TuningSpork was founded by Jay Haze, Sean O'Neal, and Bjoern Hartmann in Philadelphia in 1999. The trio threw a series of parties with the aim of bringing in their favorite national and international DJs to the region. The brand soon developed into a record label, and the first three 12"s were split releases featuring one track from each producer (under their aliases The Architect, Someone Else, and B. respectively). The label soon carved its own trademark sound, often described as funky house with a sense of humor, avant-garde and tongue-in-cheek at the same time.

As TuningSpork's profile grew to an international level, Jay Haze relocated the label headquarters first to Amsterdam, and then in 2003 to Berlin where it remains firmly planted today. Talented producers from around the world, new and established, found a home for their productions: Michal Ho, Dan Curtin, Samim, and Guido Schneider are just a few examples. Over the years, TuningSpork has been a dependable source of functional yet artful dance tracks for DJs around the world.