MAD Dragon Music Group

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".{{cite web |date=February 2004 |title=Enter the Dragon: Drexel gets students into the record biz. |url=http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2004-02-19/music.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014150858/http://citypaper.net/articles/2004-02-19/music.shtml |archive-date=2015-10-14 |work=Philadelphia City Paper |access-date=2007-08-23}} 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.{{cite news|date=2008-03-21 |first1=Kathy |last1=Matheson |agency=The Associated Press |title=Student record label finding its groove |url=https://lmtribune.com/a_and_e/student-run-record-label-finding-its-groove/article_00fb6e15-2b2d-51cc-b891-9ffb9fb0a2e4.html |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |access-date=2022-08-28}} 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.{{cite web| date = October 2006| url =http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit06/speakerdetail.cfm?ID=261| title = Panelist and Speaker Details: Marcy Rauer Wagman| publisher =Future of Music| access-date =2007-08-19}}

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.

The record label, MAD Dragon Records, is the only student run record label with a national distribution deal.{{Cite journal|date=April 23, 2006 |title=So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Executive? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/education/edlife/LABELS.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&sq=mad%20dragon&st=nyt&scp=4 |first=William |last=Ferguson |work=The New York Times |access-date=2008-04-29|postscript=}} It was signed through RYKO Distribution in Spring 2005 and is run out of the University itself.{{cite web | url =http://www.staticmultimedia.com/content/music/news/news_1134096094 | url-status =dead | title =Jules Shear Signs To Drexel University's MAD Dragon | website =Static Multimedia | access-date =2006-11-20 | archive-date =2007-09-27 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070927041729/http://www.staticmultimedia.com/content/music/news/news_1134096094 }} 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.{{cite web | date= August 23, 2007 | url= http://www.staticmultimedia.com/content/music/news/news_1134096094 | url-status= dead | title= Drexel's MAD Dragon Records Signs Deal With Warner Music Group Label Rykodisc | website= Static Multimedia | access-date= 2007-08-23 | archive-date= 2007-09-27 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927041729/http://www.staticmultimedia.com/content/music/news/news_1134096094 }} MAD Dragon Records is currently distributed by the Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA/Warner).{{cite web|date=2012-02-20 |title=MAD Dragon Records Partners With Motion City Soundtrack |url=http://www.drexel.edu/now/news-media/releases/archive/2012/February/MAD-Dragon-Records-Partners-With-Motion-City-Soundtrack-to-Make-Records/ |publisher=Drexel University |access-date=2012-03-11}}

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).{{cite web|year=2007 |title=2008 Independent Music Awards Winners |url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/pages/jukebox2008.asp |publisher=Independent Music Awards |access-date=2008-05-15 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080325203613/http://independentmusicawards.com/pages/jukebox2008.asp |archivedate = 2008-03-25}} They won again in 2009 for their work with The Redwalls.{{cite web|year=2009 |title=2009 Independent Music Awards Winners |url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/pages/jukebox2009.asp |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091124041241/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/pages/jukebox2009.asp |publisher=Independent Music Awards |access-date=2009-01-15 |archivedate=2009-11-24 }} 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,{{cite web|date=August 11, 2006 |title=Pete Yorn with Matt Duke in Concert |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5634305 |website=NPR |access-date=2008-05-15}} Andrew Lipke,{{cite web|title=About Andrew Lipke |url=http://andrewlipke.com/about-andrew/ |author=Andrew Lipke |access-date=2012-03-11}}{{not in citation given|date=July 2022|reason=No mention of Mad Dragon there}} Hoots and Hellmouth,{{cite web | date = June 19, 2007 | url = http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/4315/department/music/4_to_watch_hoots_hellmouth | url-status = dead | title = 4 to Watch: Hoots & Hellmouth Where Soul Meets Barnstomp | work = Paste Magazine | access-date = 2007-08-23 | archive-date = 2007-09-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231701/http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/4315/department/music/4_to_watch_hoots_hellmouth }} Toy Soldiers,{{citation needed|date=March 2012}} Kuf Knotz,{{citation needed|date=March 2012}} The Spinning Leaves,{{citation needed|date=March 2012}} Pretty Good Dance Moves,{{citation needed|date=March 2012}} and The Redwalls.{{cite web| date= August 17, 2007 | url =http://www.drexel.edu/news/headlines/drexel's-mad-dragon-records-to-distribute-the-redwalls%E2%80%99-new-album.aspx| title = Drexel's MAD Dragon Records to Distribute The Redwalls' New Album | publisher =Drexel University| access-date =2007-08-17}}{{cite web| date= July 25, 2007 | url =https://www.spin.com/2007/07/redwalls-ready-mad-dragon-debut/ | title = The Redwalls Ready Mad Dragon Debut |work=Spin | access-date =2022-07-27}}

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.

• List of record labels

{{reflist|2}}

• {{official website|http://maddragonmusic.com/}}{{dead link|date=July 2022}}

{{Drexel University}}

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Category:American record labels

Category:Drexel University