GRT Records
 | It has been suggested that GRT Records (U.S. label) be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2015. |
GRT Records was a Canadian record label that existed from 1969 to 1979.[1]
History
GRT Records, legally known as GRT of Canada Ltd., was established as the Canadian subsidiary of General Recorded Tape, a California-based company. It was initially based in London, Ontario, as a Canadian distributor of 4-track and 8-track tapes produced in the United States.[1] The company was specifically established to produce records of Canadian artists.[2] Its founding president was Ross Reynolds, who later was the president of MCA Records Canada.[3]
The company was relocated to Toronto, Ontario in 1969, and commenced distributing foreign label records and tapes, as well as recording its own artists. By 1976, the foreign labels distributed by GRT in Canada included ABC Records, Dunhill Records, Island Records, Chess Records, Festival Records, Richesse Classique, Westminster Records, America Records, Impulse Records, Musidisc Records,[1] Janus Records, 20th Century Fox Records and Sire Records[4] In addition to releasing records under the GRT label, other Canadian labels distributed included Axe Records and Daffodil Records.[1] Notable Canadian artists whose records were released by GRT included Dan Hill, Ian Thomas, Downchild Blues Band, Lighthouse, Prism[1] and FM.[5]
GRT Records went bankrupt in 1979,[5] with significant effects on the career progress of certain Canadian artists. The second album release of FM had been scheduled for release one week subsequent to the GRT Records bankruptcy.[6] The Canadian band Prism had sold in excess of 200,000 copies of their album Armageddon, which was released the same year as the GRT bankruptcy. Both 8-track tapes and records by The Ramones were remaindered as a result of the GRT bankruptcy. Paradoxically, the remaindering of Ramones music in Canada is regarded as having contributed to the band's popularity in that country,[4] since their music was discovered by persons who would not otherwise have purchased the music at full price.
References
- ^ a b c d e Richard Green, GRT of Canada, Ltd.; The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
- ^ Uncredited, GRT, Canada, Go Into Disks, Distribute Five More Labels. Billboard, August 9, 1969, p. 94. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
- ^ National Music Centre, Profile of Ross Reynolds. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
- ^ a b Ramones on Vinyl! Ramones and GRT: The Final Chapter. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
- ^ a b Paul Wentworth, Interview With Cameron Hawkins; The FM Archive. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
- ^ Canadian Pop Encyclopedia, Biography of FM. Retrieved 2013-03-03