[1] The idea for the label came from co-founder Corey Flegel's experience of going out on tour with Murfreesboro, Tennessee's Glossary for years, where he became fast friends with them and other bands in their circle (The Dexateens, Vulture Whale, The Only Sons, Duquette Johnston (Verbena)[2] The Bohannons, etc.).

Flegel came up with the idea in 2010 of creating a blog to post concert dates and other material about the group of bands.

The website was called "This Is American Music", named after a tour some of the bands had undertaken a few years previously.

[3] Characterized by No Depression magazine as "a record label that is more of a family than a business,"[4] the management team is spread out across the Southeast, with the team based in Atlanta, Georgia, Auburn, Alabama, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Mississippi.

[5] TIAM provides bands with marketing, touring, legal, song licensing and placement guidance.