Drive-Thru Records, established in 1996, was a California-based record label owned by siblings Richard and Stefanie Reines. The label was partially responsible for popularizing the pop-punk/emo sound of the early to mid-2000s. After facing financial obstacles in getting their bands' music into stores, Drive-Thru entered into a distribution deal with MCA/Universal. MCA was dissolved and changed into Geffen Records. One of the clauses of that agreement was MCA/Geffen being able to sign any band of their choosing from Drive-Thru's roster.