Drexels MAD Dragon Records Receives Seven Independent Music Awards Nominations

MAD Dragon Records, the record label run by Music Industry students at the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, and several of the label's artists, received seven Independent Music Awards (IMA) nominations. The IMAs are the top national awards for college music recording programs and independently produced music. The label and its artists have been nominated for over 20 IMAs since 2007, winning “Best College Label” in 2007 and 2008.

"It is very exciting for MAD Dragon Records to be recognized by such a prestigious organization (the IMA’s),” said Terry Tompkins, managing director of Drexel’s Music Industry Program Entities and director of MAD Dragon Records.  “It is a testament to the students’ hard work in collaboration with our burgeoning artists.  I look forward to continuing our efforts to build the franchise as we continue to redefine the role and function of a record label in today’s marketplace.” 

This year’s nominees include:
•    The Swimmers - College Label Release (Album or EP) album category for People Are Soft
•    The Swimmers - Pop/Rock Song - "A Hundred Hearts" (from People Are Soft)
•    The Swimmers - Jenna Stoltzfus Stamm – Publicity Photo (The Swimmers)
•    Hoots & Hellmouth - Doug Seymour - Concert Photography (Hoots & Hellmouth)
•    Toy Soldiers - College Label Release (Album or EP) album category for Whisper Down The Lane
•    Toy Soldiers - Blues Song - "Throw Me Down" (from Whisper Down the Lane)
•    Toy Soldiers - Alt. Country Album - Whisper Down The Lane

Also noteworthy is the nomination of Birdie Bush for College Label Release (album or EP) who is signed to Be Frank Records, a label owned and operated by Drexel University Music Industry students Fred Knittel and Matt Klein.

The music of all nominees can be heard at: http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/10th/album

The Independent Music Awards (IMA) is a prestigious organization that accepts entries from all over the world including the U.S., Japan, Cuba, Israel, Russia and the United Kingdom.  It helps Indie artists and labels overcome mainstream obstacles by placing winners and finalists in front of more than 15 million new fans via promotion, marketing and distribution. Earning IMA honors goes beyond a badge of distinction. Artists credit the IMAs with increasing recognition among music fans and industry gatekeepers.

MAD Dragon Records (MDR) has released over 20 titles and been featured in several hundred newspapers and magazines in the US including CMJ, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Fortune and The New York Times since its inception in 2004.  The Associated Press (AP) has syndicated two stories about MAD Dragon, including a feature covering The Redwalls appearances on “The Late Show” with David Letterman and “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno. 

MAD Dragon Records was awarded "College Label of the Year" by the Independent Music Awards in 2007 and 2008 and received eight nominations in 2009.  The various MAD Dragon releases include Dreams Don’t Count  by critically acclaimed songwriter Jules Shear; the gospel infused roots rock of Hoots & Hellmouth (S/T) and their 2009 follow up LP, The Holy Open Secret; Matt Duke’s literate and dynamic debut Winter Child; rockin’ singer-songwriter Andrew Lipke’s The Way Home and sophomore release Motherpearl & Dynamite; the Swimmers indie pop darlings debut Fighting Trees and follow up People Are Soft; Toy Soldiers’ Whisper Down the Lane; the annual Unleashed compilation series (Unleashed 1,2 3, 4, 5 & 6) and XYX.  MAD Dragon released former Capitol Record recording artist The Redwalls’ eponymous CD, The Redwalls (S/T), in 2007. 

MAD Dragon Records is the nation’s first student-run record label to secure a national distribution deal with Ryko Distribution, a major player in the music and video business.  MAD Dragon entered into a joint partnership with Rykodisc (the label partner of Ryko Distribution) in 2008 to co-release Matt Duke’s Kingdom Underground.  MAD Dragon Records is currently distributed by the Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA/Warner), the largest independent music distributor in the United States.

News media contacts:
Zeek Weil, director communications and events, Westphal College
215-895-2629, zw36@drexel.edu

Niki Gianakaris, director, Drexel News Bureau, Office of University Relations
215-895-6741, 215-778-7752 (cell) or ngianakaris@drexel.edu