Drag City (record label)
Chicago indie label founded in 1989.
Drag City is an independent record label founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1989 by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn. The label focuses on indie rock, noise rock, psychedelic folk, alternative country, and experimental music, with a roster that has included Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Bill Callahan, Joanna Newsom, and Silver Jews.
Koretzky, then working at a Chicago record distributor, reached out to Royal Trux after hearing their debut album, offering to release a single. That single, *Hero Zero*, was followed by Pavement’s *Demolition Plot J-7* as the label’s second release. The first full-length album on Drag City was Royal Trux’s *Twin Infinitives*, also from 1989. In 1997, the label gave Scott Walker’s *Tilt* its US release after approaching Walker, who called the indie release “an experiment.” Several staff members have played in bands: press-chief Gene Booth played in USA and Chestnut Station, while Booth, sales head Rian Murphy, and founder Koretzky all played in Mantis.
Over time, Drag City expanded into alternative comedy, releasing works by Fred Armisen, Neil Hamburger, and Andy Kaufman, as well as reissues of albums by Gary Higgins and Death. In 1997, it began publishing printed works, including the literary magazine *The Minus Times* and Neil Hagerty’s novel *Victory Chimp*. The label also distributed the 2013 documentary *The Source Family*. After long refusing to stream its artists’ music, Drag City made its catalog available on Apple Music in July 2017, and on Spotify, Tidal, and Google Play in April 2018.
- founded
- 1989
- founders
- Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn
- headquarters
- Chicago, Illinois
- genres
- indie rock, noise rock, psychedelic folk, alternative country, experimental music
- notable artists
- Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Bill Callahan, Joanna Newsom, Silver Jews
Lore & Background
Drag City was formed in 1989 when Dan Koretzky, working for a record distribution company in Chicago, contacted the band Royal Trux after hearing their first album, offering to release a single. That single, Hero Zero, was soon followed by Demolition Plot J-7, the second release by Pavement. The label's first album release came later that same year: Twin Infinitives, the second album by Royal Trux. In 1997, Drag City released the US version of Scott Walker's Tilt after approaching him; Walker described releasing the album on the indie label as 'an experiment.' Several staff members 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. Booth was also a member of Chestnut Station.
Reader's Guide
Drag City has expanded its catalog over the years to include alternative comedy releases, with outputs from Fred Armisen, Neil Hamburger, and Andy Kaufman, as well as reissues notably by Gary Higgins and Death. In 1997, the label began publishing printed works such as the literary magazine The Minus Times and Neil Hagerty's novel Victory Chimp. It also distributed the 2013 documentary The Source Family. After years of refusing to release its artists' music on streaming platforms, Drag City finally made its music available for streaming via Apple Music in July 2017, and in April 2018, it made its catalog available on Spotify, Tidal, and Google Play. The label's significance lies in its long-standing commitment to eclectic, often experimental music and its gradual adaptation to digital distribution.
Did You Know?
- Drag City was established in Chicago in 1989 by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn.
- The label's first album release was Twin Infinitives by Royal Trux in 1989.
- Scott Walker described releasing his album Tilt on Drag City as 'an experiment.'
- Drag City made its catalog available on Apple Music in July 2017 and on Spotify, Tidal, and Google Play in April 2018.
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