Drakkar Entertainment
- This article is about the German record label, for the French black metal label, see Drakkar Productions.
Drakkar Entertainment | |
---|---|
Founded | 1986 |
Founder | Bogdan Kopec |
Distributor(s) | Edition Drakkar |
Genre |
Heavy metal Electronic Synthpop Industrial metal |
Country of origin | Germany |
Location | Witten |
Official website |
www |
Drakkar Entertainment GmbH, also called Drakkar Records or Drakkar Publishing, is a German record label with its headquarters in Witten. It is a joint venture with Bertelsmann Music Group.
History
Originally Kopec Music Publishing, Drakkar Entertainment was founded in 1986 by Bogdan Kopec. It initially only handled publishing, but in 1986, when Kopec changed the name to "Drakkar Promotion", he also expanded its services to include management, booking, and merchandising. The company later signed German metal bands such as Coroner, Raven, Running Wild, and Sodom.
In 1992, the company joined forces with Bertelsmann Music Group to become Drakkar Promotion Musikverlag GmbH. At the same time, another company, G.U.N. Records GmbH was created. This second company became so successful that Kopec, who felt overworked, decided to sell his shares to BMG. He then closed the merchandising, booking, and trading departments of Drakkar Promotion, and founded "Drakkar Records". His original company became "Drakkar Entertainment GmbH".
Divisions
Drakkar Entertainment now has four divisions:
- Drakkar Classic, a label publishing rock and metal with orchestral accompaniment.
- Drakkar Records, their metal label.
- e-Wave Records, their electronic label.
- Edition Drakkar, their publishing company.
Artists
- Akrea
- De/Vision
- Diablo
- Emil Bulls
- Eternal Tears of Sorrow (until 2006)
- Gothminister
- Grantig
- Haggard
- Jesus on Extasy
- Karelia
- The Killer Barbies
- Kreator (for Endorama)
- Letzte Instanz
- Lordi
- Los Los
- Loudness
- Lumsk
- My Mind's Weapon
- Nightwish (until 2004)
- Omega Lithium
- Rebellion
- The Sorrow
- Twisted Sister
- Xandria (until 2011)
- Zeraphine
External links
- Official site of Drakkar Entertainment, contains both an English and German version.
- Drakkar archive website run by Drakkar Entertainment, which gives a description of the history of the label listed here. It's mostly in German, but an English version is available.