It was owned and operated by Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World and music-promoter Charlie Levy.

[1][2] While commiserating one evening over dinner over the lack of label representation in the Southwest, friends Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World and Charlie Levy, a well-connected music promoter, decided to start their own label.

[4] Their first releases included EP by the Format, a vinyl version of Jimmy Eat World's Bleed American, and The Bull, the Balloon, and the Family by Reubens Accomplice.

Even though Western Tread expanded over time, it remained strictly a part-time venture for both Adkins and Levy.

While being interviewed by Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids during his Nothing to Write Home About Podcast, Adkins stated that the label is not exactly dead, but, at this point, serves only as a catalog of music.