The Music Industry Program Entities, or the MAD Dragon Music Group (MDMG), is an umbrella company owned by Drexel University, run by university students and overseen by faculty and staff. The purpose of the company is to provide industry experience to the students in the university's Music Industry program. The companies of MDMG include MAD Dragon Records, DraKo Booking, MAD Dragon Publishing, MADKo Concerts, and artist services company Bantic Media.
History of the Music Industry program
The brainchild of Jonathan Estrin, the dean of the college at that time, the Music Industry program came about in 2000 when he came to Drexel to head the College of Media Arts and Design and wanted to revive the sub-par music program, "re-envisioning the media-oriented university for the new century". Part of the process was redesigning the curriculum, which showed that the music program would need an overhaul and the addition of a recording studio. After obtaining $250,000 in funding staffing was hired for the program. Marcy Rauer Wagman, an entertainment lawyer and former songwriter/producer, was hired to teach about industry law, business models, royalties, and create and manage a student-run record label. The concept of having an umbrella organization was the brainchild of Wagman in 2003 as a way for students to have experience in all aspects of the music industry.
The name MAD Dragon came from the fact that the College of Media Arts and Design was often abbreviated as CoMAD and the university's mascot is a dragon.
MAD Dragon Records
The record label, MAD Dragon Records, is the only student run record label with a national distribution deal. It was signed through RYKO Distribution in Spring 2005 and is run out of the University itself. The venture between Ryko and MAD Dragon allows the LPs that are produced to be distributed nationally while allowing the students to continue to work with the artist. MAD Dragon Records is currently distributed by the Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA/Warner).
On December 18, 2007, MAD Dragon Records' work with Hoots & Hellmouth won them the 2008 College Record Label Award from the Independent Music Awards (IMA). They won again in 2009 for their work with The Redwalls. They received over 15 IMA nominations in 2009 and 2010.
MAD Dragon worked with or put out records for artists such as Jules Shear, The Swimmers, Matt Duke, Andrew Lipke, Hoots and Hellmouth, Toy Soldiers, Kuf Knotz, The Spinning Leaves, Pretty Good Dance Moves, and The Redwalls.
The Other MIP Entities
DraKo Booking is the booking agency responsible for booking regional, national and all types of tours around the United States for artists.
MADKo Concerts books and promotes independent concerts in the Philadelphia area featuring local artists.
MAD Dragon Publishing helps artists to place their music in film, commercials and television.
MAD Dragon Media, formerly known as Bantic Media and previously D3, is the MIP Entities' artist services company.
See also
References
- Herbine, Jess (September 17, 2010). "Music industry modifications". The Triangle. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ "Music Industry: Overview". Drexel University. Archived from the original on 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- Staudter, Thomas (April 30, 2006). "Intro to the Record Biz 101". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
- ^ "Enter the Dragon: Drexel gets students into the record biz". Philadelphia City Paper. February 2004. Archived from the original on 2015-10-14. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
- ^ Matheson, Kathy (2008-03-21). "Student record label finding its groove". Lewiston Morning Tribune. The Associated Press. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
- "Panelist and Speaker Details: Marcy Rauer Wagman". Future of Music. October 2006. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
- Ferguson, William (April 23, 2006). "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Executive?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
- ^ "Jules Shear Signs To Drexel University's MAD Dragon". Static Multimedia. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-11-20.
- "Drexel's MAD Dragon Records Signs Deal With Warner Music Group Label Rykodisc". Static Multimedia. August 23, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
- "MAD Dragon Records Partners With Motion City Soundtrack". Drexel University. 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- "2008 Independent Music Awards Winners". Independent Music Awards. 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-03-25. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
- "2009 Independent Music Awards Winners". Independent Music Awards. 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- "Pete Yorn with Matt Duke in Concert". NPR. August 11, 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
- Andrew Lipke. "About Andrew Lipke". Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- "4 to Watch: Hoots & Hellmouth Where Soul Meets Barnstomp". Paste Magazine. June 19, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-23.
- "Drexel's MAD Dragon Records to Distribute The Redwalls' New Album". Drexel University. August 17, 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- "The Redwalls Ready Mad Dragon Debut". Spin. July 25, 2007. Retrieved 2022-07-27.