ABOUT US

Melissa Dragich-Cordero - Owner/President

Melissa Dragich-Cordero offers 20+ years of experience in publicity, promotion and imaging for her many high profile and indie musical acts. Melissa founded her own public relations company, MAD Ink, PR, in February 2002, immediately accepting responsibility for clients such as the highly successful rock band, Incubus and charity events like the Tiger Woods Foundation “Tiger Jam V”. In August 2002, Melissa brought her expertise to marketingfactory Inc. where she headed up the company’s PR division, working on Honda’s high-profile annual “Civic Tour”, as well as the many independent PR clients she brought into the company. By November 2004, Melissa had re-opened MAD Ink PR full-time where she continues to lead publicity campaigns for both major and indie label artists.

Prior to launching MAD Ink, PR, Melissa spent six years at Epic Records as National Director in charge of the strategy and implementation of national press campaigns for such acts as Incubus, Oasis, Jeff Beck and Tenacious D, as well as many high-profile movie soundtracks such as Jerry Maguire, That Thing You Do and Judgment Night. Her career in music began at Relativity Records in 1990 and was followed by a four year stint as National Media Relations manager at Rick Rubin’s cutting edge label, Def American Recordings, responsible for helping to guide the PR campaigns of artists like the Black Crowes, Johnny Cash, Slayer and Sir Mix-A-Lot. Melissa graduated in 1990 from California State University Long Beach with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing.

Kelly MacGaunn – Senior Publicist

With a background in journalism, earning her B.A. from California State University Northridge (CSUN), Kelly gained an inside connection to what industry journalists are looking for, and has pursued that link for her clients vigorously. While studying at CSUN, Kelly worked extensively in magazine publishing, becoming intimately familiar with successful artist branding and marketing. Kelly was the West Coast editor of Modern Music Magazine and prior to that, founded the independent magazine Up Close & Personal.

While finishing college, Kelly interned with marketingfactory Inc., assisting in the PR department and supporting campaigns for Incubus, Switchfoot, Kill Bill Vol. II Soundtrack and Unloco, as well as the MFI lead, New Found Glory, and the 2003 Honda Civic Tour featuring Good Charlotte. Her internship segued swiftly into a full-time position coordinating media relations for Social Distortion, Joe Satriani, Ottmar Leibert, 50 First Dates Soundtrack, Kill Bill Vol. II Soundtrack and the 2004 Honda Civic Tour featuring Dashboard Confessional.

Kelly's hands-on approach has secured her a solid foundation within the world of publicity, leading to the start of her own independent firm, kelleemack pr, in 2004 while continuing her work alongside Melissa at MAD Ink, PR.

CURRENT AND PAST CLIENT LIST

MAD Ink, PR (February 2002 – Present)

30 Seconds to Mars (Immortal/Virgin Records)
Alien Ant Farm (UME)
American Hi-Fi (Maverick Records)
Rusty Anderson (Surfdog Records)
Jeff Beck
Steve Bertrand (The Console/Icon MES)
Johnny Cash (Universal Music Enterprises)
Richard Cheese (Surfdog Records)
Deuce Project (Maverick Records)
Thomas Dolby
Electric Touch (Justice Records)
Flickerstick (Epic Records)
From Jupiter (Third Eye Records)
Full Scale (Columbia Records)
Homegrown (Drive-Thru Records)
Incubus (Epic Records)
Kingsize
Ottmar Liebert (Higher Octave)
Ligion (Maple Jam/Bellum/Icon)
Livan (Pumpkin Music)
Maxim Ludwig and the Santa Fe Seven (Two Bears Fighting Records)
Taylor Mills (Aqua Pulse Records)
Ian Moore (Justice Records)
nelo (Justice Records)
NRG Studios/Jay Baumgardner
Joe Satriani (Epic Records)
Seven Mary Three
Social Distortion (TimeBomb Records)
Speakers For The Dead (Magna Carta Records)
Squirrel Nut Zippers
Paul Stanley (UMe)
John Stevens (Maverick Records)
Switched (Immortal Records)
Switchfoot (RED Ink/Columbia)
Team Sleep (featuring Chino Moreno of the Deftones – Maverick)
The Graduate (Icon)
The Wil Seabrook Band (Maverick Records)
The Shore (Maverick Records)
The Terms (Maple Jam Records/ICON MES)
Unloco (Maverick)
Lucinda Williams (UMe)
Wired All Wrong (Nitrus Records)
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SOUNDTRACKS:
“50 First Dates” Soundtrack (Maverick)
“Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2” Soundtracks (Maverick)

TOURS/EVENTS:
Honda Sponsored “Civic Tour” - featuring Good Charlotte/New Found Glory (2003) and Dashboard Confessional (2004)
The One Tree Hill Tour - featuring Michelle Branch’s The Wreckers, Gavin DeGraw, Tyler Hilton and Bethany Joy Lenz
The St. Jude Rock ‘n Roll Hope Show
Tiger Woods Foundation - “Tiger Jam” annual charity concerts in Las Vegas

Epic Records – National Director of Media Relations (February 1996 – February 2002)

Jeff Beck
Pete Droge
Far
Incubus
Keb' Mo'
Amanda Marshall
Modest Mouse
Oasis
Ottmar Liebert
Pearl Jam
Joe Satriani
Screaming Trees
The Spin Doctors
The Urge
Steve Vai
Various Soundtracks (Spawn, Tin Cup, That Thing You Do, etc)

Def American Recordings (July 1992 – February 1996)

Johnny Cash
Julian Cope
Danzig
Pete Droge
God Lives Underwater
The Jayhawks
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Laika
Raging Slab
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Skinny Puppy
Slayer