamante-distributed label is Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
whose artists Thousand Foot Krutch
Thousand Foot Krutch
Thousand Foot Krutch is a Canadian Christian rock band formed in 1995. They have released five major studio albums: Set It Off , Phenomenon , The Art of Breaking , The Flame In All of Us , and Welcome to the Masquerade . They also have one live album, Live at the Masquerade...
and MxPx
MxPx
MxPx is a pop punk band from Bremerton, Washington with connections to the Christian punk scene. The band has recorded eight studio albums, four EPs, four compilation albums, a live album, a VHS tape, a DVD and released 20 singles....
first rose to prominence as independents. Multiple Dove Award winner Crystal Lewis
Crystal Lewis
Crystal Lewis is an American contemporary Christian/Gospel vocalist, songwriter and author.-Early years:Lewis grew up singing in her father's church...
made Diamante Music Group home for her independent label Metro One Music. Diamante was also home to N'Soul Records, the boutique label of Christian dance music pioneer Scott Blackwell
Scott Blackwell
Scott Blackwell is a Christian dance music artist, born in Fort Worth, Texas. He is generally credited with being the first artist to produce such music for the Christian marketplace...
and the best selling Nitro Praise series.
In 2001, it was merged with The Butterfly Group, a record label collective of the Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
industry stated by Mike Rinaldi and well known singer/songwriter Bob Carlisle
Bob Carlisle
Bob Carlisle is a Grammy Award and Dove Award-winning American musician who performs Christian music. He performed with several bands, most notably Allies and Billy Thermal, before launching a solo career...
, to become Diamante-Butterfly Group, LLC. The company consolidated its operations to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
in 2003. Though numerous attempts had been made to resuscitate the once #1 independent distribution channel in the Christian music market, Diamante-Butterfly filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004 and was sold to CNI Distribution.
In 2006 Quality Junk, LLC d/b/a Syntax Records purchased the remaining assets of what was known as the Butterfly Group which included 3 P.O.D., titles, 6 Winan's titles, and many more before parting it out to other companies including but not limited to their new distribution partner Koch Entertainment
Koch Entertainment
Koch Entertainment was a music, film and television distribution company. It was purchased by E1 Entertainment in 2005 and now operates under the name E1 Entertainment.-History:The company began in 1975 as Koch International...
.
Partial List of Distributed Labels
- 5 Minute Walk Records
- Against The Flow Records
- AIR Gospel
- Bettie Rocket Records
- Blonde VinylBlonde VinylBlonde Vinyl was an independent record label founded in 1990 by Michael Knott. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music describes the label as "one of Christian music's first true indie labels."-Background:...
- Cross Movement RecordsThe Cross Movement-Ministry:The Cross Movement has three separate and distinct eponymous components which comprise its ministry. The first component is the Christian hip hop group known as The Cross Movement which was most recently composed of four solo rappers: The Ambassador , The Tonic , Phanatik , and...
- Eternal Funk Records
- Faith MD Music
- Galaxy 21 Music
- Grapetree RecordsGrapetree RecordsGrapetree Records was a record label founded by Knolly Williams. It was active from the early 1990s to the early 2000s.-Beginning:In 1989, Knolly Williams was anxious enough to avoid the temptations inside Los Angeles to spend a summer in Austin, Texas working for his uncle...
- Grrr Records
- Holy Roller Entertainment
- Insync Music
- JDI Records
- KMG RecordsKMG RecordsKMG Records was a Christian record label. The label was established in 1997 by Buddy Killen as a subunit of the Killen Music Group / Buddy Killen Enterprises and sold in late 1998 to Cal Turner III, who is related to the Cal Turner of Dollar General stores...
- Lion Of Zion Entertainment
- Metal Blade RecordsMetal Blade RecordsMetal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
- Metro One MusicCrystal LewisCrystal Lewis is an American contemporary Christian/Gospel vocalist, songwriter and author.-Early years:Lewis grew up singing in her father's church...
- Micah Records
- MCM Music
- MYX Records
- N'Soul Records
- Only God Entertainment
- Rescue RecordsRescue Records-Artists:*P.O.D.*Dogwood*N.I.V.*Tonéx*Dirt*Fros'T*Unity Klan*E-Roc* FASEDOWN*Sackcloth Fashion*Nailed Promise*Point Of Recognition*Ancient of Days* Skratchline*BLAH...
- Resolve Records
- Rhythm House Records
- Rocket Dog Records
- Rowe Productions
- Rustproof Records
- Screaming Giant Records
- Shabach Entertainment
- Seventh Street Records
- Syntax Records
- Tooth & Nail RecordsTooth & Nail RecordsTooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...