800 Pound Gorilla Media is an American independent comedy
record label
A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produ ...
founded in
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...
, by Ryan Bitzer & Damion Greiman along with founding members Ian Adkins and Anthony Leo,. The label distributes stand-up comedy albums and video specials worldwide and has close to 300 comics on its roster, including
Chad Daniels
Chad Daniels is an American comedian. His albums have reached the top 10 on the Billboard comedy charts three times: No. 2 for 2017's ''Footprints On The Moon'', No. 6 for 2019's ''Dad Chaniels'', and No. 7 for 2014's ''Natural Selection''. As o ...
,
Kathleen Madigan
Kathleen Madigan is an American comedian and TV personality. In addition to her stand up comedy performances, she is a regular guest on a variety of U.S. television programs.
Early life and education
Kathleen Madigan is one of seven children in t ...
,
George Lopez
George Edward Lopez (born April 23, 1961) is an American comedian and actor. He is known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including Mexican American culture. Lopez has rec ...
,
Whitney Cummings
Whitney Cummings (born September 4, 1982) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, director, producer, investor and podcaster.
A native of Washington, DC, Cummings pursued a comedy career in Los Angeles after graduating from the Univer ...
,
Jim Jeffries, Greg Warren,
Michelle Wolf
Michelle Wolf (born June 21, 1985) is an American comedian, writer, producer, and television host. She worked as a contributor and writer for '' Late Night with Seth Meyers'' and ''The Daily Show with Trevor Noah''. She spoke as the featured per ...
and more.
History
800 Pound Gorilla was launched in 2016 by comedy managers Ryan Bitzer and Damion Greiman along with founding members Ian Adkins and Anthony Leo, who saw an opportunity to bring modern strategies in consumer targeting,
digital marketing
Digital marketing is the component of marketing that uses the Internet and online based digital technologies such as desktop computers, mobile phones and other digital media and platforms to promote products and services. Its development duri ...
and fan engagement to the comedy space. Besides releasing brand new comedy albums through their flagship label, 800 Pound Gorilla Records showcases the legends of comedy through the Clown Jewels imprint and provides distribution services and marketing for Kevin Hart's LOL Network and Bill Burr's All Things Comedy, among other partnerships.
In 2019, 800 Pound Gorilla Media launched a children's music imprint called 8 Pound Gorilla, whose artists include the
Imagination Movers
The Imagination Movers are an American children's band formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2003. The line-up includes drummer Rich Collins, lead singer, keyboardist and mandolin player Scott Durbin, bassist Dave Poche, and guitarist Scott "Smit ...
,
Genevieve Goings,
Frances England, and
SaulPaul, among others. The company also partnered with Robert Kelly and The Syndicate to form The Laugh Network which consists of a podcast network called The Laugh Button Podcast Network and a record label called The Laugh Button Records. The first release on that label was comedian Mike Feeney's ‘Rage Against the Routine’.
In February of 2019, the founders of 800 Pound Gorilla partnered with former
Broadcast Music executive Jim King to found
Spoken Giants, a multi-rights organization that helps creators of spoken word copyrights collect royalties on the performance of their works. The company represents hundreds of members, including
Patton Oswalt
Patton Peter Oswalt (born January 27, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and writer. He is known as Spence Olchin in the sitcom ''The King of Queens'' (1998–2007) and for narrating the sitcom '' The Goldbergs'' (2013–present) as ...
,
Jeff Foxworthy
Jeffrey Marshall Foxworthy (born September 6, 1958) is an American actor, author, comedian, producer and writer. He is a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, with Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, and Ron White. Known for his "You might be a ...
,
Lewis Black
Lewis Niles Black (born August 30, 1948) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. His comedy routines often escalate into angry rants about history, politics, religion, or any other cultural trends.
He hosted the Comedy Central series ''Lewis ...
,
Dan Cummins
Dan Cummins (born May 17, 1977) is an American stand-up comedian and podcast host. His first comedy album, ''Revenge is Near'', distributed by Warner Bros. Records, was ranked as one of the top 10 comedy CDs of 2009 by Punchline Magazine. His fir ...
,
Gerry Dee
Gerry Dee (born Gerard Francis-John Donoghue;[Profile](_blank)
, oct.ca; accessed February ...
,
Pete Holmes
Peter Benedict Holmes (born March 30, 1979) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and podcaster. Musings on spirituality and religion are frequent themes in his works.
Holmes gained recognition in the early 2010s as a stand-up comic, ...
,
Kyle Kinane
Kyle Christian Kinane (born December 23, 1976) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and voice actor from Addison, Illinois.
Career
Kinane's first television appearance was on ''The Nanny'' playing "Young Roger Clinton".
His debut album ''Dea ...
,
Kathleen Madigan
Kathleen Madigan is an American comedian and TV personality. In addition to her stand up comedy performances, she is a regular guest on a variety of U.S. television programs.
Early life and education
Kathleen Madigan is one of seven children in t ...
, the
Ralphie May
Ralph Duren May (February 17, 1972 – October 6, 2017) was an American stand-up comedian and actor, known for his extensive touring and comedy specials on multiple media platforms.
Early life
May was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and raised in ...
Estate,
Leanne Morgan,
Theo Von
Theodor Capitani von Kurnatowski (born March 19, 1980), known professionally as Theo Von, is an American stand-up comedian, podcaster, television personality, YouTuber, and actor. He is the host of the ''This Past Weekend'' podcast and former co- ...
, and hundreds of others.
Notable releases
*
George Lopez
George Edward Lopez (born April 23, 1961) is an American comedian and actor. He is known for starring in his self-produced ABC sitcom. His stand-up comedy examines race and ethnic relations, including Mexican American culture. Lopez has rec ...
– ''The Wall: Live in Washington D.C.''
*
Kathleen Madigan
Kathleen Madigan is an American comedian and TV personality. In addition to her stand up comedy performances, she is a regular guest on a variety of U.S. television programs.
Early life and education
Kathleen Madigan is one of seven children in t ...
– ''Bothering Jesus''
*
Jim Jefferies – ''Freedumb''
*
Chad Daniels
Chad Daniels is an American comedian. His albums have reached the top 10 on the Billboard comedy charts three times: No. 2 for 2017's ''Footprints On The Moon'', No. 6 for 2019's ''Dad Chaniels'', and No. 7 for 2014's ''Natural Selection''. As o ...
– ''Dad Chaniels'', ''Twelfth Night''
* Greg Warren – ''Where the Field Corn Grows''
*
Demetri Martin
Demetri Evan Martin ( el, Δημήτριος Ευάγγελος Μάρτιν, ''Dimitrios Evangelos Martin''; born May 25, 1973) is an American comedian, actor, writer, director, cartoonist and musician. He was a contributor on ''The Daily Show'' ...
– ''Live at the Time''
*
Iliza Shlesinger
Iliza Vie Shlesinger (; born ) is an American comedian, actress, television host, executive producer, and screenwriter. She was the 2008 winner of NBC's ''Last Comic Standing'' and went on to host the syndicated dating show ''Excused'' and the ...
– ''Confirmed Kills''
*
Jo Koy
Joseph Glenn Herbert (born June 2, 1971), known professionally as Jo Koy, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He was a frequent panelist on E!'s late night show ''Chelsea Lately''. He has since had a number of Comedy Central and Netflix ...
– ''Live from Seattle''
*
Michelle Wolf
Michelle Wolf (born June 21, 1985) is an American comedian, writer, producer, and television host. She worked as a contributor and writer for '' Late Night with Seth Meyers'' and ''The Daily Show with Trevor Noah''. She spoke as the featured per ...
– ''Nice Lady''
*
Marc Maron
Marcus David Maron (born September 27, 1963) is an American stand-up comedian, podcaster, writer, actor, and musician.
In the 1990s and 2000s, Maron was a frequent guest on the '' Late Show with David Letterman'' and has appeared more than forty ...
– ''Too Real''
*
Pete Holmes
Peter Benedict Holmes (born March 30, 1979) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and podcaster. Musings on spirituality and religion are frequent themes in his works.
Holmes gained recognition in the early 2010s as a stand-up comic, ...
– ''Dirty Clean''
*
Kyle Kinane
Kyle Christian Kinane (born December 23, 1976) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and voice actor from Addison, Illinois.
Career
Kinane's first television appearance was on ''The Nanny'' playing "Young Roger Clinton".
His debut album ''Dea ...
– ''Trampoline in a Ditch''
*
Stephen Lynch - ''My Old Heart''
*
Fern Brady
Fern Marie Brady (born 26 May 1986) is a Scottish comedian, podcaster, and writer. Before becoming a stand-up comedian Brady worked as a journalist. She achieved fame as a stand-up comedian by entering stand-up competitions such as at the Edin ...
– ''Power & Chaos''
See also
*
List of record labels
File:Alvinoreyguitarboogie.jpg
File:AmMusicBunk78.jpg
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Lists of record labels cover record labels, brands or trademarks associated with marketing of music recordings and music videos. The lists are organized alphabetically, b ...
*
Comedy Central Records
Comedy Central Records is a record label based in New York and owned by Paramount Global. The label specializes in stand-up comedy albums and is distributed by Alternative Distribution Alliance, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The label has r ...
References
External links
Official site
{{Authority control
American independent record labels
Comedy record labels
Record labels established in 2016
American companies established in 2016
2016 establishments in Tennessee
Companies based in Nashville, Tennessee