Spring Break
MAD Dragon wins, showcases
Chris Sannino
Issue date: 1/30/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Now in its eighth year, the internationally active Music Resource Group presented the Independent Music Awards recognizing upcoming stars in the music business. Awards range between the best songs, music videos, record companies, and other entities in various genres and, for the second year in a row, Drexel's own MAD Dragon Records took the title of "College Label of the Year." This year, MAD Dragon was nominated twice in this category; The Swimmers' album "Home" and The Redwalls' self-titled release. The Redwalls were also nominated in the category for "Best Rock/Pop Song," for "Modern Diet," but it was the band's new album that once again delivered the title to MAD Dragon.
"The Independent Music Awards' 'College Label of the Year' award is the premier college record label award in the world," MAD Dragon CEO Marcy Wagman said. Last year the label won with Hoots and Hellmouth for their self-titled release, while Andrew Lipke came in as runner-up.
The IMAs currently accept contestants from around the world in over 50 different categories. Those awarded receive a spot on that year's IMA Winner CD and are promoted to prominent agents, journalists and media programmers in the music industry.
The judges' panel consists of international musicians, writers and recording artists, as well as previous IMA winners. The 2008 panel included names like Steve Vai, Peter Gabriel, Roger Daltrey, Buddy Guy, Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone) and Joe Cuello (MTV Networks).
The Redwalls' last album "De Nova," gained the band widespread attention and landed them a feature on MTV as a "You Heard it First" artist. The group has since toured the world with the likes of Oasis, Keane, Kaiser Chiefs, Rooney and OK Go and performed on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
"The Redwalls had recorded albums prior to MAD Dragon when they were artists with Capitol Records," Wagman explained. "Then they were dropped from Capitol and went on to record an LP, and everyone really liked the LP, so we signed them."
MAD Dragon is an appendage of Drexel's Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and is the first college record label in the country to obtain national distribution through Ryko/Warner. The student- comprised staff are armed with real world hands on experience with MAD Dragon Records and its subsidiaries which include Drako Booking and Mad Fire Video Productions.
You can see the entire MAD Dragon showcase for free with your DragonCard Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Mandell Theater. The concert is expected to surpass previous years in attendance and will be filmed for DUTV.
Featured performers include Hoots and Hellmouth, Illinois, The Spinto Band, and The Swimmers.
"The Independent Music Awards' 'College Label of the Year' award is the premier college record label award in the world," MAD Dragon CEO Marcy Wagman said. Last year the label won with Hoots and Hellmouth for their self-titled release, while Andrew Lipke came in as runner-up.
The IMAs currently accept contestants from around the world in over 50 different categories. Those awarded receive a spot on that year's IMA Winner CD and are promoted to prominent agents, journalists and media programmers in the music industry.
The judges' panel consists of international musicians, writers and recording artists, as well as previous IMA winners. The 2008 panel included names like Steve Vai, Peter Gabriel, Roger Daltrey, Buddy Guy, Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone) and Joe Cuello (MTV Networks).
The Redwalls' last album "De Nova," gained the band widespread attention and landed them a feature on MTV as a "You Heard it First" artist. The group has since toured the world with the likes of Oasis, Keane, Kaiser Chiefs, Rooney and OK Go and performed on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
"The Redwalls had recorded albums prior to MAD Dragon when they were artists with Capitol Records," Wagman explained. "Then they were dropped from Capitol and went on to record an LP, and everyone really liked the LP, so we signed them."
MAD Dragon is an appendage of Drexel's Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and is the first college record label in the country to obtain national distribution through Ryko/Warner. The student- comprised staff are armed with real world hands on experience with MAD Dragon Records and its subsidiaries which include Drako Booking and Mad Fire Video Productions.
You can see the entire MAD Dragon showcase for free with your DragonCard Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Mandell Theater. The concert is expected to surpass previous years in attendance and will be filmed for DUTV.
Featured performers include Hoots and Hellmouth, Illinois, The Spinto Band, and The Swimmers.
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