Digital Media

Rough Trade and Guardian collaborate on new music download service

By | Published on Monday 11 February 2013

Rough Trade

The Rough Trade retail company relaunched its website on Friday, and today announced a new music download subscription service in partnership with The Guardian.

The Tracks Of The Week initiative will offer subscribers a weekly six-track download EP covering all genres except classical and compiled utilising The Guardian’s editorial expertise and Rough Trade’s artist and label connections. The weekly compilation will feature pre-release tracks and some exclusives, and will provide – Rough Trade say – “a trusted, valuable, convenient and fun way to keep abreast of the best new music”. The new subscription service will cost £2.99 a week, though a month’s free trial is available to Guardian readers.

Rough Trade co-owner Stephen Godfroy told CMU: “In this post-digital age, where all music formats are enjoyed together for their respective merits, we’re delighted to offer, in partnership with The Guardian, a music service that offers genuine digital value and excitement for the music lover. Not knowing what you’re going to receive each week replicates the thrilling sense of adventure felt in our offline stores, providing customers a priceless moment of trusted discovery, surprise and joy – characteristics at the heart of any Rough Trade store experience”.

The Guardian’s music chief Caspar Llewellyn Smith added: “Everyone knows how tough it is out there for record stores at the moment, but the Rough Trade shops are a real success story, largely because of the passion and expertise of their staff. We hope the same is true of the Guardian’s music coverage, and by working together through this new partnership, we’ll be able to help point fans at the good stuff. I love the sense of serendipity involved in Tracks Of The Week. What could be nicer than getting six new, hand-picked pieces of music arriving in your inbox each Friday?”



READ MORE ABOUT: |