Rocketown Records
Encyclopedia
Rocketown Records was an independent record label
which was started in 1996
by Michael W. Smith
. The dream was to create a new, independent Christian record label that wouldn't follow the rules of the modern music business. In the fall of 1995, Michael W. Smith met with Don Donahue, who was, at the time, Smith's A&R director at Reunion Records
, to discuss the creation of this new label. They hoped to develop artists, and not focus on musical fads.
In 1996, Word Records
bought a minority share of the company.
(May 6) as a partnership between Rocketown Records and the Christian rock band Third Day
(Hyper Static Union
was signed to a production deal with Third Day's Consuming Fire Productions).
Additional releases under RKT Music include Learning to Lose - The Turning (June 6) and High Flight Society
(July 7).
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:...
which was started in 1996
1996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
by Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith
Michael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
. The dream was to create a new, independent Christian record label that wouldn't follow the rules of the modern music business. In the fall of 1995, Michael W. Smith met with Don Donahue, who was, at the time, Smith's A&R director at Reunion Records
Reunion Records
Reunion Records is a Christian music record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee and operating under the Provident Label Group. The label was founded in 1982 by Dan Harrell and Mike Blanton.-History:...
, to discuss the creation of this new label. They hoped to develop artists, and not focus on musical fads.
In 1996, Word Records
Word Records
Word Records is a Christian record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a division of Word Entertainment , which, itself is co-owned by Warner Music Group and Curb Records...
bought a minority share of the company.
Alumni Rocketown Artists
- Alathea
- apt.coreApt.coreApt.Core was the side project of Will Hunt, former drummer for many CCM artists such as Rebecca St. James, Shane and Shane, as well as others.-Style and Influences:...
- Christine Dente
- Ronnie Freeman
- Shaun GrovesShaun GrovesShaun Groves is an American Christian singer-songwriter and musician from Tyler, Texas.-Early years:Groves converted to Christianity in sixth grade, and played saxophone in middle and high school; he later attended Baylor University on a full music scholarship.-Musical career:After college Groves...
(Active, Currently independent) - High Flight SocietyHigh Flight SocietyHigh Flight Society is an American Christian rock band from Cedartown, Georgia. The band was originally on Selectric Records for the release of their EP From Far Above Somewhere. They were then signed onto RKT Music, a subsidiary of Rocketown Records, in March 2007...
- Hyper Static UnionHyper Static UnionHyper Static Union is a Christian alternative rock band formed in Camas, Washington, United States. The band's first official/studio album was released May 9, 2006, and was produced by Mac Powell of Third Day...
(Active, with Amplitude Media) - Geoff MooreGeoff MooreIn 1988, Geoff Moore and the Distance released their first official album together, entitled A Place to Stand. They also recorded Foundations in 1989 for Sparrow Records. After a while, they jumped to Forefront Records and recorded Pure and Simple in 1990.They followed in 1992 with A Friend Like U...
- Reuben MorganReuben MorganReuben Morgan is the worship pastor and one of several worship leaders and songwriters alongside Darlene Zschech at the Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. He has written songs such as "Eagles Wings", "Hear Our Praises", "I Give You My Heart", "My Redeemer Lives" and "Mighty to Save", which won...
(Active, current Worship Pastor of Hillsong Church) - Michael Olson (Active)
- Out of the GreyOut of the GreyOut of the Grey is a husband-and-wife Contemporary Christian music project consisting of Scott and Christine Denté. Christine provides lead vocals, while Scott plays guitars and sings background, along with the occasional lead vocals. They have released six studio albums, one best-of compilation...
(On hiatus) - Ginny OwensGinny OwensVirginia Leigh Owens is a Contemporary Christian music singer/songwriter. "Ginny" Owens was born in Jackson, Mississippi, with poor eyesight and has been blind since the age of two. She earned her bachelor of music education in 1997 from Belmont University, but found that most people were...
(Active) - Chris RiceChris RiceChris Rice is an American songwriter who works in the contemporary Christian music, contemporary folk, and adult contemporary genres with a style similar to David Wilcox and James Taylor. He became a recording artist as well in 1996 after signing a contract with Michael W...
(Active) - George Rowe III
- Jake Smith
- Taylor Sorensen
- The SwiftThe SwiftThe Swift was a contemporary Christian pop/rock band, originally formed in Rocky Mount, North Carolina in the late 1990s.- History :In the early 1990s Britt Edwards, Jason Light, Dwayne Coppedge, and West Adams were singing in the band Christ Denomination . At times the band invited such friends...
(Disbanded in 2006) - The Turning
- WatermarkWatermark (Band)Watermark was a Contemporary Christian singing duo composed of husband and wife Nathan and Christy Nockels. They were under Michael W. Smith's record label, Rocketown Records.-History:...
(Inactive) - Wilshire
Imprint
In 2006, Rocketown launched an imprint label, RKT Music, focused on rock artists servicing a more younger demographic than the core Rocketown Records demographic. The first release under the RKT Music name was Lifegiver by Hyper Static UnionHyper Static Union
Hyper Static Union is a Christian alternative rock band formed in Camas, Washington, United States. The band's first official/studio album was released May 9, 2006, and was produced by Mac Powell of Third Day...
(May 6) as a partnership between Rocketown Records and the Christian rock band Third Day
Third Day
Third Day is a Grammy award-winning Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia during the 1990s. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee and former member Billy Wilkins. The other band members are bassist Tai Anderson and drummer David Carr...
(Hyper Static Union
Hyper Static Union
Hyper Static Union is a Christian alternative rock band formed in Camas, Washington, United States. The band's first official/studio album was released May 9, 2006, and was produced by Mac Powell of Third Day...
was signed to a production deal with Third Day's Consuming Fire Productions).
Additional releases under RKT Music include Learning to Lose - The Turning (June 6) and High Flight Society
High Flight Society
High Flight Society is an American Christian rock band from Cedartown, Georgia. The band was originally on Selectric Records for the release of their EP From Far Above Somewhere. They were then signed onto RKT Music, a subsidiary of Rocketown Records, in March 2007...
(July 7).