Integrity Music

History

Integrity Music began in 1987 under the name Integrity's Hosanna! Music, founded by Ed Lindquist and Mike Coleman after they bought the music division of Integrity Communications from Charles Simpson Ministries. That division had been running the Hosanna! Music tape series through New Wine Magazine, which offered praise and worship recordings by subscription. The magazine shut down in January 1987, and the founders acquired the series at that point. Charles Simpson, a pastor of Covenant Church of Mobile, was part of the Shepherding Movement. The label and its forerunner had already been putting out the popular Hosanna! Music series since July 1985, starting with Behold His Majesty, led by worship leader Ron Tucker. That album had first been recorded in St. Louis by Tom Brooks in 1983 and was re-released under the Hosanna! name in 1985. Brooks served as the long-time producer, arranger, and keyboardist for the series. By 1995, the company was publicly traded on Nasdaq under the ticker ITGR. In 2001, it launched Integrity Publishers. The firm rebranded as Integrity Media in 2002 to reflect its expansion into new markets, and that same year bought Nashville-based INO Records. This added to a roster that already included Don Moen, Hillsong Music, Paul Baloche, and Israel and New Breed. The label also released the soundtrack for The Passion of the Christ and the Songs 4 Worship collections advertised by Time-Life. In 2004, co-founder and chairman Michael Coleman took the company private. Integrity worked with FamilyTreeMedia on a home video series called Baby Faith, which featured six Bible stories for infants hosted by actress and singer Jodi Benson. In 2005, Integrity Music and INO Records began distributing through Sony BMG as part of the Provident Label Group. Integrity Publishers was sold to Thomas Nelson in 2006. The company also sells music, film, and digital media through direct mail and online sales, along with greeting cards via DaySpring/Hallmark. In 2011, Integrity Media sold Integrity Music to the ministry organization David C. Cook. The label is now based in the greater Nashville area.