Rough Trade Publishing
Rough Trade Publishing is a privately held independent music publisher that administers and licenses song rights for a curated roster of independent artists, operating across US and UK offices under the Bank Robber Industries umbrella and monetizing the catalog via sync, mechanical, sample, and festival licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersGoring, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rough Trade Publishing does
Rough Trade Publishing is a privately held independent music publishing company that administers, represents, and licenses the song rights of a curated roster of independent artists and bands. The company operates as the publishing arm of Bank Robber Industries, a New York-headquartered music industry umbrella group, with offices in New York City, Nashville, Los Angeles, and London, employing approximately 14 staff across US and UK operations. Its core offering is a catalog of publishing rights covering artists ranging from legacy acts (Minor Threat, Mission of Burma, The Magnetic Fields/Stephin Merritt, Joanna Newsom, Black Mountain, Godspeed You! Black Emperor) to recent signings (Cornelius, B.Hamilton, Danny Ayala, Sundayclub, The Callous Daoboys).
The company's technology footprint is intentionally lean: a WordPress-based website (built by 45PRESS) showcases the catalog, with Bandcamp integration for streaming release samples. There is no public-facing API, mobile app, or software platform. The business operates through a structured, quote-based licensing workflow covering four revenue streams: synchronization (sync) licensing routed through sister company Bank Robber Music for TV, film, trailer, commercial, and video game use; mechanical licensing issued directly by RTP's Copyright Manager (Megan Oddsen); sample/derivative work licensing requiring MP3 review; and festival licensing handled via downloadable forms. An integrated publicity channel (Big Hassle Media) and a European distribution arm (Bank Robber Europe) round out the stack within the Bank Robber Industries umbrella.
Rough Trade Publishing's go-to-market is enterprise field sales and direct relationship-driven A&R, with the company explicitly positioning itself as a "safe haven and like-minded community" for independent songwriters rather than a transactional publisher. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; all licensing is custom-quoted per project. The company's dual origin (UK entity founded 1991 by Cathi Gibson and the late Peter Walmsley; US predecessor House of Hassle Publishing founded 2007 by Lyle Hysen, Ken Weinstein, and Gandhar Savur) was unified in 2016 when House of Hassle acquired a substantial interest in the UK entity, with the two operating together under the combined Rough Trade Publishing name.
Rough Trade Publishing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rough Trade Publishing
- Legal name
- Rough Trade Publishing
- Website
- https://roughtradepublishing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rough Trade Publishing is a privately held independent music publisher that administers and licenses song rights for a curated roster of independent artists, operating across US and UK offices under the Bank Robber Industries umbrella and monetizing the catalog via sync, mechanical, sample, and festival licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rough Trade Publishing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Publishing Services
- NAICS
- Music Publishers (512230), Music Publishers (51223)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing) (MPAIABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Royalty Accounting & Payment Services (Statements, Audits, Payee Management) (MPAIABAL), Mechanical Licensing (MLC/Local Equivalents, D2C/Streaming Mechanical) (MPAIABAD), Sync Rights Representation (Pitching, Clearance, Negotiation) (MPAIABAF), Copyright Registration & Catalog Management (Metadata, ISWC/ISRC Linking) (MPAIABAC)
Keywords
Where Rough Trade Publishing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Goring
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Rough Trade Publishing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Synchronization (sync) licensing royalties: Revenue from licensing songs for use in TV, film, trailers, commercials, and video games. Handled through Bank Robber Music with structured quote-based pricing per project.
- Mechanical licensing royalties: Revenue from mechanical licenses for reproduction of songs on physical/digital recordings, issued directly by Rough Trade Publishing with information required about recording artist, label, release date, and unit quantities.
- Sample/derivative work licensing: Revenue from licensing publisher songs for use as samples or in derivative works, with MP3 review required before approval.
- Festival licensing fees: Revenue from licensing songs for use at festivals, with downloadable forms and 2-3 week artist approval timeline.
- Publishing administration: Publishing administration, royalties management, copyright management, and business development services for roster songwriters across global operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Sync licensing — quote-based pricing per project |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Mechanical licenses — issued directly by RTP |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Festival licensing — via downloadable form |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Rough Trade Publishing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rough Trade Publishing administers music catalogs for independent songwriters and bands, providing copyright administration and licensing services including synchronization, mechanical, sample/derivative work, and festival licensing. It operates as the publishing arm of Bank Robber Industries, offering global US/UK representation to songwriters whose works are licensed for use in TV, film, advertising, video games, and live events.
Product overview
Rough Trade Publishing is a single integrated music publishing company (not a modular SaaS platform) that combines the former US-based House of Hassle Publishing with the UK-based Rough Trade Publishing under one brand. Its offering is organized around two tightly coupled components: (1) the core songwriter and artist catalog/roster (Rough Trade Publishing - Music Publishing Catalog) covering administrative, A&R, and royalty services for acts such as Joanna Newsom, The Magnetic Fields, Minor Threat, Mission Of Burma, Black Mountain, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sundayclub, Cornelius, and others, and (2) a set of licensing services — Synchronization Licensing (handled via Bank Robber Music under the Bank Robber Industries umbrella), Mechanical Licensing, Sample/Derivative Work Licensing, and Festival Licensing — that monetize that catalog for TV, film, video games, advertising, sampling, and live events. Bank Robber Industries functions as the parent/affiliate organization encompassing these commercial services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bank Robber Industries: Music industry umbrella group under which Rough Trade Publishing operates, comprising Bank Robber Music, Bank Robber Europe, Big Hassle Media, and Music House of Hassle.
Products and services
- Synchronization (Sync) Licensing
- Mechanical Licensing
- Sample / Derivative Work Licensing
- Festival Licensing
- Music Publishing Catalog Administration
Quantifiable outcome
- Marlowe received album-of-the-year awards from BBC6, Yahoo! Entertainment, and Amoeba Music; debuted as #1 hip-hop album in UK on iTunes.
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Rough Trade Publishing
Customer profileNamed customers42 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rough Trade Publishing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Rough Trade Publishing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship / core, core and minor.
- Bank Robber Musicflagship / coreSister company within Bank Robber Industries umbrella. Handles all TV & Film sync licensing for Rough Trade Publishing's catalog. License requests submitted to Bank Robber Music attn: Gandhar Savur at [email protected]. Festival licenses also routed through Bank Robber Music attn: Jason Sloan. Founded by Lyle Hysen, now President of Rough Trade Publishing.
- Big Hassle Mediaflagship / coreSister company within Bank Robber Industries umbrella. Provides publicity services for RTP roster artists. Ken Weinstein serves as Head of Publicity at RTP, integrating publicity with publishing. Co-founded by Ken Weinstein as one of the founding companies behind House of Hassle (US predecessor of RTP).
- Bank Robber EuropecoreSister company within Bank Robber Industries umbrella group, supporting RTP's global reach into European markets for music industry services.
- Music House of HasslecoreSister company within Bank Robber Industries umbrella group, contributing to the integrated music industry services platform supporting RTP operations.
- Rough Trade (record store / label)coreRough Trade Publishing grew out of the famous Rough Trade record store in London that spawned the Rough Trade record label in 1978. The acquisition of UK Rough Trade Publishing by House of Hassle in 2016 brought the publishing brand back into the Rough Trade family under unified operations.
- Academy Fight SongminorListed as a featured partner logo in the RTP website footer with link to academyfightsongs.com. Historical reference to the seminal Mission of Burma song and the Ace of Hearts label.
- BandcampcoreBandcamp integration used to host and stream samples of RTP catalog releases. Each release page links to a Bandcamp URL for the artist's album (e.g., The Callous Daoboys, Still Flyin, Marlowe, Innera, Icky Blossoms, Parenthetical Girls, Jamaican Queens, Growing).
- Lame-O RecordsminorPhiladelphia-based label releasing Hurry's new album 'Zoned Out' (RTP roster band) in July via Lame-O Records. Hurry announcement on RTP news references Stereogum coverage.
- Nonesuch RecordsminorReleased Stephin Merritt's 50 Song Memoir (Magnetic Fields / RTP roster) on Nonesuch Records for late 2016/early 2017 release. Album recorded on Merritt's 50th birthday.
- Kranky RecordsminorReleased Growing's (RTP roster) debut full-length 'The Sky's Run Into the Sea' and follow-up 'The Soul of the Rainbow and the Harmony of Light' on Kranky Records.
- Troubleman Unlimited / MegablademinorReleased Growing's 'His Return' and 'Vision Swim' on Troubleman Unlimited's underlabel Megablade.
- Vice RecordsminorReleased Growing's 'Pumps!' on Vice Records.
- Important RecordsminorReleased Growing's 'DISORDER' on Important Records in June 2016.
- The Social RegistryminorReleased Growing's 'Horizon Drift/Disconfirm' 7-inch and 'Lateral' LP on The Social Registry.
- Ace of Hearts RecordsminorReleased Mission of Burma's original catalog on producer Rick Harte's Ace of Hearts label (1980-1985). Rykodisc later re-released the catalog as a three-CD set.
- Star Trek Entertainment (Pharrell Williams)minorZiG (RTP roster artist) received a record label offer from Pharrell Williams' Star Trek Entertainment. Sony/Universal released ZiG's music in American and Latin markets.
- Tribeca Film FestivalminorFeatured ZiG as musical director for the Tribeca Film Festival official selection feature film 'Lost Soulz.'
- War ChildminorOlivia Rodrigo covered The Magnetic Fields' 'The Book of Love' (RTP roster song) for War Child's benefit record. Highlighted on RTP news with link to Stereogum coverage.
- Immigrant Defense ProjectminorCharity compilation 'Just Cause Vol. 2' supporting the Immigrant Defense Project included a song from Matmos' Drew Daniel (RTP roster). RTP news promoted the benefit compilation.
- StereogumcoreMusic press outlet cited as primary external coverage source for RTP roster announcements. RTP news posts link directly to Stereogum articles (Hurricane 'Zoned Out' announcement, Olivia Rodrigo 'Book of Love' cover).
- PitchforkcoreMusic press outlet cited as primary external coverage source for RTP roster announcements. RTP news links directly to Pitchfork (Cornelius 'Refractions' announcement, Nevada City Joanna Newsom Day, Just Cause Vol. 2 compilation).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rough Trade Publishing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BMG Rights Management: Major global music publisher with a large indie-adjacent catalog and integrated publishing/recorded music/ sync platform. Competes with RTP for sync briefs, mechanical licensing volume, and songwriter signings at greater scale.
- Spirit Music Group: Independent music publisher managing catalogs of legendary songwriters and contemporary indie/rock artists. Comparable to RTP in catalog orientation and indie-leaning roster, but at significantly larger scale.
- Primary Wave Music Publishing: Independent music publisher focused on catalog acquisitions and artist signings across rock, pop, and hip-hop. Competes for marquee songwriter signings and legacy catalog purchases that RTP may also pursue.
- Concord Music Publishing: Major independent music publisher with acquired catalogs spanning classical, rock, and pop. Competes with RTP for legacy catalog acquisitions and sync placements with global scale.
- Kobalt Music Group: Tech-forward global music publisher and neighboring rights administrator offering digital self-serve licensing and royalty platforms. Competes directly with RTP's manual workflow on sync pitch speed and catalog accessibility.
Direct peers
- Sub Pop Records: Seattle-based independent label with an affiliated publishing operation and a similar focus on indie/alternative songwriters. Comparable to RTP in roster composition (indie rock heritage acts plus emerging signings) and DIY ethos.
- Merge Records: Long-standing independent US label with publishing activity and a similar roster profile of critically acclaimed indie/alternative songwriters. Direct competitor for indie A&R signings and catalog licensing.
- Matador Records (Beggars Group): Independent label within Beggars Group with publishing activity and an indie/alternative roster that overlaps with RTP's. Direct competitor for indie songwriter signings; shares heritage with Rough Trade label history.
- Secretly Group (Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans): Independent music group with publishing and label operations across multiple imprints, representing comparable indie artist rosters and offering integrated services (publishing, label, sync). Direct competitor for indie songwriter signings and sync catalog pitches.
- Domino Recording Company / Domino Publishing: Independent UK-headquartered label and music publisher with a comparable roster of acclaimed indie artists. Direct overlap with RTP on independent music publishing, creative A&R, and sync licensing for indie-adjacent catalogs.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rough Trade Publishing social profiles
Digital presenceRough Trade Publishing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rough Trade Publishing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Rough Trade Publishing subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Rough Trade Publishing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rough Trade Publishing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rough Trade Publishing
What does Rough Trade Publishing do?
Rough Trade Publishing administers music catalogs for independent songwriters and bands, providing copyright administration and licensing services including synchronization, mechanical, sample/derivative work, and festival licensing. It operates as the publishing arm of Bank Robber Industries, offering global US/UK representation to songwriters whose works are licensed for use in TV, film, advertising, video games, and live events.
Is Rough Trade Publishing a public or private company?
Rough Trade Publishing is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Rough Trade Publishing founded?
Rough Trade Publishing was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rough Trade Publishing based?
Rough Trade Publishing is headquartered in Goring, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Rough Trade Publishing make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Synchronization (sync) licensing royalties are the primary driver. The others are mechanical licensing royalties, sample/derivative work licensing, festival licensing fees and publishing administration.
Who are Rough Trade Publishing's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group, Primary Wave Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing and Kobalt Music Group. Direct peers are Sub Pop Records, Merge Records, Matador Records (Beggars Group), Secretly Group (Secretly Canadian, Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans) and Domino Recording Company / Domino Publishing.
Does Rough Trade Publishing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rough Trade Publishing.
What industry is Rough Trade Publishing in?
Rough Trade Publishing's product category is Music Publishing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIABAB, Publishing Administration (Catalog Admin, Global Subpublishing), with a secondary code of MPAIABAL, Royalty Accounting & Payment Services (Statements, Audits, Payee Management). Its NAICS code is 512230 and its SIC code is 2741.