Essential Records is a

contemporary Christian Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from about 1945 to the present. In the social sciences, contemporary history is also continuous with, and related t ...

record label based in

Franklin, Tennessee Franklin is a city in and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. About south of Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, it is one of the principal cities of the Nashville metropolitan area and Middle Tennessee. As of 2020 Uni ...

. It is a division of the major label

Sony Music Nashville Sony Music Nashville is the country music branch of the Sony Music, Sony Music Group. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Sony Music Nashville includes its three country recording labels Arista Nashville, Columbia Records#Columbia Nashville, Colu ...

History

It was established in 1992 and acquired by Brentwood Music in 1993. The label's first big hit release was "

Flood A flood is an overflow of water (list of non-water floods, or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are of significant con ...

" by

Jars of Clay Jars of Clay is a Christian alternative rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The members met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.Jars of Clay. (2005). Making the GradeiTunes Originals - Jars of Clay. AC Audio Essential Records. The ...

in 1996. The song was a hit on mainstream radio before hitting on Christian formats; it reached No. 12 on the

Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Airplay (formerly known as Modern Rock Tracks between 1988 and 2009, and Alternative Songs between 2009 and 2020) is a music chart published in the American magazine ''Billboard'' since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-playe ...

chart and appeared in the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Today it is part of the

, a division of

Sony Music Entertainment Sony Music Entertainment (SME), commonly known as Sony Music, is an American multinational music company owned by Japanese conglomerate Sony Group Corporation. It is the recording division of Sony Music Group, with the other half being the ...

Essential Worship

Also, the label has an imprint named Essential Worship, which provides resources for worship leaders, and the deals are different than traditional ones. It is a record label that provides tools for musicians, and worship leaders.

Sub*Lime Records sublabel

Sub*Lime Records was a sub-label of Essential Records, via Brentwood Music and the

Zomba Music Group The Zomba Group of Companies (sometimes referred to as Zomba Music Group or just Zomba Group) was a music group and division owned by and operated under Sony Music Entertainment. The division was renamed to Jive Label Group in 2009 and was place ...

. Signed artists included

Honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several species of bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of pl ...

Fold Zandura Fold Zandura is an alternative rock band from California. They released four albums between 1995 and 1999, plus one white 7" vinyl. Each album was released under a different label. The two premier members also founded the industrial band Mortal ...

, Kosmos Express, Quayle,

Ruby Joe Ruby Joe was a Christian band from Ventura, California. Their debut album was cited as psychobilly, but their second played squarely as swing revival due to the appearance of the horn section of Royal Crown Revue. Both were released on Sub•Li ...

, and

Silage Silage is fodder made from green foliage crops which have been preserved by fermentation (food), fermentation to the point of souring. It is fed to cattle, sheep and other ruminants. The fermentation and storage process is called ''ensilage'', ' ...

Artists

Current

The roster of artists from May 2019: * Branan Murphy *

Casting Crowns Casting Crowns is a contemporary Christian and Christian rock band which began in Daytona Beach, Florida. The band was formed in 1999 by lead vocalist Mark Hall. They moved to Stockbridge, Georgia, and more members joined. Some members of the ...

* Elle Limebear *

Jamie Kimmett Jamie Kimmett is a Christian music singer-songwriter signed to Provident Label Group under Sony. Career Jamie Kimmett was born in Scotland. He grew up listening to artists like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and John Mayer. While studying to ...

* KB (Essential Sound/ Provident) * Land of Color *

Leanna Crawford Leanna Crawford (born June 13, 1995) is an American contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter signed to Provident Label Group. Background Leanna Crawford grew up in Stanwood, Washington. Crawford was home-schooled by her mom, a former te ...

Matt Maher Matthew Guion Maher (born November 10, 1974) is a Canadian Catholic contemporary Christian music artist, songwriter, and worship leader based in the United States. Three of his nine albums have reached the Christian Albums, Top 25 Christian Albu ...

Matthew West Matthew Joseph West (born April 25, 1977) is an American contemporary Christian musician and singer-songwriter. He has released five studio albums and is known for his songs "More (Matthew West song), More", "You Are Everything (Matthew West so ...

One Sonic Society One Sonic Society was a contemporary worship music collective from around the globe. The collective was composed of songwriter Jason Ingram on vocals, guitar and piano, Delirious? lead guitarist Stuart Garrard on guitar and vocals, Hillsong UNI ...

* Red Rocks Worship * Rhett Walker *

Seph Schlueter Joseph "Seph" Schlueter (born December 18, 1999) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and a leader of the ''Damascus Worship'' community, an American Catholic missionary movement based in Columbus, Ohio. In early 2023, he was signed to ...

Tauren Wells Tauren Gabriel Wells (born April 7, 1986) is an American Contemporary Christian music singer and pastor from Houston, Texas. Wells was the frontman of former Christian band Royal Tailor. After the group's disbandment in 2015, he released ''Unde ...

Elevation Worship Elevation Worship is a contemporary worship music collective from Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. The collective leads worship in weekend church services at Elevation Church, as well as performing concerts and tours around the Un ...

Vertical Worship Vertical Worship, previously known as Vertical Church Band, is a contemporary Christian and worship band from Rolling Meadows, Illinois, as part of the Harvest Bible Chapel. They are signed to Provident Label Group and have released seven albu ...

* Zach Williams * All Essential Worship musicians

Former

* Warren Barfield * Brooke Barrettsmith (active) *

Caedmon's Call Caedmon's Call was a contemporary Christian band that fused traditional folk with world music and alternative rock. They were composed of Cliff Young (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Derek Webb (lead vocals, guitar), Danielle Young (vocals), G ...

(disbanded, formerly with

Fair Trade Services Fair Trade Services, formerly known as INO Records, is an American record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee, specializing in Contemporary Christian music (CCM). History The label was founded in 1999 as INO Records, a division of M2 Communic ...

) * Andy Cherry (active) *

Day of Fire Day of Fire is an American Christian rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The band announced an indefinite hiatus in June 2010, leaving open the possibility for a return to the music scene. They were first signed to Essential Records, and late ...

(inactive since 2010)Jesusfreakhideout.com: Day Of Fire Discography, Day Of Fire Artist Database, Day Of Fire Lyrics
jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved April 29, 2011. * FFH (active) * Mia Fieldes *

Fireflight Fireflight is an American Christian rock band formed in Eustis, Florida, in 1999. The band was signed by Flicker Records. The band currently consists of vocalist Dawn Michele, Glenn and Wendy Drennen, guitarist and bassist respectively, and gu ...

(active, with RockFest Records) * Brian Goodell * Grey Holiday (disbanded in 2008) *

(active, with Gray Matters) * J Monty (active, independent) *

KJ-52 Jonah Kirsten Sorrentino (born June 26, 1975), better known by his stage name KJ-52, is a Christian rapper from Tampa, Florida. The "KJ" part of his name refers to his old rap alias, "King J. Mac",

(active, with

BEC Recordings Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle where it is today. History Brandon Ebel and Michael Knott conceived the label as a joint venture, before Knott back ...

) * Los Caminos (inactive) * Leeland (active, with Integrity Music) *

Krystal Meyers Krystal Nicole Meyers is an American Christian rock and contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and musician. She released three albums under Essential Records: '' Krystal Meyers'', '' Dying for a Heart'', and '' Make Some Noise'' and is kn ...

(inactive) * The Neverclaim *

Bebo Norman Jeffery Stephen "Bebo" Norman (born May 29, 1973) is a contemporary Christian musician from Columbus, Georgia, US. His most successful album to date is ''Myself When I Am Real'', which included hit songs "Great Light of the World" and "Falling Do ...

(retired in 2013, formerly with

) * Paul Colman Trio (solo act/disbanded) * Chuckie Perez (active, independent) * Andrew Peterson (active, with

Centricity Music Centricity Music is an American contemporary Christian music record label that was founded in Washington. The label's roster includes artists such as Lauren Daigle, Jordan Feliz, Katy Nichole, Jason Gray, Andrew Peterson and NEEDTOBREATHE. Hi ...

) *

Pillar A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...

(active) * Plumb (active, with

Curb Records Curb Records (also known as Asylum-Curb and formerly known as MCG Curb) is an American record label started by Mike Curb, originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963. From 1969 to 1973, Curb merged with MGM Records where Curb served as President of M ...

) *

Red Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–750 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a seconda ...

(active, independent) * Revive (disbanded) *

Kerrie Roberts Kerrie Roberts (born November 14, 1985) is an American contemporary Christian artist. She has released two albums and one EP under Reunion Records. She has also released a standalone single in 2005. Several songs from her self-titled major labe ...

(active, with

Reunion Records Reunion Records is a contemporary Christian record label based in Brentwood, Tennessee, that operates under the Provident Label Group. It was founded in 1982 by Dan Harrell and Mike Blanton. History The label was formed by Amy Grant's manager ...

) * The Royal Royal (active) * Royal Tailor (disbanded) * Tal & Acacia (active) *

Tenth Avenue North Tenth Avenue North is an American contemporary Christian music band from West Palm Beach, Florida. The band released a total of fifteen original music projects, including eight full-length studio albums (six of which reached the Billboard 200, i ...

(disbanded) *

Third Day Third Day was a Christian rock band formed in Marietta, Georgia in 1991. The band was founded by lead singer Mac Powell, guitarist Mark Lee (both of whom were the only constant members) and Billy Wilkins. The band's name is a reference to the ...

(disbanded) *

True Vibe True Vibe was a CCM group that was active from 1999 to 2003. Composed of members Jonathan Lippmann, Nathan Gaddis, Jason Barton, and Jordan Roe, the group was born out of Lippmann's desire to pursue musical excellence without watering down his ...

(disbanded) * V*Enna (disbanded in 2001) *

Rhett Walker Band Rhett Walker Band is a Southern rock and Christian rock band from Nashville. The band released their debut studio album under the Essential Records label on July 10, 2012 called '' Come to the River.'' The band's debut single, " When Mercy Found ...

(disbanded) * I Am They(disbanded, formerly with Big Future Music Group/Truss Records)

References

External links

Provident Label Group
website {{Authority control Helpful: American record labels Record labels established in 1992 Christian record labels Sony Music