Music Industry Entities

Music Industry Program Entities MIP(e), formerly known as MAD Dragon UNLTD^[1] is an umbrella company owned by Drexel University, run by University students and overseen by faculty.^[2] The purpose of the company is to provide industry experience to the students in the Music Industry program.^[2] The companies under MIP(e) consist of a record label MAD Dragon Records, a booking agency (DraKo Booking), a publishing company (MAD Dragon Publishing), a concert promotion company (MADKo Concerts), a music video production company (MADFire MVP), and a digital record label (D3).

History

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."^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5]

MAD Dragon gets its name from the college itself. When Estrin was Dean the college was named the College of Media Arts and Design (CoMAD). The abbreviation of the college combined with the school's mascot, the dragon, gave the company its name as well as the College its slogan "Go MAD."^[3]

MAD Dragon Records

The record label is called MAD Dragon Records and is the only student run record label with a national distribution deal.^[6] It was signed through RYKO Distribution in Spring 2005 and is run out of the University itself.^[7] 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.^[8] On December 18, 2007 MAD Dragon Records work on Hoots and Hellmouth's album won them the College Record Label Award from the Independent Music Awards.^[9] They won again in 2009 for their work on The Redwalls album.^[10]

MAD Dragon has either put out records for, or has worked with, Jules Shear,^[7] The Swimmers,^[4] Matt Duke,^[11] Andrew Lipke, ^[12] Hoots and Hellmouth,^[13] Toy Soldiers, Kuf Knotz, The Spinning Leaves, Pretty Good Dance Moves and The Redwalls.^[14][15]

Other

The other companies that exist under Music Industry Entities are run by the Music Industry Program students in order to provide them with hands on experience.^[16]

The DraKo Booking Agency books tours around the United States for artists. MADKo Concerts books concerts around the Philadelphia area and promotes them. MAD Dragon Publishing does more promotional work for the artists by helping to place their music in film, commercials and television. MADFire Music Video Productions produces videos for the artists and D3, formally known as DreXagon, is the all-digital record label offered through the University. During the 2009-2010 school year, Drexel's D3 class was renamed Bantic Media and revamped to provide the program with a much needed Digital Label and artist services company.^[2][3]

See also

• List of record labels

References

1. ^ Herbine, Jess (September 17, 2010). "Music industry modifications". The Triangle. http://media.www.thetriangle.org/media/storage/paper689/news/2010/09/17/ArtsEntertainment/Music.Industry.Modifications-3932966.shtml. Retrieved 21 November 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Music Industry: Overview". Drexel University. http://www.drexel.edu/westphal/academics/undergraduate/musicindustry/. Retrieved 2007-08-17. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Enter the Dragon: Drexel gets students into the record biz.". Philadelphia City Paper. February, 2004. http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2004-02-19/music.shtml. Retrieved 2007-08-23. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Student record label finding its groove". Forbes. March 19, 2008. http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/03/19/afx4793740.html. Retrieved 2008-04-29. 
5. ^ "Panelist and Speaker Details: Marcy Rauer Wagman". Future of Music. October, 2006. http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit06/speakerdetail.cfm?ID=261. Retrieved 2007-08-19. 
6. ^ Ferguson, William (April 23, 2006). So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Executive?. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/education/edlife/LABELS.html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&sq=mad%20dragon&st=nyt&scp=4. Retrieved 2008-04-29 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Jules Shear Signs To Drexel University's MAD Dragon". Static Multimedia. http://www.staticmultimedia.com/content/music/news/news_1134096094. Retrieved 2006-11-20. 
8. ^ "Drexel's MAD Dragon Records Signs Deal With Warner Music Group Label Rykodisc". Drexel University. August 23, 2007. http://www.staticmultimedia.com/content/music/news/news_1134096094. Retrieved 2007-08-23. 
9. ^ "2008 Independent Music Awards Winners". Independent Music Awards. 2007. Archived from the original on 2008-03-25. http://web.archive.org/web/20080325203613/http://independentmusicawards.com/pages/jukebox2008.asp. Retrieved 2008-05-15. 
10. ^ "2009 Independent Music Awards Winners". Independent Music Awards. 2009. http://www.independentmusicawards.com/pages/jukebox2009.asp. Retrieved 2009-01-15. ^{[dead link]}
11. ^ "Pete Yorn with Matt Duke in Concert". NPR. August 11, 2006. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5634305. Retrieved 2008-05-15. 
12. ^ "About Andrew Lipke". http://andrewlipke.com/about-andrew/. 
13. ^ "4 to Watch: Hoots & Hellmouth Where Soul Meets Barnstomp". Paste Magazine. June 19, 2007. http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/4315/department/music/4_to_watch_hoots_hellmouth. Retrieved 2007-08-23. 
14. ^ "Drexel's MAD Dragon Records to Distribute The Redwalls’ New Album". Drexel University. August 17, 2007. http://www.drexel.edu/news/headlines/drexel's-mad-dragon-records-to-distribute-the-redwalls%E2%80%99-new-album.aspx. Retrieved 2007-08-17. 
15. ^ "The Redwalls Ready Mad Dragon Debut". Spin. July 25, 2007. http://www.spin.com/features/news/2007/07/070725_redwalls/. Retrieved 2007-08-23. 
16. ^ Staudter, Thomas (April 30, 2006). Intro to the Record Biz 101. New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/30/arts/music/30staud.html?_r=1&oref=slogin. Retrieved 2008-04-29 

External links

• MAD Dragon Records
• MAD Dragon Records on Myspace