Diamante Music Group

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,^[1] 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.^[2] 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^[3] and was sold to CNI Distribution.^[4]

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.

Partial List of Distributed Labels

5 Minute Walk Records Against The Flow Records AIR Gospel Bettie Rocket Records Blonde Vinyl Cross Movement Records Eternal Funk Records Faith MD Music Galaxy 21 Music Grapetree Records Grrr Records Holy Roller Entertainment Insync Music JDI Records KMG Records Lion Of Zion Entertainment Metal Blade Records

Metro One Music Micah Records MCM Music MYX Records N'Soul Records Only God Entertainment Rescue Records Resolve Records Rhythm House Records Rocket Dog Records Rowe Productions Rustproof Records Screaming Giant Records Shabach Entertainment Seventh Street Records Syntax Records Tooth & Nail Records

References

1. ^ Hendrickson, Lucas W. (August 1996). "Indie City: Independent Labels Thrive On Growing Alternative Music Scene". CCM Magazine 19 (2): 21–22. 
2. ^ "Diamante-Butterfly Distribution moves from California to Franklin". March 18, 2003. Nashville Business Journal.
3. ^ Press Release on Diamante Music Group bankruptcy. (PDF). August 31, 2004. Distributed by CNI Distribution.
4. ^ "BUTTERFLY-DIAMANTE MUSIC GROUP BUYOUT FINALIZED". (PDF). January 21, 2005. Distributed by CNI Distribution.

See also

• List of record labels