Rough Trade Extra Questions

Come up with your own definition for INDEPENDENT MUSIC?

Normally independent music is known for being 'indie'. Independent music is where the artist has lots of freedom to create whatever music they want and have their own image. They have a DIY approach to producing records.

Why was the punk rock era seen as the birth of independent labels?

In the punk rock era was when Rough Trade began to sign artists that couldn't get signed by bigger major record labels. Punk rock bands would go into Rough Trade to get signed this therefore made punk music grow. Rough Trade showed the artists how to create their own records so people started to not need to have record labels.

In what ways is Web 2.0 having the same effect on the music industry as independent labels did during the early punk era?

The use of Web 2.0 allows people to download music for free from the internet. This is allowing music to get around really quickly as people dont have to go out and buy CDs as they can just put music on their iPods straight from their computers. This is having the same effect on the music industry as independent labels did during the early punk era because artists dont really need a record label as they can distribute their music themselves. Websites like Youtube and google videos is where you can also watch music videos for free so many producers will be loosing out on money.

Find the definition of Hegemony. How can this be applied to the independent vs. major war?

Definition: Leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others.

This can be applied to the independent vs. major war as the major companies have dominance over the independent companies.

Define the terms Capitalism and Commodity. Apply the terms within a description of the Rough Trade documentary:

Capitalism: An economic and political system in which countries trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather then by the state.

Commodity: Something of use, advantage or value.

Rough Trade the documentary focuses on how Major record companies are againest Independent record companies. They use Capitalist ideologies to make and artist very successful. As the artists should appear all the time shows that they are in vast commodity. This is shown in the documentary when the artists that belong to a major record labels are seen a lot more then artists belonging to independent record labels.

Describe five differences between major and independent record labels:

-Independent record labels care more about the music rather then just making money.

-Independent record labels will sign any artist to give them a chance whereas major record. labels will only sign artists that are profitable and fit into the current market.

-Independent record labels are normally just one company whereas major record labels have smaller companies within them.

-Major record labels like to advertise their artists through merchandise whereas independent record labels let the music do the selling.

-Major record labels have capitalistic views whereas independent record labels are communist.

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:

Rough Trade: 1990s

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

By December 1990 Rough Trades cash flow had come to a halt. Also in December, two thirds of Rough Trades staff had been axed due to poor financial management. On the 1st June 1991 the company had no other choice but to close down.

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

Rough Trade had written the rule book for independent production and distribution. This rulebook became the most successful independent music companies in the music industry. Rough Trades work had inspired and enabled to many other independent record companies to be created as they had a formation to go by. The independent companies owned 40% of the music industry. However, the financial down fall of the company meant the company had to be split ip and sold off to try and deal with the financial payments they were unable to pay.

How did major record labels branch out into the independent music scene?The major record companies began to sign artists that were apart of the smaller independent companies. This meant that both the independent and major record companies would begin to join together.

What actions were taken to revive Rough Trade?

Geoff Travis and Jeannette Lee remained working together when Rough Trade was no longer in business. Travis and Lee were introduced to Jarvis Cocker and soon afterwards began to manage him. In the same year, 1993 they had learnt from their mistakes and signed the band 'Pulp'. Pulp brought Rough Trade back to their financial position in the music industry. They had learnt how to sustain chart positions and as a result of this they successfully received 5 consecutive top 10 singles. The profit they made from Pulp enables Travis and Lee to buy back Rough Trades name in 2001 after 25 years since Rough Trade was open. Rough Trade is now back in business.

1980s: Rough Trade

How did contracts effect the development of Rough Trade?

Rough Trade is very different to major record dealers as they only have two clauses. 1. If the partnership between the artist and company are no longer working then the contract will end. 2. They profit made will be split equally between Rough Trade and the artist. They believe that there way of signing people would bring in more artists and 'captured everything that was right about humans'.

Which issues occured between the record label and distribution?

As the company thought they needed to introduce pop music to the music industry to enable them to be on par with big music companies caused lots of clonflict between the record label and distribution.

What has been Rough Trades ideology and how this has affected by the change in structure?

Rough Trade likes to go againest everything that was wrong with the british music industry and trying to beat the corporate system. Therefore, when the company decided to start producing pop music many of the staff decided that it was wrong and did not support this idea.

Which artists led to the success of Rough Trade?

Rough Trade took a new approach when it came to signing new artists and learnt from their mistakes when they signed The Smiths. The Smiths were signed on to a long-term agreement where they had to produce 4 albums. The first single The Smiths released was called 'The Charming Man'. The record demanded lots of marketing as it was very commercial which was unlikely for Rough Trade. When The Smiths started to make money they decided to try and sign to a larger major record company EMI. They were unable to do this as they were still legally bonded to Rough Trade. As The Smiths had to make one last album they released 'Strange ways here we come', little did they know this would also be the last album they would make as a band. By 1989, Rough Trade had its largest roster of artists in its history.

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

At the end of the 1980s the rave clubs began to develop. This lead in techno music beginning to take over the music scene.

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

Rough Trade was a record label as well as a distribution company. About 90% of the £40 million turnover came from the distribution. The distribution part of the company finances the record label. This allowed them to develop the technical side of the music.

1970s: Rough Trade

How did Rough Trade start?

Rough Trade started when Geoff Cravis took a trip to Canada where he was able to purchase some music records. When he purchased these records he realised that there was nowhere in London. He decided to bring backthe records he bought in Canada and open a music shop in West London.

What music trends were popular?

Reggae and Punk were the two most popular music trends in the 1970s.

What was the ethos of

Rough Trade at this time?

Rough Trade stood for the 'intellectual political wing of punk'; Communism and Marxism heavily influenced them.

How was Rough Trade different to large corporations?

Rough Trade was different to large corporations as they were an independent company. This made them separate from the large music corporations like EMI and CBS. Corporations like this normally over shadowed smaller independent corporations.

What techniques were used to expand the independent music scene?

Rough Trade is an independent company so therefore doesn't have a lot of money. They used to do their own pressing and marketing, which artists thought was a good idea as they didn't have to use a lot of money to make a record cover. Also the artists could say how many records they wanted to be produced and sold. The band 'Desperate Bicycles' had an idea to of turning record sleeves into instructions of ho

w to make your own records. 'Scritti Polliti' kept the trend going by printing the budget on the front of his record sleeve to prove how cheap it was to produce your own music records.

How did this lead to Rough Trades expansion?

To get into the music industry it is known that you are better going to an independent record label first then trying to go for the massive corporations. Where the original Rough Trade shop was, was in an area that was cheap to live in therefore bringing in musicians. This increased the shops popularity.

Explain the successes of the distribution department and record label.

The distribution department wa

s developed in 1977 and bought in more money than the actual record label. The departments job was to distribute records to other small shops all around the country. The record label however, said they didn't want to be like any other record label so they made two clauses. 1. When the partnership between the artist and record label was no longer working they wouldend it. 2. Any profit that was made would be split equally between the artist and Rough Trade.