BANK ROBBER'S PUB ARM BUYS U.K.'S ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

The U.K.’s Rough Trade Publishing is being purchased by the pub arm of NYC-based Bank Robber Industries. BRI’s pub division, House of Hassle, will be merged with the venerable British shop under the Rough Trade banner, with offices in NYC, L.A., Nashville and London; BRI has bought 50% of RTP’s stock, with an option to gobble up the rest in two years.

BRI founder/HoH co-founder Lyle Hysen will ride herd on global ops as President, working alongside RTP operatives Gandhar Savur, Douglas Smith, Cathi Gibson, Matt Harris. Rough Trade founder Geoff Travis and longtime partner Jeannette Lee will sign on as Senior Directors of U.K. A&R.

Rough Trade began as a London record shop in 1975 and became one of the most influential labels in the punk/new wave era after its founding in 1978. RT’s pubco, launched in 1991, has been home to Animal Collective, The National, Violent Femmes, Slint, CRASS, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and La Tigre, among other pioneering acts.

House of Hassle was formed in 2007 by Bank Robber Industries and Big Hassle Media co-founder Ken Weinstein. The company counts The War on Drugs, Grizzly Bear, Matthew Caws, Minor Threat, Superchunk and other cool-ass acts on its roster.