Formed by
Greg Below, (concert promoter and owner of Distort Productions) and
Mitch Joel, (music journalist and publicist) in early 2002, Distort began by producing New Jersey's Step Kings' third release,
3 The Hard Way. The label's slogan "Listen Harder" was soon formed and showed Distort's specialization in heavy music. In 2002, Below's full-time employment as a studio manager with EMI publishing Canada later helped to jump start Distort by opening the door to a distribution partnership with EMI Music Canada. Although Distort is admired for its independence in the industry, it wanted to be associated with the well respected quality for which EMI had become known. Now quite established, Distort Entertainment is a well-known Canadian label, and back some of the most respected bands in the heavy music industry. ==Artists/bands represented==