Don Giovanni Records Founder Joe Steinhardt Joins Drexel University's Music Industry Program

Today, the Philadelphia-based Drexel University announces the addition of Don Giovanni Records founder and Philadelphia-native Joe Steinhardt to the faculty of its undergraduate Music Industry Program, currently ranked among Billboard's Top Music Business Schools. As a new Assistant Teaching Professor of courses in music marketing, the global music industry, and independent record labels, Steinhardt brings a refreshing and visionary artist-first perspective that's helped forge career paths for dozens of underrepresented and untraditional musicians in the 21st century (Screaming Females, Laura Stevenson, Moor Mother, Waxahatchee, Priests, Sammus, and more). Steinhardt will also work alongside fellow faculty member Marc Offenbach in overseeing Drexel's student-run MAD Dragon Records, recipient of 13 nominations and 2 Best College Record Label wins at the Independent Music Awards. 

Read more about the announcement at BrooklynVegan.

Of the new role and responsibilities, Joe Steinhardt says, "Between growing up in Philly and working along graduates of the program in the industry, teaching at Drexel has been a dream of mine for quite some time. I look as much forward to learning from the students as I do to bringing my unique industry experience to the classroom, and I am excited to join such a great faculty."

Program Director Jeff Apruzzese (formerly of the band Passion Pit and Berklee College of Music) adds, "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Joe to Drexel. He brings a wealth of experience from the industry with his work with top level independent artists such as Screaming Females, Downtown Boys, and Weakened Friends. His expertise will be an incredible addition to the Music Industry Program."

Like Steinhardt, Drexel University's Music Industry Program continues to attract a growing roster of innovators active in the current arts and entertainment business. Fellow teaching staff include Marc Offenbach, a marketing veteran whose 20+ years of experience includes work with artists like Adele, Maxwell, Bob Dylan, Alabama Shakes, Ruth B., and MGMT; Ami Spishock, manager of The War on Drugs, Beirut, and Grizzly Bear; and many others added every semester. 

This past spring, the Music Industry Program and its physical Audio Archives of over 7,000 master tapes from Philadelphia's essential Sigma Sound Studios made headlines at Rolling Stone, Fresh Air, The Associated Press, AFROPUNK, and beyond when they partnered with Vinyl Me, Please to release the debut album from long-lost protest soul band The Nat Turner Rebellion. Projects like these, and those Steinhardt has developed at Don Giovanni, directly embody the program's commitment to enriching local music culture and community, while making tangible impacts on the record business. 

Read more about Drexel's Music Industry Program here. 

Drexel University's Studio 1, Photos by Matthew Klein