Kings of Leon formed in 1999 and signed with RCA records in 2002. Their debut album "Youth and Young Manhood" was released in 2003 to critical acclaim in the UK and Ireland, though it only sold 100,000 copies in the US. The album included popular singles like "The Bucket" and "Four Kicks" which found success on the charts. They utilized various marketing strategies like launch parties and sponsors to promote their music.