Native Records

Native Records is a British independent record label established in Sheffield, England, in 1985 by Kevin Donoghue. Donoghue founded the label after leaving RCA Records and while working at the Music Factory, where he was involved as a sound engineer and record producer. The label operated within the independent music infrastructure of the 1980s and 1990s, issuing records by a varied group of alternative, post-punk, indie, electronic and experimental artists. Native initially used the Cartel and Red Rhino Records for distribution. Its international arrangements included Rough Trade distribution in Germany and Radical distribution in Spain. This network placed Native within the specialist independent-label system that connected regional British labels with record shops and overseas markets. Following the collapse of the Cartel in 1989, Native's distribution shifted first to Polydor Records and later to Pinnacle Records. One of the label's notable episodes came in January 1989, when it signed Nine Inch Nails. Native subsequently released the group from its contract after TVT Records offered a more advantageous arrangement. Although Nine Inch Nails did not remain part of Native's catalogue, the episode illustrates the role that small independent labels could play in identifying developing artists before those artists moved to larger commercial partners. Native's catalogue included early releases by The Darling Buds, who issued two singles on the label before signing with Epic Records. Other associated or past artists included Treebound Story, a group connected with the early career of songwriter and later solo artist Richard Hawley, as well as acts such as Fatal Charm, Richard H. Kirk, UV POP, Screaming Trees, The Fireflys, The Snapdragons, Deluxe, Steamkings, Greenhouse, and many other alternative and underground performers. The catalogue therefore spans several strands of British independent music rather than representing a narrowly defined genre. The label also had an association with Ozone Recordings. Native later promoted a nine-track compilation titled "Shame on You – The Native Recordings," catalogued as NTV 44, bringing together material from its historical output. In 2018, Cherry Red Records acquired the catalogue of Witchwood Media, a transaction that included the Native and Inevitable Records catalogues. This acquisition helped place Native's recorded legacy within a larger specialist catalogue-management operation. Publicly available reference material does not establish Native Records' current operating status, ownership structure, or a current official website.

Native Records emerged in Sheffield in 1985, founded by Kevin Donoghue after his departure from RCA Records. At the time of its creation, Donoghue was also working at the Music Factory as a sound engineer and record producer. The label was part of the British independent sector, where small companies combined artist development, local music networks and relationships with specialist distributors. In its early years, Native used the Cartel and Red Rhino Records for distribution. The Cartel was an important British independent distribution network, while Red Rhino provided another route into the specialist record market. Native also developed overseas distribution arrangements: Rough Trade handled distribution in Germany and Radical handled distribution in Spain. These relationships enabled a Sheffield-based label to circulate releases outside its home market without building a large in-house infrastructure. The label's catalogue reflected the diversity of independent music. Its releases included alternative and indie acts, post-punk and experimental artists, and groups working in electronic or underground scenes. The Darling Buds released two singles through Native before moving to Epic Records. Native's catalogue also included Treebound Story, whose membership included the young Richard Hawley, together with artists and groups such as The Barristers, The Fireflys, The Snapdragons, Smashing Orange, Fatal Charm, Deluxe, Steamkings, Greenhouse, Richard H. Kirk, Dig Vis Drill, Screaming Trees, The Montgomery Clifts, Berkeley, Torsohorse, Brody, Zoot and the Roots, The Exuberants, UV POP, Midnight Choir, They Must Be Russians, B.Troop, The Emotionals, Leafeater, The Junk, Soberskin, Pemberton Grange, Tadpole, Sound Junkies, Moneypenny, Lucigenic, Morph, Ward C, The North and Popkomm. Native was also connected with Ozone Recordings. A notable business and artist-development event occurred in January 1989, when the label signed Nine Inch Nails. Native later released the band from its contract after TVT Records offered a better deal. The incident is significant not because Nine Inch Nails became a long-term Native act, but because it demonstrates how independent labels could support emerging artists before a larger label or distributor assumed the relationship. The wider distribution environment changed in 1989 when the Cartel collapsed. Native subsequently moved its distribution to Polydor Records and later to Pinnacle Records. The label later presented part of its historic output through the nine-track compilation "Shame on You – The Native Recordings," identified by catalogue number NTV 44. In 2018, Cherry Red Records acquired Witchwood Media's catalogue, a transaction that included the Native and Inevitable Records catalogues. This placed Native's historical recordings within Cherry Red's broader specialist catalogue portfolio. Available reference material does not provide enough information to determine whether Native Records continues as an actively releasing label, nor does it identify a current management team, independent corporate structure or official website.

• 2018

  Native catalogue enters Cherry Red's catalogue portfolio

  [1]Native Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Cherry Red Records acquires Witchwood Media's catalogue, including the Native and Inevitable Records catalogues.

• 1989

  Distribution changes after the Cartel collapse

  [1]Native Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  After the Cartel collapses, Native's distribution moves to Polydor Records and later to Pinnacle Records.

• 1989

  Native signs and releases Nine Inch Nails

  [1]Native Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Native signs Nine Inch Nails in January but releases the group from its contract when TVT Records offers a more attractive deal.

• 1985

  Native Records is founded in Sheffield

  [1]Native Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Kevin Donoghue establishes Native Records after leaving RCA Records and while working at the Music Factory as a sound engineer and record producer.

A Sheffield-rooted independent label focused on alternative, underground and developing artists, operating through specialist British and European distribution networks.

• Catalogue compilation

  Shame on You – The Native Recordings

  A nine-track compilation marketed by Native Records to present material from its historical catalogue. The compilation is identified by catalogue number NTV 44 and functions as a retrospective overview of the label's recorded output rather than a single-artist release.

• Singles

  The Darling Buds singles

  Native released two singles by The Darling Buds before the band moved to Epic Records. These releases are among the label's documented early artist-development and catalogue activities.

• Recorded music catalogue · 1985

  Native Records artist catalogue

  Native's broader catalogue contains singles and other recordings by alternative, indie, post-punk, electronic and experimental artists, including Treebound Story, Fatal Charm, Richard H. Kirk, UV POP, Screaming Trees and numerous other acts.

• 1989

  Release Nine Inch Nails from Native's contractStrategy

  Background

  Native Records had signed Nine Inch Nails in January 1989, but TVT Records subsequently offered the group a better deal.

  Action taken

  Native released Nine Inch Nails from its contract, allowing the band to pursue the TVT arrangement.

  Aftermath

  Nine Inch Nails did not remain a Native act. The episode became an example of the label's role in the early development and transfer of an artist to a larger industry partner.

  Source

• 1989

  Change distribution partners after the Cartel collapseStrategy

  Background

  Native's original distribution arrangements included the Cartel and Red Rhino Records, but the Cartel collapsed in 1989.

  Action taken

  The label moved distribution to Polydor Records and subsequently to Pinnacle Records.

  Aftermath

  The change preserved routes to market through larger or specialist distribution partners, although the available reference material does not provide detailed commercial results.

  Source

1. 1Native Recordsen.wikipedia.org