DTA Records

DTA Records, an initialism for “Don't Trust Anyone,” is an American record label established in December 2019 by musician and producer Travis Barker in partnership with Elektra Music Group, now known as Elektra Entertainment. Elektra is part of the Warner Music Group corporate structure, and Warner-affiliated operations distribute DTA releases. The label was created to combine Barker's experience as a recording artist, drummer, producer, songwriter, and collaborator with Elektra's label infrastructure and distribution capabilities. The label's formation followed discussions involving Johnny Minardi, an Atlantic Records employee acquainted with Barker, and Gregg Nadel, then a co-president of Elektra Music Group. The proposed arrangement gave Barker and Nadel an opportunity to develop artists together. Barker had an existing relationship with Warner-affiliated businesses: his former LaSalle Records project had been distributed through Atlantic, and he had performed on or produced releases connected with artists including Fever 333, grandson, and Jasiah. These relationships helped provide the institutional basis for DTA's launch. Barker presented DTA as an artist-development venture rather than simply a vehicle for releasing his own music. Its stated creative philosophy emphasizes helping emerging musicians move from early, small-scale stages of their careers toward larger audiences while preserving their artistic direction. Barker has also described a selective signing approach, indicating that the label would focus on artists in whom he had strong personal and creative confidence. In practice, DTA has combined new-artist development with a hub for Barker's own collaborations and projects involving established performers. DTA publicly announced its formation on December 13, 2019. On the same day, Barker, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross released “Gimme Brain,” providing the label with an immediate high-profile launch release. The label's first major signing was Jaden Hossler, who performed under the name jxdn during the early part of his DTA career. His single “Angels & Demons” became a significant digital and social-media success and was later certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. Hossler's debut DTA album, Tell Me About Tomorrow, became the label's first studio album and entered the Billboard 200. DTA expanded its pop-punk and alternative-oriented profile in late 2021 when Canadian singer Avril Lavigne signed with the label. Her first DTA single, “Bite Me,” was followed by the album Love Sux in February 2022. Love Sux reached number nine on the Billboard 200, giving DTA its first album to enter the chart's top ten. The label also worked with the punk and industrial-rap group Ho99o9, whose single “Battery Not Included” and album SKIN were released through DTA in 2022, with Barker producing the album. The label's publicly documented identity is therefore centered on cross-genre alternative music, especially pop-punk, punk, emo-adjacent, hip-hop, and digitally driven releases. DTA benefits from Barker's visibility within rock and popular music while using Elektra and Warner Music Group distribution resources. Its catalog and roster demonstrate a strategy that mixes emerging artists with established signings and Barker-led collaborations. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate headquarters, a standalone public listing, or independently reported financial results.

DTA Records was formed in December 2019 by Travis Barker in partnership with Elektra Music Group, subsequently known as Elektra Entertainment. The partnership emerged after Johnny Minardi, an Atlantic Records employee familiar with Barker, connected Barker with Gregg Nadel, an Elektra executive interested in developing a label with him. Barker already had experience working within the Warner Music Group ecosystem through the distribution of LaSalle Records and through production and performance relationships with artists associated with Warner labels. The label's purpose was to create an artist-development platform reflecting Barker's experience as a musician and producer. Rather than signing a large number of acts, Barker described a selective approach focused on artists whose work he strongly supported. DTA was also designed to provide artists with access to major-label distribution while maintaining a strong emphasis on creative identity. The label's name is an abbreviation of “Don't Trust Anyone.” DTA's launch was announced on December 13, 2019, alongside “Gimme Brain,” a single by Barker, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross. In May 2020, Jaden Hossler, then known professionally as jxdn, became the label's first signing after the online success of “Comatose.” His DTA single “Angels & Demons” became a viral hit on TikTok and was later certified Gold by the RIAA. His debut album, Tell Me About Tomorrow, was DTA's first studio album and reached number 95 on the Billboard 200. The label broadened its profile in 2021 by signing Avril Lavigne. Her first DTA release, “Bite Me,” appeared in November 2021, followed by Love Sux in February 2022. The album reached number nine on the Billboard 200, making it DTA's first top-ten album on that chart. DTA also worked with Ho99o9, releasing “Battery Not Included” in January 2022 and the album SKIN in March 2022. Barker produced SKIN, reinforcing the label's connection to his production work and alternative-music network. Across its documented early years, DTA has operated as both an emerging-artist label and a platform for Barker-led collaborations. Its releases span pop-punk, punk, alternative, hip-hop, and digitally oriented popular music. Elektra Entertainment supplies the broader label and distribution infrastructure, while Barker supplies creative leadership, artist relationships, and public visibility. Public sources do not provide a verified standalone headquarters, public-company listing, or detailed financial disclosures for DTA Records.

• 2022

  Love Sux reaches the Billboard 200 top ten

  [1]DTA Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Avril Lavigne's Love Sux peaks at number nine, becoming DTA's first top-ten Billboard 200 album.

• 2022

  Ho99o9 releases SKIN

  [1]DTA Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Ho99o9 releases SKIN through DTA, with production by Travis Barker.

• 2021

  First RIAA Gold-certified release

  [1]DTA Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  jxdn's “Angels & Demons” becomes DTA's first release reported as RIAA Gold-certified.

• 2021

  Avril Lavigne joins the roster

  [1]DTA Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Lavigne signs with DTA and releases “Bite Me” as her first single for the label.

• 2020

  jxdn becomes the first signing

  [1]DTA Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Jaden Hossler joins DTA following the online success of “Comatose.”

• 2019

  DTA Records is founded

  [1]DTA Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Travis Barker and Elektra Music Group establish DTA Records as a joint artist-development and recording-label partnership.

• 2019

  Launch release “Gimme Brain”

  [1]DTA Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label announces its formation with a collaborative single by Travis Barker, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross.

A selective, artist-development-focused alternative music label that combines Travis Barker's creative identity and industry network with Elektra Entertainment's distribution platform.

• Studio album · 2021

  Tell Me About Tomorrow

  The debut studio album by jxdn, then known as Jaden Hossler, and DTA Records' first studio album release. It followed the success of the artist's early singles, including “Comatose” and “Angels & Demons,” and reached number 95 on the Billboard 200.

• Studio album · 2022

  Love Sux

  Avril Lavigne's first album released through DTA Records. The album followed the single “Bite Me,” presented a pop-punk-oriented direction, and reached number nine on the Billboard 200, making it the label's first top-ten album on that chart.

• Studio album · 2022

  SKIN

  An album by Ho99o9 released through DTA Records. It was the group's first album since United States of Horror and was produced by Travis Barker, linking DTA's label function with Barker's work as a producer.

• Single · 2019

  “Gimme Brain”

  A collaborative single by Travis Barker, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross. Released on the day DTA Records was publicly announced, it served as the label's launch release and introduced its connection to Barker's cross-genre collaborations.

• 2019

  Create a selective artist-development labelStrategy

  Background

  Travis Barker and Elektra developed DTA as a platform for discovering and developing artists while preserving a strong role for artist vision and Barker's creative involvement.

  Action taken

  They formed a joint label partnership combining Barker's creative leadership and network with Elektra Entertainment's label infrastructure and distribution.

  Aftermath

  The label signed jxdn, Avril Lavigne, and Ho99o9 and released both emerging-artist projects and Barker-led collaborations.

  Source

1. 1DTA Recordsen.wikipedia.org