Gotee Records is a record label of Contemporary Christian music, based in Franklin, Tennessee in the United States.
History The label was founded in 1994 by TobyMac, Todd Collins and Joey Elwood.Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition, Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 296-297 The first album produced is Out of Eden's Lovin' the Day.Justin Sarachik, TobyMac’s Influence on Christian Hip-Hop and How Gotee Records Signed John Reuben Over KJ-52, rapzilla.com, USA, February 9, 2016 The label was a part of EMI Christian Music Group. However, they bought back EMI's minority share to become fully independent again as of March 31, 2008. Toby McKeehan is currently the president of the company. For a brief while, starting in 2009, the label was distributed by Warner Bros. Records.
McKeehan got the name "Gotee" from the song "Socially Acceptable" on dc Talk's album Free at Last. A member of the band GRITS was doing the background vocals, and he was saying, "Let it go, T, let it go." ("T" refers to Toby). McKeehan happened to be growing a goatee on his face at the time, and when Mark Heimermann pointed out the coincidence, he decided to name his new record company, "Gotee Records".
However, McKeehan does not publish his own albums under this title; instead he publishes his own records under the same label dc Talk was signed to, ForeFront Records, an imprint of Universal Music Group. He owns the name the Gotee Bros.
In May 2015 Gotee was acquired by Zealot Networks. Zealot's Nashville office is headed by former Gotee artist John Reuben. As part of the acquisition Gotee is still operated independently.
In February 2025 Gotee was acquired by Bell Partners Worldwide.
Artists Current Charly Perry Cochren & Co. Matt Hammitt Mackenzie Phillips Jon Reddick Joseph O'Brien lydi lynn RENEE Ryan Stevenson Terrian
Former
Abandon Kansas (active, independent) Flynn Adam (active, independent) Jeff Anderson (active) Aguilar Aaron Cole (active, currently signed to Provident Label Group/RCA Inspiration) Christafari (active, on Soul of Zion Entertainment) Curious Fools (disbanded) Jeff Deyo (active, on Indelible Creative Group) Deepspace5 (active, on Deepspace5 Records) DJ Maj (active, on Tractor-Beam Records) Family Force 5 (on hiatus; currently on Word Records) Finding Favour (active) Fighting Instinct (disbanded) 4th Avenue Jones (disbanded) The Gotee Bros. (disbanded, side project of tobyMac of DC Talk) Jamie Grace (active, independent) GRITS (on hiatus) Hollyn (active, independent) House of Heroes (active, currently independent) I Am Terrified (active, currently independent) The Katinas (active, unsigned) Capital Kings (on hiatus) Sarah Kelly (active, currently an owner of Sarah Kelly Music School) Jennifer Knapp (active, currently unsigned) Knowdaverbs (changed name to Verbs; currently with 1280 Music) Johnny Q. Public (disbanded) LA Symphony (on hiatus; members now performing solo) Liquid (active, unsigned) Mars Ill (active, on Deepspace5 Records) Morgan Harper Nichols (active, independent) Our Heart's Hero (disbanded) Out of Eden (disbanded) Courtnie Ramirez Richlin (stylized as RICHLIN) Relient K (active, on Mono Vs Stereo Records) Stephanie Smith (on hiatus; currently in Copperlily) Sonicflood (active on Resonate Records) StorySide:B (disbanded) B. Reith (active, currently independent) John Reuben (active, currently independent) Ayiesha Woods (active, independent) Paul Wright (active, unsigned) Andy Zipf (active, with P is for Panda Records)
Compilations Gotee Records presents: Showcase We Are Hip Hope Freaked! A Tribute to dc Talk's Jesus Freak Gotee Records Freshman Class 2000 Gotee Records: The Soundtrack Ten Years Brand New Gotee Night Out Hip Hope Hits collection"Various Artists Hip Hope Hits 2009" . Jesus Freak Hideout, 02/07/2009, written by Scott Fryberger Tis the Season to be Gotee Tis the Season to be Gotee Too Gotee Records: Twenty Years Brand New
RIAA gold certifications +YearArtistAlbum2001SonicfloodSonicflood2001Jennifer KnappKansas2005Relient KTwo Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do2005Relient KMmhmm2005Relient KBe My Escape (single)2006Relient KWho I Am Hates Who I've Been (single)2006Relient KAnatomy of the Tongue in Cheek2014Jamie GraceHold Me (single)2019GritsOoh ahh (single)2019Ryan StevensonEye of the Storm (single)2024Cochren & Co.Church (Take Me Back) (single)
See also List of record labels EMI Christian Music Group Joey Elwood Mono Vs. Stereo (Independent Rock Imprint of Gotee)
References
External links
Gotee Records Photo Group on Flickr Pictures of Gotee artists in concert, with fans, backstage, etc.