Eleven Seven Label Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn American rock-focused record company founded as Eleven Seven Label Group and later rebranded as Better Noise Music.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Eleven Seven Label Group was an American record company established in 2006 by Allen Kovac, the chief executive of artist-management and entertainment company 10th Street Entertainment. The company was created as an umbrella organization for rock and alternative-rock imprints, with a business model centered on artist development, recorded-music marketing, and international distribution rather than operating only as a conventional single-label brand. Its formation followed Kovac's earlier involvement with Beyond Music, an independent label that operated from 1998 to 2002. The group initially built its identity around the Eleven Seven imprint and a roster of hard-rock and alternative acts. It became associated with artists including Papa Roach and used a combination of label services, management expertise, marketing, and distribution to develop commercially oriented rock releases. In 2009, the company created Five Seven Music as an alternative and indie-rock imprint. Five Seven's roster included acts such as Just Loud, Bleeker, Romes, and Dirty Heads; Dirty Heads in particular achieved multiple albums in the top five of Billboard's alternative chart. In 2015, the group added Better Noise Records as an imprint intended to serve harder-rock artists. Eleven Seven expanded beyond its original United States base in New York City and Los Angeles. International offices were opened in Toronto and London in 2012, followed by offices or operating locations in Sydney and Berlin in 2019, Paris in 2020, and Nashville and Miami in 2021. The expansion supported international campaign planning and allowed the company to work with artists and commercial partners across North America, Europe, Australia, and other markets. In 2018, the group entered a global partnership with Marshall Records to bring Marshall's artists to North and South American audiences through Eleven Seven's distribution infrastructure. The organization received industry recognition during the 2010s. Billboard named Eleven Seven Label Group Rock Label of the Year in 2010. It was also recognized as Active Rock Label of the Year in 2018 and 2019, with the latter award representing a second consecutive recognition in that category according to the available reference material. In October 2019, the company consolidated and rebranded its label architecture. Eleven Seven, Five Seven, and Better Noise were placed under the Better Noise Music name, and subsequent releases were issued through the Better Noise brand. The rebrand marked a shift from a name based on the original Eleven Seven imprint to a broader corporate identity covering the group's rock and alternative activities. In December 2019, Better Noise Music announced a global marketing and distribution agreement with FUGA, the digital distribution and services company associated at the time with AVL Digital Group and Downtown. The business subsequently expanded into screen entertainment. In early 2020, Allen Kovac launched Better Noise Films as a sister company, extending the broader Better Noise platform beyond recorded music. In May 2023, Kovac moved into the chairman role at Better Noise, while Dan Waite became chief executive officer and Steve Kline became president and chief operating officer. Although the historical subject is Eleven Seven Label Group, the operating identity described by the available sources is now Better Noise Music, with Eleven Seven functioning as a former umbrella and imprint name.
History
Eleven Seven Label Group was founded in 2006 by Allen Kovac, who also led 10th Street Entertainment. It emerged as an American umbrella company for rock and alternative-rock labels and was regarded as a successor to Kovac's earlier independent label, Beyond Music. The company's activities combined artist development, label operations, marketing, and distribution, with an emphasis on building commercially viable rock acts. The original Eleven Seven imprint became associated with artists such as Papa Roach. In 2009, the company added Five Seven Music, an alternative and indie-oriented imprint whose artists included Just Loud, Bleeker, Romes, and Dirty Heads. Dirty Heads achieved several albums in the top five of Billboard's alternative chart. Better Noise Records was added in 2015 as another home for hard-rock acts. The group expanded from New York City and Los Angeles into international markets. Toronto and London offices opened in 2012, followed by Sydney and Berlin in 2019, Paris in 2020, and Nashville and Miami in 2021. In 2018, the company partnered globally with Marshall Records to support distribution of Marshall artists in North and South America. Eleven Seven Label Group received Billboard's Rock Label of the Year recognition in 2010 and later received Active Rock Label of the Year recognition in 2018 and 2019. In October 2019, the organization renamed its umbrella operations Better Noise Music, bringing the Eleven Seven, Five Seven, and Better Noise imprints under one identity. Releases after the consolidation were issued under Better Noise Music. Soon afterward, Better Noise Music entered a global marketing and distribution agreement with FUGA. In early 2020, Kovac launched Better Noise Films as a sister company, broadening the group's entertainment activities. In May 2023, Kovac became chairman, Dan Waite moved into the chief executive role, and Steve Kline became president and chief operating officer. The historical Eleven Seven brand therefore remains important as the group's former name and imprint structure, while Better Noise Music is the current operating identity described by the available reference material.
- 2023
Leadership transition at Better Noise
[1]Allen Kovac becomes chairman, Dan Waite becomes chief executive officer, and Steve Kline becomes president and chief operating officer.
- 2020
Better Noise Films is launched
[1]The wider Better Noise organization enters film and screen entertainment.
- 2019
The group becomes Better Noise Music
[1]Eleven Seven, Five Seven, and Better Noise are unified under the Better Noise Music name.
- 2018
Marshall Records partnership is announced
[1]The companies establish a global partnership for bringing Marshall artists to North and South America.
- 2015
Better Noise Records is founded
[1]A new imprint is added for hard-rock artists.
- 2012
International offices open in Toronto and London
[1]The group expands its international operating footprint beyond the United States.
- 2010
Billboard names the company Rock Label of the Year
[1]Eleven Seven Label Group receives Billboard recognition for its performance in rock music.
- 2009
Five Seven Music is launched
[1]The group creates an alternative and indie-oriented sub-label.
- 2006
Eleven Seven Label Group is founded
[1]Allen Kovac establishes the company as an American umbrella group for rock and alternative-rock labels.
Products and positioning
An independent, artist-development-oriented music company focused primarily on rock, hard rock, alternative rock, and adjacent genres, with international marketing and distribution capabilities.
Rock record label imprint · 2006
Eleven Seven
The original flagship imprint of Eleven Seven Label Group, associated primarily with rock and hard-rock releases. The label helped establish the group's identity and was linked with artists including Papa Roach. After the 2019 corporate rebrand, new releases were issued under Better Noise Music rather than the historical Eleven Seven umbrella name.
Alternative and indie-rock record label imprint · 2009
Five Seven Music
An imprint created in 2009 to focus on alternative, indie-rock, and adjacent guitar-based music. Its associated artists included Just Loud, Bleeker, Romes, and Dirty Heads. The imprint formed part of the group's multi-label structure before being consolidated under the Better Noise Music identity.
Hard-rock record label imprint · 2015
Better Noise Records
An imprint established in 2015 as a home for hard-rock artists within the wider Eleven Seven Label Group. It later became part of the unified Better Noise Music brand architecture when the company consolidated its labels in 2019.
Record company · 2019
Better Noise Music
The post-2019 operating identity for the former Eleven Seven Label Group. Better Noise Music combines artist development, rock-focused label operations, marketing, and international distribution, covering the activities previously associated with the Eleven Seven, Five Seven, and Better Noise imprints.
Brand decisions
2023
Executive leadership transitionOtherBackground
The company adjusted its senior leadership structure while retaining Allen Kovac in a strategic leadership role.
Action taken
Kovac became chairman, Dan Waite became chief executive officer, and Steve Kline became president and chief operating officer.
Aftermath
Day-to-day executive responsibility shifted to Waite, with Kline continuing in an operating leadership role.
2020
Launch of Better Noise FilmsStrategyBackground
The Better Noise organization explored entertainment activities beyond recorded music.
Action taken
Allen Kovac launched Better Noise Films as a sister company.
Aftermath
The launch broadened the group's activities into film and screen entertainment.
2019
Rebranding as Better Noise MusicStrategyBackground
The company operated several imprints under the Eleven Seven Label Group umbrella, creating a fragmented external identity.
Action taken
Eleven Seven, Five Seven, and Better Noise were unified under the Better Noise Music name.
Aftermath
Releases issued after the consolidation used the Better Noise Music identity, making Eleven Seven primarily a historical name and former imprint.
2019
Global marketing and distribution agreement with FUGAStrategyBackground
Better Noise Music sought to strengthen its worldwide digital marketing and distribution capabilities.
Action taken
The company signed a global marketing and distribution deal with FUGA.
Aftermath
The agreement gave the rebranded company a broader infrastructure for international releases.
2018
Global partnership with Marshall RecordsStrategyBackground
Marshall Records needed an international route to market for its artists in the Americas.
Action taken
Eleven Seven entered a global partnership to distribute Marshall artists in North and South America.
Aftermath
The agreement expanded the company's role as an international marketing and distribution platform.
2015
Addition of Better Noise RecordsStrategyBackground
The label group wanted another imprint for hard-rock artists.
Action taken
It founded Better Noise Records within the Eleven Seven Label Group.
Aftermath
Better Noise Records became one of the labels later consolidated under the Better Noise Music name.
2009
Creation of Five Seven MusicStrategyBackground
The group sought to broaden its genre coverage beyond its core rock and hard-rock activities.
Action taken
It established Five Seven Music as an alternative and indie-rock-focused imprint.
Aftermath
The imprint developed a roster that included Just Loud, Bleeker, Romes, and Dirty Heads.
Recent events
Sources3 sources
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