Essential Records (Christian)

Essential Records is a contemporary Christian record label based in Franklin, Tennessee. It is a division of the major label Sony Music Nashville.

Essential Records
Parent company	Sony Music Nashville
Founded	1992 (1992)
Founder	Robert Beeson
Distributor(s)	Provident
Genre	Contemporary Christian music
Country of origin	United States
Location	Franklin, Tennessee
Official website	providentlabelgroup.com

History

It was established in 1992 and acquired by Brentwood Music in 1993.^[1] The label's first big hit release was "Flood" by Jars of Clay in 1996.^[2] The song was a hit on mainstream radio before hitting on Christian formats; it reached No. 12 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and appeared in the Billboard Hot 100.^[2] Today it is part of the Sony Music Nashville, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.^[1]

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. ^[3][4]

Sub*Lime Records sublabel

Not to be confused with Sublime Frequencies.

Sub*Lime's Logo

Sub*Lime Records was a sub-label of Essential Records, via Brentwood Music and the Zomba Music Group. Signed artists included Honey, Fold Zandura, Kosmos Express, Quayle, Ruby Joe, and Silage.^[5][6][7][8]

Artists

Current

The roster of artists from May 2019:^[9]

• Branan Murphy
• Casting Crowns
• Elle Limebear
• Jamie Kimmett
• KB (Essential Sound/Provident)
• Land of Color
• Leanna Crawford
• Matt Maher
• Matthew West
• One Sonic Society
• Red Rocks Worship
• Rhett Walker
• Seph Schlueter
• Tauren Wells
• Elevation Worship
• Vertical Worship
• Zach Williams
• All Essential Worship musicians

Former

• Warren Barfield
• Brooke Barrettsmith (active)
• Caedmon's Call (disbanded, formerly with Fair Trade Services)^[10]
• Andy Cherry (active)
• Day of Fire (inactive since 2010)^[11]
• FFH (active)
• Mia Fieldes
• Fireflight (active, with RockFest Records)
• Brian Goodell
• Grey Holiday (disbanded in 2008)
• Jars of Clay (active, with Gray Matters)
• J Monty (active, independent)
• KJ-52 (active, with BEC Recordings)
• Los Caminos (inactive)
• Leeland (active, with Integrity Music)
• Krystal Meyers (inactive)
• The Neverclaim
• Bebo Norman (retired in 2013, formerly with BEC Recordings)
• Paul Colman Trio (solo act/disbanded)
• Chuckie Perez (active, independent)
• Andrew Peterson (active, with Centricity Music)
• Pillar (active)
• Plumb (active, with Curb Records)^[10]
• Red (active, independent)
• Revive (disbanded)
• Kerrie Roberts (active, with Reunion Records)^[12]
• The Royal Royal (active)
• Royal Tailor (disbanded)
• Tal & Acacia (active)
• Tenth Avenue North (disbanded)
• Third Day (disbanded)
• True Vibe (disbanded)
• V*Enna (disbanded in 2001)
• Rhett Walker Band (disbanded)
• I Am They(disbanded, formerly with Big Future Music Group/Truss Records)