Rough Trade: 21st Century

How was Rough Trade evolved in the 21st century?

After the Rough Trade business was revived, they signed 'The Strokes'. This band helped kickstart the future for Rough Trade.

What successes have they had at this time?

The Strokes first release was 'The Modern Age'.

– the title almost says it all – galvanised both the revitalised Rough Trade and the British music industry, which was sorely in need of a lift post Brit-Pop. Geoff and Jeannette’s peripatetic foray to a New Jersey bar in search of the band they would bring back and promote before attending to the small detail of signing them to a contract paid off. Subsequent releases by The Strokes through 2001/2 and beyond would give their label its biggest commercial success since The Smiths.

Releases during the early- to mid- part of the 2000s by important artists like The Libertines, Eddi Reader, British Sea Power, Low, Emiliana Torrini, Arcade Fire, Belle & Sebastian, Sufjan Stevens and Antony & The Johnsons reflected the refreshing eclecticism of the co-founders, but by 2005 the label had hit a vintage vein of credible and commercial form. Antony & The Johnsons were the unexpected yet deserved winners of the Mercury Prize for the outstanding ‘I Am A Bird Now’ and Arcade Fire’s ‘Funeral’ album had become a worldwide hit, eliciting breathless praise from the likes of David Bowie and David Byrne.

Quoted from - Roughtraderecords.com

By 2006, Scritti Politti had returned. 'White Bread, Black Beer' suggested that they had never been away and made it all the way to the Mercury shortlist, whilst Jarvis Cocker who has been managed by Rough Trade for 15 years, released his first his first post-Pulp album 'Jarvis'.

How was Rough Trades ideology developed for the company in the present day?

Rough Trade has gone back to its old ideology: Music should not be fake, or the normal thing that you would normally hear on the radio everyday. This was proved when they signed Duffy. They first of all put her on a development deal and told her that they wanted her to do what she wanted to do without their help in direction. This worked well as Duffy gained lots of awards for her first album.

Here are some of the artists they have signed since the company was revived: