User:Mantarayrecords02/sandbox

= Manta Ray Records =

Beginnings
Manta Ray Records, established in 2002, is a Record Label, that promotes independent artists that created by Mike Diamond. In 2002, Diamond created a record label in Daytona Beach, Florida and the label immediately started to pull artists from the punk rock and metal genres. By the time 2003 comes around, the company added hip hop as apart of their lists of genres to add diversity. This caused the company to work with artists that are more mainstream and that are touring to promote their work. In 2004, Manta Ray launched an internet radio station called, "Manta Raydio". This station managed to gain audiences of florida cities such as Bunnell, Palm Coast and Espanola. Also having guest appearances such as actors, Lou Ferigno and Vincent Pastore, and punk rock acts such as Mindless Self Indulgence, The Horrorpops, the Dead Kennedy, Agnostic Front, and et cetera. In 2005, Manta Ray experienced a rapid growth of new artists and changes in music styling by adding several hip hop artists/groups to the label. Also during that year, Manta Ray had their first event with MTV and Trustkill records. In the years 2006 and 2007, Manta Ray started to promote independent labels and agents form B.S.T. Productions, Street Legal Entertainment and Hellcat records. They had their offices relocated into a 2000 square foot studio and performance space and they hosted many emo, hardcore and hip hop shows every week and having audiences of about 200 people at each show. Unfortunately during that year, they had to discontinue "Manta Raydio" due to the fact that they were running a studio, a label and a performance space.

New City
Due to the fact that Florida went through the hardest of times when the country's economy started to spiral downwards, the company relocated to Diamond's hometown Baltimore, Maryland.