The Militia Group
Encyclopedia
History
The Militia Group was founded in 1998 by Chad Pearson as a booking agency, booking for artists such as Slick ShoesSlick Shoes
Slick Shoes was a pop punk band with Christian origins from Antelope Valley, California. Their name comes from the hit 1985 movie, The Goonies, 'slick shoes' being one of the character Data's many gadgets. The band formed in 1994 and made their first release as a self-titled EP in 1997. They...
, Craig's Brother
Craig's Brother
Craig's Brother is an American punk rock band founded by Andy Snyder, Scott Hrapoff and Heath Konkel, later joined by Ted Bond and Adam Nigh. They have released three full length recordings internationally, two on Tooth & Nail Records and one self-released through digital distribution.-Foundation...
, Dogwood
Dogwood
The genus Cornus is a group of about 30-60 species of woody plants in the family Cornaceae, commonly known as dogwoods. Most dogwoods are deciduous trees or shrubs, but a few species are nearly herbaceous perennial subshrubs, and a few of the woody species are evergreen...
, twothirtyeight
Twothirtyeight
Twothirtyeight was an indie rock band from Pensacola, Florida. They disbanded in April 2003.Formed in 1995, Twothirtyeight released three independently produced EP albums before signing with the now-defunct Takehold Records. In 1999, Twothirtyeight released their first full length album Missing...
, Acceptance
Acceptance (band)
Acceptance was an alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1998. They released their first EP, Lost for Words, in 2000, followed by Black Lines to Battlefields in 2003...
, and Element 101. Rory Felton and Chad Pearson partnered in 2000 to turn the booking agency into a record company. Both Pearson and Rory Felton had previous experience with independent labels and artists; Pearson working at 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...
in Seattle, WA and Rory Felton co-operating Arise Records in Kansas City. Arise released titles including first The Juliana Theory release, Dawson High, Tijuana Crime Scene, The National Arobat, Reflector and Recess Theory. In 2000, Chad Pearson teamed up with Rory Felton to turn the agency into an independent record label based out of Huntington Beach, CA. By January 2001, the label had signed Rufio
Rufio
-History:Rufio was formed when bassist Jon Berry was a freshman in college and the other three members, Scott Sellers, Mike Jimenez, and Clark Domae were in their senior year of high school. Sellers and Domae had been acquainted for some time and found a shared talent in the guitar. Sellers met...
, The Lyndsay Diaries, Tora! Tora! Torrance!, Veronica
Veronica
Veronica can refer to:* Veronica , a female given name* Saint Veronica* Veronica * Verónica, Buenos Aires, a town in Argentina-Media and entertainment:* Veronica Ballestrini, an Italian-American country music singer...
, and Noise Ratchet
Noise Ratchet
Noise Ratchet were an alternative Rock band originating from California.Noise Ratchet began as a pop punk/ska band in February 1997 in San Diego, California. In 1998, they released their first independent album, Never Going Back, at Youth Wave 1998 while opening for P.O.D. The Supertones, Stavesacre...
. Within the next year Copeland
Copeland (band)
Copeland was an indie rock band, originally formed in 2001 by singer Aaron Marsh with his friend, bassist and backup singer James Likeness, in the city of Lakeland, Florida.-Inception:...
, The Rocket Summer
The Rocket Summer
The Rocket Summer is the solo-project of Bryce Avary who is based in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. Avary is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and producer. He writes and produces every song on his records, and plays every instrument on them....
, The Beautiful Mistake, and Acceptance
Acceptance (band)
Acceptance was an alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1998. They released their first EP, Lost for Words, in 2000, followed by Black Lines to Battlefields in 2003...
joined the fold.
By 2002, the label had sold its first 100,000 albums with its first release: Rufio
Rufio
-History:Rufio was formed when bassist Jon Berry was a freshman in college and the other three members, Scott Sellers, Mike Jimenez, and Clark Domae were in their senior year of high school. Sellers and Domae had been acquainted for some time and found a shared talent in the guitar. Sellers met...
's 'Perhaps, I Suppose...', and was operating out of offices in Anaheim, CA. By 2004, as the label moved operations from Anaheim, CA to Garden Grove, CA. In early 2007, Pearson left TMG to start a company called P is for Panda. 2007 saw albums released by Denison Witmer, The New Frontiers
The New Frontiers
The New Frontiers was an American indie rock band from Dallas, Texas. Originally called Stellamaris, they released a self-titled EP in 2006, but changed their moniker after discovering that they shared a name with a long-established Israeli band. A second EP, titled Tour, followed in 2007. The...
, Chase Pagan, and We Shot The Moon. By 2008, the label had sold over 1,400,000 albums.
The label may be best known for developing the artist Cartel, for whom The Militia Group released 'The Ransom EP' and 'Chroma.' The 'Chroma' title has sold over 1,030,000 singles, 255,000 albums (according to Soundscan) and was acquired by Sony Music's Epic Records.
The last few years also saw releases from France's Tahiti 80, Juliette and The Licks (featuring actress Juliette Lewis), Everybody Else, Driving East and The Summer Set.
Distribution
Distribution is handled on a territory by territory basis by:United States: Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie
Razor & Tie is a New York-based corporation founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam. The company encompasses a record label with major label distribution , a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a marketing, promotion and sales team, and a direct...
RED Distribution
RED Distribution
RED - An Artist Development Company is a Sony Music Entertainment-owned sales and marketing division that handles releases for over sixty independent record labels....
Canada: SonyBMG
Japan: Militia JPN
Australia & New Zealand: Militia AUS Taperjean
Korea: Ales Music
Taiwan: White Wabbit
Germany / Austria / Switzerland: Hart Distribution
The Netherlands: Sonic Rendezvous
France: Nocturne
Nocturne
A nocturne is usually a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night...
UK: Plastic Head
Scandinavia Bad Taste Records
Bad Taste Records
Bad Taste Records is a record label based in Lund, Sweden.The record label was one of the first labels to establish in the Swedish punk rock and punk/hardcore scene in the early 1990s, together with Burning Heart Records. The name of the label originated from the movie Bad Taste by Peter...
Current Artists
- The Appleseed CastThe Appleseed CastThe Appleseed Cast is an American emo/post-rock band based in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, composed of singer/guitarist Christopher Crisci , guitarist Aaron Pillar, bassist Nathan Whitman and drummer John Momberg...
- Backseat GoodbyeBackseat GoodbyeBackseat Goodbye is the stage and recording name of pop-folk singer-songwriter Chad Sugg.-Career:Chad started the solo-project his freshman year at Middle Tennessee State University in August 2004...
- BrandtsonBrandtson-History:The band formed in 1996 and first recorded for a Steadfast Records compilation entitled Radiowaves and Gibberish in 1997. Soon after the group signed with Deep Elm Records, appearing on their Emo Diaries series before issuing their debut LP, Letterbox, late in 1998...
- Chase Pagan
- Denison WitmerDenison WitmerDenison Witmer is an indie singer-songwriter from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His first release, in 1995, was a cassette titled My Luck, My Love. He has since released six studio LPs; two live albums, a cover album ; three EPs; and an LP with The River Bends—a side project consisting of members of the...
- Driving EastDriving EastDriving East is an American pop punk band from Fairfax, VA.-History:Driving East formed in 2002 after numerous line-up changes. Jon Jester, the original drummer, had moved to Los Angeles to work with his friends in the South African band Just Jinger shortly after they signed with Capitol Records...
- The Jealous SoundThe Jealous SoundThe Jealous Sound is a Los Angeles indie rock band composed of vocalist and guitarist Blair Shehan , guitarist Pedro Benito , bassist Nate Mendel, and drummer Bob Penn. The band has recently reunited to support Sunny Day Real Estate on tour.-History:The band's self-titled debut EP The Jealous Sound...
- Jill Cunniff
- Jonathan JonesJonathan JonesJonathan Jones may refer to:*Jonathan Jones , British journalist and art critic*Jonathan Jones , lead vocalist and keyboardist of We Shot the Moon*Jonathan A. Jones , British physicist...
- LakesLakes (band)Lakes is a band formed in June 2006 in Atascadero, California, consisting mainly of the former band members of Watashi Wa. They are signed to The Militia Group and on September 5, 2006 released a 5 song EP named Photographs EP....
- Let GoLet Go (band)Let Go is a rock band from Tempe, Arizona, formed in late 2004. They are currently signed to southern California record label The Militia Group.- History :Let Go was formed in late 2004 by The Stereo's Jamie Woolford and Chris Serafini...
- Mercy Mercedes
- MobileMobile (band)Mobile were a Canadian Alternative Rock band from Montreal initially composed of Mathieu Joly , Christian Brais , Pierre-Marc Hamelin , Dominic Viola and Frank Williamson . Their debut album, Tomorrow Starts Today, was released in 2006. The band was nominated for two Juno Awards in 2007 and went...
- RufioRufio-History:Rufio was formed when bassist Jon Berry was a freshman in college and the other three members, Scott Sellers, Mike Jimenez, and Clark Domae were in their senior year of high school. Sellers and Domae had been acquainted for some time and found a shared talent in the guitar. Sellers met...
- One for the TeamOne for the TeamOne for the Team is an indie rock group from Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2006, the band was formed by American songwriter Ian Anderson, who is also the founder of Afternoon Records. One for the Team served as an outlet for Anderson's musical talent and songwriting that did not fit his older band...
- QuietdriveQuietdriveQuietdrive is an alternative rock band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that formed in 2002. Quietdrive released their debut album When All That's Left Is You on May 30, 2006 on Epic Records. In April 2008, Quietdrive parted with Epic Records and released their album titled Deliverance on October...
- The Panic DivisionThe Panic Division-History:The Panic Division was formed by three members of the post-hardcore group Carbon 12 Theory, who added a drummer and keyboardist to their lineup to form the present group. The group moved towards a more electronic, synthpop sound and released their debut, Versus, on The Militia Group, who...
- Sights and Sounds
- Tahiti 80Tahiti 80Tahiti 80 are a French indie pop band from Rouen and Paris. The group was founded in 1993 by Xavier Boyer, Pedro Resende, Médéric Gontier and Sylvain Marchand....
- The Urgency
Former Artists
- AcceptanceAcceptance (band)Acceptance was an alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1998. They released their first EP, Lost for Words, in 2000, followed by Black Lines to Battlefields in 2003...
(Disbanded 2006) - Anadivine
- The Beautiful Mistake (On hiatus)
- Big Collapse
- Blueprint Car Crash
- CartelCartel (band)Cartel is a American pop rock band from Conyers, Georgia that formed in 2003. The band is best known for their single "Honestly", featured on their 2005 debut album Chroma, and for their 2007 appearance on MTV's Band in a Bubble....
(Active, currently on Wind-up RecordsWind-Up RecordsWind-up Entertainment, Inc. is a record label based in New York City. It was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop, following his 1996 purchase of Grass Records. Wind-up is currently the largest independently-owned record label in the world...
) - The Class of 98The Class of 98The Class of 98 is an American rock band from Nashville, Tennessee.-History:The Class of 98 was founded by Steve Wilson in 2004, who had moved to the Nashville area in 1998...
(Active, currently without a label) - Controlling the FamousControlling the FamousControlling the Famous was a Los Angeles, California-based indie rock band. After signing with The Militia Group, the band recorded "Automatic City", which was released on May 16th, 2006. They also released a joint album with indie-band Operatic....
(Disbanded 2007) - CopelandCopeland (band)Copeland was an indie rock band, originally formed in 2001 by singer Aaron Marsh with his friend, bassist and backup singer James Likeness, in the city of Lakeland, Florida.-Inception:...
(Disbanded 2010) - Everybody ElseEverybody Else-History:Everybody Else was formed by Carrick Moore Gerety and Mikey McCormack after both moved to the Los Angeles area. Both had relocated with bands, hoping to win fame on the West Coast; Moore Gerety had been in a group called The Push Kings, a local band from Boston, and McCormack had been in...
- FieldingFieldingFielding may refer to:* Fielding , the action of fielders collecting the ball in cricket* The action of fielders collecting the ball at any of the nine baseball positions* Fielding, Saskatchewan, Canada* Fielding, Utah, United States...
- Juliette and the LicksJuliette and the LicksJuliette and the Licks was an American rock band led by actress Juliette Lewis. Other band members included guitarist Craig Fairbaugh and guitarist Emilio Cueto, bassist Jason Womack and drummer Ed Davis. Their popular songs include "You're Speaking My Language" and "Hot Kiss"...
(Disbanded 2009) - The Holy FireThe Holy FireThe Holy Fire is an indie rock band from Detroit, Michigan.-History:The Holy Fire was formed in 2004 after a studio session that produced the group's debut self-titled EP.In 2006, The Holy Fire signed to southern California indie label The Militia Group...
(Active) - The Lyndsay Diaries
- LovedrugLovedrugLovedrug is an indie rock band from Canton, Ohio that formed in 2001. The band’s name is something of a word play; singer Michael Shepard initially left music to attend film school but his first ‘love’ of the music medium ‘dragged’ him back .- History :Lovedrug released their first EP, the...
- Man AliveMan Alive (band)Man Alive is an Israeli punk rock band, formed in 1999 in Jerusalem, by members Jamie Hilsden on vocals and guitar, Jeremy Boyd on bass guitar and Joel Hilsden on drums.-History:...
(Active, currently on B& Recordings) - Noise RatchetNoise RatchetNoise Ratchet were an alternative Rock band originating from California.Noise Ratchet began as a pop punk/ska band in February 1997 in San Diego, California. In 1998, they released their first independent album, Never Going Back, at Youth Wave 1998 while opening for P.O.D. The Supertones, Stavesacre...
- The New FrontiersThe New FrontiersThe New Frontiers was an American indie rock band from Dallas, Texas. Originally called Stellamaris, they released a self-titled EP in 2006, but changed their moniker after discovering that they shared a name with a long-established Israeli band. A second EP, titled Tour, followed in 2007. The...
(Inactive) - The Rocket SummerThe Rocket SummerThe Rocket Summer is the solo-project of Bryce Avary who is based in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. Avary is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and producer. He writes and produces every song on his records, and plays every instrument on them....
(Active, currently with Island Def Jam Records) - Reeve OliverReeve OliverReeve Oliver is an American pop rock band formed in 2000 in San Diego, California. They have released two albums and several EPs and have toured with larger acts such as The Vandals, Yellowcard, and Switchfoot...
(Active, currently on Apple Danish Records) - Ronnie DayRonnie DayRonnie Day is an American songwriter from Redwood City, California.In his sophomore year of high school, Day decided to drop out and pursue a career in music. After testing for proficiency, he began teaching guitar lessons and with his first earnings, bought a laptop and a microphone...
(Active, currently on Simplify Music) - The Summer SetThe Summer SetThe Summer Set are a pop-punk band from Scottsdale, Arizona.-History:After a few years of playing music together, Jess Bowen and brothers John and Stephen Gomez, set out in the fall of 2007 to form The Summer Set with newfound vocalist Brian Dales. Jess, John, and Stephen played in a previous band...
(Active, currently on Razor and Tie Entertainment) - Tora! Tora! Torrance!
- UmbrellasUmbrellas (band)The indie rock band Umbrellas was formed in 2005 by former The Lyndsay Diaries frontman, Scott Windsor. They recently fulfilled their contract with The Militia Group, freeing them up to record and release their Beach Front Property EP in June 2007. Their sound is, at times, very mellow and...
(Active, currently without a label) - Veronica
- We Shot the MoonWe Shot the MoonWe Shot the Moon, formerly known as The Honor Roll, is a band from San Diego, California featuring Jonathan Jones the singer of Waking Ashland, and originally, Dan Koch, and Joe Greenetz both from the band Sherwood.- History :...
(Active, currently on Afternoon RecordsAfternoon RecordsAfternoon Records is a record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The label was founded by Ian Anderson and Michael M. Sandstedt in 2003, the year of Ian's graduation from high school...
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