Star Song Records

Independent Christian record label launched in 1976 by Wayne Donowho and Darrell A. Harris. In its early days, it didn't have a formal distributor, but was a division of Jubilee Communications, Inc. and listed itself as manufacturer in the early years. Gospel Media may have handled distribution or at least manufacturing for a short time ca. 1977. Tempo Records began distributing Star Song product ca. August of 1979 (as announced in the August 1979 issue of CCM Magazine), but that alliance was dissolved by December of 1979, according to another article in the Jan. 1980 issue (shortly thereafter, on July 1, 1980 Tempo closed their doors due to financial issues). According a 1982 article on Petra in Billboard, Benson began distribution of Star Song product four months after Tempo folded, but that does not appear to be accurate, as it wasn't until the New Benson Company formed in September of 1980, that it began distribution for Star Song (Benson wasn't consistently credited on albums as the distributor until 1982). In October of 1982, Word, Inc. took over distribution, an arrangement which lasted through 1986. In 1987, Sparrow and Star Song joined forces to create Sparrow/Star Song Distribution, which ran its coarse by the end of 1990. Beginning in 1991, Star Song Communications once again handled their own distribution until the company was purchased and absorbed into EMI Christian Music Group in late 1994 and distribution was transitioned to the newly formed Chordant Distribution starting in January 1995. The label was retired in 1998 with its artists moving to the Sparrow imprint, although it was revived occasionally for the purpose of issuing compilations albums into the 2000's.