Rough Trade Records
Market place - faulse creation- Rough Trade began as a small record shop (Aroudn that time sold 2nd hand records in London)
- "DIY" artists
- 20/02/1986 IRA bombing campaigne
- Wasn't mainstream, different to other organisations
- Punk Rock explosion of 1976, Rough Trade released the Clash's first album
- Began to sell Jamaican music, as it was a huge part of the ladbreak
- Groove community -> Now offering a range of music
- "Spiral Scratch" -> DIY release (unheard of)
- Printed the cost of making a record onto the cover of the records
- 1970s - Distribution was managed by majors until rough trade started offering mail order to other shops. Started national distribution via a hand-picked regional network (DIFFERENT PURPOSE not to make money)
- Distributed 2000 "TVOD"
- Tony Wilson from factory records would come to Rough Trade to distribute records from his artists.
- Rough Trade's own label created (began) not based on cash advance, shared the profits on a 50/50 basis, principals were left-wing and comunist (equal pay rights)
- "Stiff Little Fingers" - anti-established punk band (1979) was 1st int he UK from an independent label to sell more than 100,000 copies.
- Did the distribution for 2 Tone Records - signed the Specials (1979)
- 1979 - 800 Labels
- Rough Trade struggled to keep hold of artists once they had become commercially viable - even the "Stiff Little Fingers" signed to a major label in the end.
- 1981 a change in musical direction towards more commercial pop music, caused problems for Rough Trade's ideology. People accused bands of "seeking hits" can pop records still have a socialist/left wing ideology
- 1982 Financial crises led to the closure of the shop in order to save the label and the distribution network. The shop was bought by 3 staff members.
- Money worries upset the communal vibe of Rough Trade -> Introduced talk of sales targets and worries about job security.
- Needed commercial success to support rapid expansion
THE SMITHS
- April 1983, signed Johnny Marr and Morrisey as the Smiths on a conventional long-term 4 album deal. The Smiths introduced Indie as a genre (Alternative, Independent music for an alternative, independent label)
- The Smiths remained to have independent credibility
-> "The Charming Man" entered the chart at number 25
- Rough Trade mounted an expensive marketing campaign in London Records (But this caused discontent - starting to employee methods used by Major Labels)
- Success launched the label on a global scale and introduced merchandise and the need to keep commercial outlets happy e.g. Woolworth's, HMV etc...
- 1984 Moved to a warehouse in Kings Cross - now had offices in Europe and America.
- Introduced a band of directions and middle management -> end of equal pay (1987) previously, everyone had been paid £7,800. Management didn't care about the music.
- The Smiths became dissatisfied with the label and began to consider signing to a major (E.M.I) but couldn't because of the long-term deal. Channeled their frustrations into their music. Signed to E.M.I following their 4th album but split before recording a 5th.
- Income from sales of 'The smiths' albums continued to fund the expansion of Rough Trade. Embraced the dance/rave explosion.
- July 1990 moved to even bigger premises (one of several factors that led to financial ruin.)
- Everyone started to leave and management structure collapsed.
- December 1990 = Ran out of money
- March 1991 = 2/3 staff sacked, administrators called in, assets were frozen.
- June 1991 = Ceased Trading
- At their peak in the 80s, indie labels acounted for 40% of the market store
-> Threatened the majors to the extent that they began to emulate indie labels.
- Geoff Travis and Jeanelle Lee ventured into A%R in 1993 negotiated a deal for Pulp with Island Rcords. "Common People" was a number 2 in 1995
- They went on to have 5 top 10 hits
(Taught them how to interact with major labels and how to "play the game") 2000 - 2001
- Decided to buy Rough Trade name and ressured the label - flew to NYC to prove how serious they were about signing The Strokes (They marketed and released their EP before they signed a deal -> alternative approach)
- Went on to sign the Libertines 5 months after releasing The Strokes debut album. (Also had Belle & Sebastian and Arcade Fire)
- Signed Duffy in 2004 on a development deal - gave her time to develop as an artist and to produce material that would fit the label. Duffy went on to produce Rough Trades first number 1 single "Mercy" in 2008
