Rough Trade

How did Rough Trade start?

Rough Trade started as a record shop on the 20th February in 1976 whilst in the middle of a bombing campaign in the UK. The shop was based at Kensington road.

Which music trends were popular?

Punk Rock had become a very popular trend with bands like The Clash, that were already signed to a major record company selling thousands.

What was the ethos of Rough Trade at this time?

Their etho was to just do it yourself attitude, as they were an independent record label.

How was Rough Trade different to large corporations?

When new bands join and they released a record they would print how much it cost to make the record, this was done so people knew how much it would cost.

What techniques were used to expand the independent music scene?

Rough Trade used to make a mail order to other shops that requested a bands record.

How did this lead to Rough Trade's expansion ?

By selling records nation wise and becoming an official label.

What type of business structure existed in the 1970's?

Principle before profit, they wanted to keep it very independent and not become like all the mainstream record companies.

Explain the successes of the distribution department and the record label?

In 1979 "Stiff Litte Fingers" were placed in the charts they had 100,000 copies sold very quickly. The was a big breakthrough for the company.Independent labels went through Rough Trade to distribute their records instead of going to the major companies to do so.

1980's

How did contracts effect the development of rough trade?

They made the contracts so that if one or either both sides of the party wanted to leave they could just do it. This lead to a big loss for Rough Trade as artists would leave once they decided to distribute with major companies.

What issue occurred between the record label and distribution?

Rough Trade struggled to keep to their rule of being different and independent record label by only selling music through the artists, it was becoming hard to try keep to the old ways while making the company large and more organised.

What changes did this lead to within the business structure of rough trade?

Once they had moved to another place where it was larger, they hired an account to see the how well the money would hold up, it turned out that the company was losing money fast.

What has been Rough Trade ideology and how was this effected?

Rough Trade's Ideology was to keep to their ways of Principle over money and not become like other major distribution companies.

Which artists led to success for Rough Trade?

'The Smiths' and 'Stiff Little Fingers'.

What music trend emerged at the end of the 1980's?

Indie music had become the new trend.

What differences were there at this time between Rough Trade and other independent music labels?

Rough Trade was still known as Independent.

1990's

What problems did Rough Trade incur at the start of the 1990's?

Rough Trade was going through financial problems.

What effect did this have on the Record label and distribution?

There were arguements between the label and distribution had become a big issue, the company were suffering with money which led to cuts.

How did major record labels branch out into the independent music scene?

Major companies started to create smaller companies .

What actions were taken to revive Rough Trade?

The company had started again in 1991 in a new office and looking for new artists that could be signed.

The 21st century.

How was Rough Trade envolved in the 21st century?

In 2001, Rough Trade decided to come back into the industry and signed up a new band, 'The Strokes'.

'The Strokes was the first step in putting Rough Trade's name back into the music industry once again.

How are their working practises different to the music produced through programmes such as X factor?

Rough Trade was know to go against the norm and be very independent, so when comparing the X Factor which is part of a huge record deal to Rough Trade it couldn't be more different. The working ways are different as X factor are about profit which Rough Trade has never been about since the start.

What successes have they had at this time?

Rough Trade have had the success of Duffy who was able to get Rough Trade's first number 1 chart hit.

How was Rough Trade's ideology developed for the company in the present day?

Rough Trade's ideology hasn't changed over the years it may have become more smaller but being an independent company it never really matters about developing bigger otherwise they would become like more major record deals.