Drag City (record label)
| Drag City | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder |
Dan Koretzky Dan Osborn |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois |
| Official website | dragcity.com |
Drag City is a Chicago-based independent record label. It was established with a Royal Trux single release ("Hero Zero" - DC1) in 1990 in Chicago, Illinois by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn.[1]
Drag City specializes in experimental indie rock acts. Bands that have released material on Drag City include:
- Bachelorette (singer)
- Baby Dee
- William Basinski
- Richard Bishop
- Blues Control
- Bill Callahan
- Cave
- Cynthia Dall
- Dope Body
- Espers
- Faun Fables
- Flying Saucer Attack
- Edith Frost
- The Fucking Champs
- Loose Fur
- Ghost
- David Grubbs
- Neil Michael Hagerty
- The Howling Hex
- Magik Markers
- Monotonix
- Movietone
- Joanna Newsom
- Scout Niblett
- Nig-Heist
- Will Oldham (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Palace Music, etc.)[1][2]
- Om
- Jim O'Rourke
- Papa M
- Pavement[1]
- Pearls and Brass
- Jessica Pratt
- The Red Krayola
- The Renderers
- Alasdair Roberts
- Royal Trux
- Lætitia Sadier
- Ty Segall
- Sic Alps
- Silver Jews
- Six Organs of Admittance
- Stereolab
- Sun Araw
- U.S. Maple
- Wand
- Weird War
- White Magic
- Michael Yonkers
The label released the US version of Scott Walker's Tilt in 1997, after the label approached him wishing to give the album a US release.[3] Walker described releasing the album on the indie as "an experiment".[3]
Several members of Drag City's staff have played in bands; press-chief Gene Booth played keyboards and guitar in USA, and Booth, head of sales Rian Murphy, and founder Dan Koretzky all played in Mantis.[4] Booth were also a member of Chestnut Station.[4]
In recent years, they have expanded their catalog to include alternative comedy releases, with recent outputs from Fred Armisen, Neil Hamburger, and Andy Kaufman among others, and reissues, notably by Gary Higgins and Death.[5]
Several Drag City albums have been licensed to Domino Records for British release.
In 1997 Drag City began publishing printed works such as the literary magazine The Minus Times and Neil Hagerty's novel Victory Chimp.[6]
They have also distributed films such as the 2013 documentary The Source Family.[7]
Drag City has decided to not release the music of its artist roster on any streaming platform, except YouTube.[8][9]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Howland, Don (1993) "Drag Kings: Chicago's Drag City is America's Best Record Label", SPIN, November 1993, p. 101-2, 152-3, retrieved 2010-12-05
- ↑ Ayers, Michael D. (2009) "Will's World: Oldham Hones Indie Rock Niche with Drag City", Billboard, January 31, 2009, p. 30, retrieved 2010-12-05
- 1 2 Morris, Chris (1997) "Drag City Goes Full 'Tilt' on Walker", Billboard, August 23, 1997, p. 53-4, retrieved 2010-12-05
- 1 2 Morris, Chris (1998) "Declarations of Independents: Flag Waving", Billboard, June 13, 1998, p. 77, retrieved 2010-12-05
- ↑ Zevolli, Giuseppe (2014-07-11). "Rian Murphy from Drag City on The Independent Label Market". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
- ↑ Nelson, Sean (October 21–27, 1999). "Record Label Turns to publishing". The Stranger. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
- ↑ Gallo, Phil (February 6, 2013). "Drag City Film Distribution to Release 'The Source Family' Doc in May". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
- ↑ "Which Artists Are Still Holding Out on Streaming?". Consequence of Sound. 2016-02-24. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
- ↑ "Drag City Records: 'Our version of music' | Music Week: Home Stream". mediaor. Retrieved 2016-10-25.