Local Record Label, Executive Music Group, Breaks Billboard Record

A few months ago, we were surprised to find that local independent record label Executive Music Group boasted a No. 1 single on Billboard's Alternative Radio chart. It was baffling news because we'd never heard of the label, nor their SoCal-based, Sublime-sound-a-like band, The Dirty Heads, who earned the No...

By Daniel Hopkins

July 8, 2010

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A few months ago, we were surprised to find that local independent record label Executive Music Group boasted a No. 1 single on Billboard's Alternative Radio chart. It was baffling news because we'd never heard of the label, nor their SoCal-based, Sublime-sound-a-like band, The Dirty Heads, who earned the No. 1 spot with their single "Lay Me Down (featuring Rome of Sublime)."

It gets weirder: This week, the label has officially broken the Alternative Radio chart record for the longest-running independently released chart-topping single. The last artist to hold the record? Everlast, with his 1998 single, "What It's Like."

According to the press release sent out by EMG, "Lay Me Down" has already had over 150,000 paid digital downloads, and the band is currently on tour with their assumed heroes, Sublime with Rome, gaining fans. Pretty impressive for a label that's flown below the radar until now.

Turns out, though, that Executive Music Group isn't a total stranger to the Dallas music scene. Label co-founder Jimmy Swan has been around for almost two decades, promoting underground Christian concerts in the '90s and served as the manager several local bands, including Rhythm, Spy Glass Blue, and bass virtuoso, Trip.

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