2. Record Label Information • Rough trade records is an independent label • It is based in London, England and was founded in 1978 • Geoff Travis was the founder who opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove • He successfully promoted and sold records in genres of punk and indie pop • He promoted bands such as The Smiths, Buzzcocks and Desperate Bicycles
3. Rough Trade began as a record shop in Kensington Park Road opened by Geoff Travis in West London 1976. The record shop specialised in Reggae and Garage Rock.
4. Rough Trade produced their very first record when the French punk band Métal Urbain asked for some help in the publicising of their music.
5. Rough Trade began distributing records in collaboration with other independent labels in the UK in 1978, they named this record distributing company "The Cartel". This allowed other small record labels such as "Factory Records" or "2 Tone Records" to start distributing their own records nationally.
7. In 1979, Rough Trade's first album "Inflammable Material" made Rough Trade the first independent label in the UK to release an album that sold over 100,000 copies. This was Rough Trade's boost to fame.
8. After filing for bankruptcy in 1991 and ending up in receivership, Rough Trade relaunched in 2000 as an independently owned entity. After their partnership with Sanctuary Records in 2002 and being bought out of business by BMG, they finally became independent again in 2007.
