Italians Do It Better is owned by Johnny Jewel, who produces, writes, and contributes to all the acts on the label.

The label was named after a phrase on a T-shirt worn by Madonna in her 1986 music video for "Papa Don't Preach".

For that reason, I will stay true to what I really feel… Italians Do It Better began gaining significant international recognition in 2007 with three consecutive releases of the label compilation After Dark, Chromatics' Night Drive, and Glass Candy's B/E/A/T/B/O/X.

The songs "Tick of the Clock" by Chromatics and "Under Your Spell" by Desire were both used in the soundtrack to the 2011 film Drive.

In December 2014, Chromatics announced that a new, 17-track-album entitled Dear Tommy would be available via the label "in time for Valentine's Day."

Italians Do It Better released the original motion picture soundtrack to Ryan Gosling's directorial debut, Lost River, on March 30.