Native Records
Encyclopedia
Native Records is a small independent record label formed in Sheffield
, England.
The label was founded by Kevin Donoghue in 1985, after he left RCA Records
and during his time at the Music Factory studio, Rotherham (near Sheffield), where he was a sound engineer.
In January 1989, Native signed Nine Inch Nails
but later released them from their contract when TVT Records
offered a better deal.
The label was originally distributed via the Cartel
and Red Rhino Records
, with Rough Trade
distributing in Germany and Radical distributing in Spain. After the collapse of the Cartel in 1989, distribution moved to Polydor Records
and subsequently Pinnacle Records. The label is now distributed by Code & and Plastic Head Distribution in the UK.
In 2006, Native formed its own distribution company Indie distribution and radio promotion company The black label.
Native continues to release new guitar based bands and is now distributed by Universal as well as its own companies.
Associated labels include: Ozone Recordings, Pagan Records, Digital Europe and Transistor Records.
The Sky Drops, ViX and the Kixs.
Darling Buds, The Snapdragons
, Smashing Orange
, Fatal Charm
, Deluxe, Steamkings, Greenhouse, Richard H Kirk, Treebound Story (including Richard Hawley
—then a young songwriter), Screaming Trees, Berkeley, Torsohorse, Brody, Zoot and the Roots
, The Exuberants, The Emotionals, Leafeater, The Junk, Soberskin, Pemberton Grange, Tadpole, Sound Junkies, Moneypenny, Lucigenic, Morph, Ward C, The North.
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, England.
The label was founded by Kevin Donoghue in 1985, after he left RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
and during his time at the Music Factory studio, Rotherham (near Sheffield), where he was a sound engineer.
In January 1989, Native signed Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
but later released them from their contract when TVT Records
TVT Records
TVT Records was an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. Its roster included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and...
offered a better deal.
The label was originally distributed via the Cartel
The Cartel (record distributor)
The Cartel, usually known as the Cartel without capitalisation but with the definite article, was a co-operative record distribution organisation in the United Kingdom, set up by a number of small independent record labels to handle their distribution to record shops...
and Red Rhino Records
Red Rhino Records
Red Rhino Records, also known as Red Rhino, was a British record label which was developed by the independent record shop and wholesaler of the same name, all formed and run by "Tony K"...
, with Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
distributing in Germany and Radical distributing in Spain. After the collapse of the Cartel in 1989, distribution moved to Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
and subsequently Pinnacle Records. The label is now distributed by Code & and Plastic Head Distribution in the UK.
In 2006, Native formed its own distribution company Indie distribution and radio promotion company The black label.
Native continues to release new guitar based bands and is now distributed by Universal as well as its own companies.
Associated labels include: Ozone Recordings, Pagan Records, Digital Europe and Transistor Records.
Current artists
Waiting For June, ReVerbed, The Talk, Girl Spit, Pimp Sneekerz, B Troop and Various Production.Associated artists
The following list comprises artists currently working with, but not necessarily signed to Native. More usually, they work collaboratively, in the spirit of independence via the black label, Indie distribution or Xtreme digital media:The Sky Drops, ViX and the Kixs.
Past artists
Native's Past Artists Catalogue includes releases by:Darling Buds, The Snapdragons
The Snapdragons
The Snapdragons were an indie rock band from Leeds, England...
, Smashing Orange
Smashing Orange
Smashing Orange was an American band formed in 1990. They released three albums before splitting up in the mid-1990s. Their early sound saw them classified as "shoegazing".-History:...
, Fatal Charm
Fatal Charm
Fatal Charm were a punk then rock/pop band from Nottingham, England.From 1980 onwards, their musical style was difficult to define; a variation on the rock/pop genre that defied comparison with other emerging UK acts such as Echo & the Bunnymen, The Cure, New Order and Ultravox, who were darker...
, Deluxe, Steamkings, Greenhouse, Richard H Kirk, Treebound Story (including Richard Hawley
Richard Hawley
Richard Hawley is a guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer. After his first band Treebound Story broke up, Hawley found success as a member of Britpop band Longpigs in the 1990s. He later joined the band Pulp, led by his friend Jarvis Cocker...
—then a young songwriter), Screaming Trees, Berkeley, Torsohorse, Brody, Zoot and the Roots
Zoot and the Roots
Zoot and the Roots were a British jazz band based in York during the 1980s, fronted by Miles Gilderdale and featuring saxophonist Snake Davis. It also featured future video game music composer, Grant Kirkhope on trumpet.-Singles and EPs:...
, The Exuberants, The Emotionals, Leafeater, The Junk, Soberskin, Pemberton Grange, Tadpole, Sound Junkies, Moneypenny, Lucigenic, Morph, Ward C, The North.