Benson Records

Benson Records was founded by Bob Benson and John T. Benson, beginning as the John T. Benson Music Publishing Company in 1902. The record label started out as Heart Warming Records and would come to house labels such as Impact Records, Greentree Records, RiverSong, StarSong and Home Sweet Home. In the 1970's Impact became the top label with artists such as Sandi Patty (her Impact catalog is owned by Word Records), The Imperials, J.D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet, The Rambos, Dottie Rambo, The Archers, The Bill Gaither Trio, and the Speer Family. Heart Warming Records became The Benson Co.
In 1980, Paragon Associates formed a partnership with Zondervan to own/operate Benson Records. (Paragon Assoc. was founded in 1975 by Bob MacKenzie and Bill Gaither (gospel singer). Paragon sold its interest to Zondervan in 1983 where under the leadership of Bob Jones, Jr. saw the Benson company grow even bigger in the 1980's, with artists such as Gold City, The Kingsmen Quartet, DeGarmo & Key, Dallas Holm and others making several hits.
In the 1980's, Benson Records continued with success by signing a contract to distribute a new label founded by DeGarmo & Key member Eddie DeGarmo. Forefront Records was born and in 1989 dcTalk was signed. In 1990 Forefront Records was sold to Chordant Music Distribution (owned by Universal Music Group, and this acquisition includes the entire DeGarmo & Key catalog). In 1994 the name Impact Records was sold to Landmark Distribution. In 1995 they acquired Diadem Music Group which included GospelJazz pioneer Ben Tankard's Tribute Records label contracts. These contracts included Tankard, Yolanda Adams, Twinkie Clark, and Bob Carlisle. Carlisle is best known for his hit song "Butterfly Kisses".
Benson Records was sold to Provident/Zomba in 1997, which is now a part of Sony Music Entertainment. The Benson label was reformatted to focus on new artists. Zomba closed the label in late 2001.
Most recently the name Heart Warming Records and RiverSong was sold to Homeland Entertainment. Homeland is owned by Bill Traylor and former President of Zondervan, Bob Jones, Jr.