Rough Trade

The 1970's

How did Rough Trade start?

Rough Trade began on 20th February 1976, as small record shop owned by Geoff Travis. Who was inspired by the coffee shops in America, where people performed poetry while people were drinking coffee.
He acquired  his records buying them in second hand stores and charity shops in the states. At this point he was not interested in the profitable sale, but wanted somewhere where people could enjoy and listen to music while browsing.

Which music trends were popular?

Punk and Reggae music were popular at the time.

What was the ethos of Rough trade?
They wanted to listen to music and not exploit people for money, like the larger companies.

What techniques were used to expand the independent music scene?

Instructions on how to release your own record printed on the record sleeve of 'The Desperate Bicycles', while 'Scrittie Polittie' printed their production budget on theirs to bring more people to the independent music scene.  

How did this lead to Rough Trades expansion?

They 'Do it yourself attitude' popularity began to increase, allowing Rough Trade to deliver to that minority market.

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

Mail order System was created in which Richard Scott was in charge of to distribute records to other record shops across the country.

Explain the successes of the distribution department and record label?

Independent labels went to rough trade to distribute their records instead of going to the major distribution companies to do it.

The 1980's


How did the contracts effect the development of Rough Trade?

Since the contracts were laid out so that they weren't copying the larger companies they so despised, they made it so that if either or both party wanted out of the deal, they could leave. So Rough trade began to lose their artists once they hit the charts.

What issues occurred between the record label and distribution?

A rift began to appear between the record label and the distribution company due to a lack of structure.

What changes did this lead to within the business structure of Rough Trade?

They hired an account, who found that they were losing quite a bit of money which causing them to sell the shop to three of the staff, causing it to become just a label.

What has been Rough Trade's ideology and how was this effected by the change in structure?

Rough Trade's ideology was that they were not going to be like the major companies, however they began to worry about hitting the charts.

Which artists led to success for Rough Trade?

Stiff Little Fingers, The Smiths

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

Indie

What differences were there at this time between Rough Trade and other independent music labels?
The created an expensive marketing campaign in 1983, to advertise The Smiths and abandoned their 50:50 deal with them.

The 1990's


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

Financial difficulties

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

They began to falter, job security worry began to occur, focusing more on targets, unit sales, distribution and the need of records.

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

Started to create smaller subsidiarity companies under the major companies.

What actions were taken to revive Rough Trade?

What new music industry areas did Rough Trade begin to work in and with which artists?
Management

21st Century 


How did Rough Trade evolved in the 21st century?

The decided to revive Rough trade, by bringing the Strokes to England from America to kick start their career.

How are their working practices different to the music produced through programs such as X Factor?

They allow young artists to develop their own music style in comparison to being told what to sing and modelling round a stereotype of what the label wants them to be.

What successes have they had at this time?

Duffy, with a number one hit.

How has rough Trade's ideology developed from the company in the present day?

It still focuses on the welfare of the artists but focuses on sales and finance issues than previously.