Rough Trade

Multinational label.

Label Code: LC 5661 / LC 05661.

Code LC 11945 is associated with Rough Trade Records UK Ltd. - not listed on Discogs

Rough Trade was founded by Geoff Travis in 1976 as a London record shop and began operating as an independent label in 1978. The label expanded rapidly in the 1980s, partnering with other labels such as 4AD, Factory Records, and One Little Indian among others.

Note: Please use Rough Trade for 'Exclusive Retailer' credits on editions produced for Rough Trade Shops and roughtrade.com.

• Catalog numbering for the initial phase of the label:

Singles/EPs were sequentially numbered (001–247) with these prefixes:

RT###: 7" singles, early 12" singles, and some 10" singles

RTT###: later 12" singles and some 10" singles

RTT###CD: CD singles

RTM###: 12" EPs/mini-albums

There were also five early 7" singles numbered RTSO1 through RTSO5. These were all by the group Spizz Oil and related projects.

Albums:

ROUGH###: sequentially numbered (1–159), with extensions such as CD, MC, etc., for various formats

RUFCD####: exclusively for four CD releases in 1989, numbered sequentially (6001-6004)

COPY###: used for some early cassette releases under the Rough Tapes name, numbered sequentially (001–???)

After financial difficulties in the US market around 1990, the label/distribution group faced challenges. The US branch closed, and the German operations joined Zomba Music Group, leading to the name's eventual discontinuation. In the UK, One Little Indian financed the label and took over, with Geoff Travis briefly in charge before founding the Trade 2 label with Island Records. Due to this arrangement, One Little Indian kept ownership of certain key releases, such as the early A.R. Kane albums. Dave Boyd managed the label.

• Catalog numbering during the label's second iteration:

R###x: numbered sequentially (starting around 250) with x indicating format (0 = 12", 1 = LP, 2 = CD, 3 = CD Single, 4 = Cassette, 5 = mini-album, 6 = CD mini-album, 7 = 7" single, 8 = double LP)

45REV##: singles club 7" series, numbered sequentially (01-??)

Geoff Travis regained control of the Rough Trade label name around 1999–2000 and re-launched it with Tugboat Records.

• Catalog numbering used by the label's third phase:

RTRADES###: 7" singles, 12" singles & vinyl EPs

RTRADESCD###: CD singles & CDEPs - 'X' added for multiple versions of the single

RTRADESDVD###: DVD singles

RTRADELP###: vinyl LP albums

RTRADECD###: CD albums

On some releases, the E in RTRADE is omitted, resulting in RTRAD as the prefix.

In July 2001, Sanctuary Records partnered with Rough Trade, including its Tugboat imprint. This collaboration was designed to support Rough Trade's growth by leveraging Sanctuary's infrastructure, especially internationally.

By July 2007, Sanctuary, facing difficulties, announced its sale of a 49% stake in Rough Trade to Beggars Group for £800,000, preceding its acquisition by Universal. Rough Trade continues from its Golborne Road offices in London, with Beggars managing central operations.

The Rough Trade retail chain was not included in the transaction.