In October 2015 it was announced that Ellefson had launched a record label and production company, Ellefson Music Productions, also known as EMP Label Group, and would release In Your Face, the debut EP from Phoenix-based all-girl Pop-Punk group Doll Skin, a band Ellefson also produced, in conjunction with Megaforce Records in North America, and Cargo Records in Europe. The EP was released October 30 in North America, and December 18 in Europe, and re-released as an LP titled In Your Face in March 2016 via eOne Distribution. The singles from the LP received airplay on many prominent stations in the US and Europe, including Rodney Bingenheimer's weekly show on influential LA Rock station KROQ. It was also announced, via social media, that Ellefson had tapped former major label A&R Scout, Marketing Exec, and Corporate Punishment Records and THC : Music President Thom Hazaert, known for his work with artists including Bleed the Sky, Chimaira, Limp Bizkit, Ghost Machine, Black Light Burns, American Head Charge, Depswa, Bumblefoot, Staind, and more, to oversee Marketing, A&R, and operations, and several additional releases would be announced for 2016. Since forming in 2015, EMP Label Group has become a major independent label, securing distribution from eOne Distribution in North America, and SPV GMBH in Europe, with a large Rock and Metal roster spread among several imprints including EMP Label Group, and EMP Underground, including Cage9, Another Lost Year, Dead by Wednesday, Even The Dead Love A Parade, Arise in Chaos, Green Death, Helstar, Ancient, Heaven Below, Semblant, Machinage, Chuck Mosley, formerly of Faith No More, Apollo Under Fire, Your Chance to Die, Solus Deus and many more. Ellefson also appears on a recurring segment "Mandatory Megadeth" on Hazaert's Dash Radio show AM/PM WITH THOM HAZAERT, and is a frequent guest, often discussing EMP, DOLL SKIN, and their various collaborations. In August 2016, Orange county hard rockers Behind The Fallen signed a deal with EMP Label Group.
Subsidiaries/Imprints
In 2016, EMP announced the formation of EMP UNDERGROUND, an imprint featuring more "extreme, subversive, and underground" artists with a roster that includes Solus Deus, Skumlove, Ancient, Your Chance to Die, Killing The Messenger, and Helstar. The label has also released a compilation of EMP and Unsigned artists called EMP UNDERGROUND Volume One. Additional imprints include Hazaert's THC MUSIC, which has released or co-released LP's from Chuck Mosley and Dead By Wednesday. The label also reformed and relaunched Combat Records, which was home to Ellefson's band Megadeth, where they released all of the Megadeth albums up till Countdown to Extinction.
