Rough Trade- The 21st Century

How has Rough Trade evolved in the 21st century?
Rough Trade has now signed 'The Strokes', 'The Libertines', 'The Arctic Monkeys' and 'Duffy'. Duffy was put on a development deal in order to enable her to recognise her own qualities as an artist. Rough Trade have been managing Duffy for 4 years now.
How are their working practices different to the music produced through progammes such as X Factor?
Rough Trade has always believed in producing music that the artist wanted to produce. They allow the artist as much time as they need to find their own image, where as shows like X Factor give their artists an image and expect them to be puppets and produce typical mainstream music.
What success have they had at this time?
The first success they have had is the gaining of 5 consecutive hits through the management of 'Pulp'. Another success would be achieving a number one manageing Duffy; it being the first number one in the whole of Rough Trade's 30 years of exsistence.
How has Rough Trade's ideology developed for the company in the present day?
Rough Trade still carry out the same ideology; it being to let the artist produce the music they want to produce, however they have bought in the concept of contracts, so they do not make the same mistakes and make great losses like the ones in the past.