Rough Trade Records GmbH

Rough Trade Records GmbH (often abbreviated to Rough Trade Rec. GmbH or Rough Trade Records) was a German manufacturer and distributor for labels such as Rough Trade, Factory, 4AD and others.

Rough Trade Records GmbH and Rough Trade Distribution are established 1982 in the city of Herne by Rough Trade (UK) as joint venture with local manufacturer/distributor DPR (Dahlke Panschek Rüppik GBR).

Label Code: LC 5661

The original Rough Trade catalogue numbering system is as follows:
7" singles have RTD followed by a number starting with 0 (e.g. RTD 07),
12"s have RTD and a number starting with 0 and a T as suffix (e.g. RTD 06 T),
LPs have RTD plus number but no leading 0 (e.g. RTD 60),
CDs start with RTDCD or RTD CD, followed by a number (e.g. RTDCD 100 or RTD CD 90). The European CD editions, however, have RTD Number CD (e.g. RTD 72 CD).
All other numbers, e.g. M1-100, L2-25, CD1-244, S1-3001, etc. are distribution codes.

In 1991, after the bankruptcy of the distributor Cartel, Rough Trade UK is also forced to file for bankruptcy. But the German affiliate survives, is taken over by Pinnacle and remains to carry on thanks to lucrative ongoing and new distribution deals in the dance and electronic music genres, notably with Warp, Domino, 4AD and other labels in the UK and elsewhere. Rough Trade Records GmbH becomes a Rights Owner, Rough Trade Distribution remains distributor. For the label activities the label Our Choice is established.

In 1996 Rough Trade Records GmbH and Rough Trade Distribution are bought by the Zomba Music Group, together with the purchase of Pinnacle Publishing.

In July 1999 Rough Trade Records GmbH is renamed into Zomba Records GmbH and Rough Trade Distribution into Zomba Distribution - A Division of Zomba Records GmbH. See Zomba Records for releases under the changed name.
The Zomba catalog number scheme is still the same as and running continuous from the Rough Trade numbers, starting with RTD, followed by 8 Numbers with two dots. All additional numbers at regular releases should be ignored, because it's the pricecode.

In 2002 Zomba is sold to BMG and in turn Zomba Distribution GmbH, Rough Trade B.V. (Benelux) and Pinnacle are merged to the "European Independent Distribution Pool" under the roof of BMG distributor arvato as Rough Trade Arvato.

2004, after the merger of BMG and Sony to Sony BMG, the name Rough Trade Distribution is reactivated.

In 2008 Rough Trade Distribution is sold to Groove Attack Productions to join forces in global music market struggle, with an ongoing cooperation with arvato services, being responsible for logistics and Sonopress being the duplication facility.

Nowadays existing as Rough Trade Distribution GmbH.