Tooth & Nail's first album released was Wish for Eden's Pet the Fish,[2] which was produced by Michael Knott and originally slated to be released by Blonde Vinyl. Releases from The Juliana Theory, MxPx, and Starflyer 59 made Tooth & Nail known in music circles, as well as a niche underground subculture in itself. Prior to forming Tooth & Nail, Ebel worked for Frontline Records.[3]
Overview
Eight Tooth & Nail-affiliated albums have been RIAA-certified as gold for sales of 500,000 or more copies. The label had one of its greatest successes when Underoath's Define the Great Line debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in 2006.[4]
The label also released a limited edition hard cover book; the proceeds went to benefit Music Cares.[5]
NPR described the label as having "altered the course of the Christian rock industry by launching and legitimizing the careers of MxPx, The O.C. Supertones and Underoath."[6]
Plastiq Musiq (founded by Ronnie Martin of Joy Electric) primarily signed electronic music artists.[3] Tooth & Nail entered a partnership to distribute Plastiq Musiq albums in 1998 and 1999.[10] Plastiq Musiq continues to release albums independently.
On March 13, 2013, it was announced that Brandon Ebel had sold the entire Tooth & Nail music catalog to Capitol Christian Music Group (formerly EMI Christian Music Group) and by doing so was able to buy back the 50% stake in Tooth & Nail formerly owned by EMI making it an independent record label. It will retain the rights to all future releases with a new distributor, RED Distribution.[11]