RTC (record label)

The label was started in the late 1970s by John McCready, Brian Pitts, and Warwick Woodward.Audio Culture 4 May 2016 [http://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/john-mccready/stories/john-mccready-part-3-the-cbs-years John McCready part 3 - the CBS years - Murray Cammick]Audio Culture 19 May 2016 [http://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/john-mccready John McCready Profile Murray Cammick] While still a fledgling indie distributor, they had Kama Fitzgerald in their employ who had previously worked for PolyGram marketing manager Stuart Rubin.Audio Culture 21 May 2014 [http://www.audioculture.co.nz/scenes/ripitup RipItUp - Murray Cammick] In 1980, it was reported by Phil Gifford in the October 11 issue of Billboard that as an independent NZ label they had made a first. With the artists on their label having both an album and single at no 1 on the NZ charts, it was the first time an Independent label in New Zealand had achieved this. The album at the top of the charts was Black Sea by XTC, and the single was "Food For Thought" by UB 40.Billboard October 11, 1980 [https://books.google.com/books?id=EiUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=RTC+Billboard&pg=PT87 Page 58 International, New Zealand Success, Indi RTC Bucks $ Slump With LP And Single Clicks - By Phil Gifford] In 1981, it was reported by Glenn A. Baker in the September 19 edition of Billboard that the Australian Liberation label was sub-licensing recordings to RTC. However one act Mink DeVille, was to be excluded and instead be given to WEA New Zealand, due to its managing director Tim Murdoch having a personal interest in the band.Billboard September 19, 1981 [https://books.google.com/books?id=AiUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=RTC+Billboard+New+Zealand&pg=PT94 Page 72 International, Australian New Music Liberation Label Bows By Glenn A. Baker] In 1982, the label's way they packaged limited edition albums and singles worked well. In a week, the limited edition 7 inch picture sleeves of the groups Heaven 17 and were sold out.Billboard, June 12, 1982 [https://books.google.com/books?id=GCQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=RTC+Records+New+Zealand&pg=PT65 A/NZ - 16 New Zealanders]

As of 1979, the managing director of the label was Brian Pitts. The Promotions manager was Kama Fitzgerald.Billboard December 1, 1979 [https://books.google.com/books?id=ECQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Brian+Pitts+RTC&pg=PT49 Page 46, International, Virgin Acts, New Zealand Package For U.K. Outlets - By Phil Gifford]

Kevin Blackatini And The Frigids were an outfit that had a novelty hit in 1981 with "The Fridge", which was a parody of "The Bridge" which was previously a hit for Deane Waretini. Kevin Blackatini was actually Kevin Black from Auckland radio station, Radio Hauraki.45cat [http://www.45cat.com/record/kevs1 Record Details, Artist: Kevin Blackatini And The Frigids]NZ On Screen [https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/kevin-blackatini-and-the-frigids/artist Kevin Blackatini and the Frigids]

Auckland band, Gary Havoc & The Hurricanes, had an EP/mini-album issued on the label in 1979,National Library of New Zealand [https://natlib.govt.nz/records/21234981?search%5Bpath%5D=items&search%5Btext%5D=Gary+Havoc Gary Havoc & the Hurricanes (sound recording)]Discogs [https://www.discogs.com/Gary-Havoc-The-Hurricanes-Havoc/release/6595787 Gary Havoc & The Hurricanes – Havoc!] The credited musicians on the recording were Havoc on guitar and vocals, John Treseder on lead guitar, Gavin Beardsmore on bass, and Graeme Scott on drums.Discogs [https://www.discogs.com/Gary-Havoc-The-Hurricanes-Havoc/release/6595787 Gary Havoc & The Hurricanes – Havoc!] Drummer Gary Hunt had left to join the Terrorways.All Music [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/terrorways-mn0001831428 Terrorways Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny] According to John Dix, in his book Stranded in Paradise: New Zealand Rock'n'Roll, 1955-1988, the group have noted as being responsible for being one of the first, if not the first New Zealand band to self-finance their record and be successful with it, which had a flow on effect for other bands.Stranded in Paradise: New Zealand Rock'n'roll, 1955-1988, by John Dix, Page 219, Page 294 They received an IRANZ award for their EP.Kiwi Concert Date Archive Saturday, June 18, 2011 [http://kiwiconcertdatearchive.blogspot.com/2011/06/gary-havoc-and-hurricanes.html Gary Havoc and the Hurricanes] In the mid 1980s, Havoc teamed up with singer / keyboardist Suzie Divine, calling themselves Desire. They released a record on WEA in 1985 which featured Mark Huckstep and Robbie Robertson on bass and Simon Hannah and Mark Hansen on drums.Elsewhere Jul 30, 2014 [http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/fromthevaults/6481/desire-broken-heart-1985/ Desire: Broken Heart (1985]Gary Havoc website [http://www.garyhavoc.com/gallery%20-%201.htm Gary Havoc Gallery 1]

Some of the international artists marketed by the label include Ian Matthews whose single "Shake It" RTC RTS 701 had climbed from no 28 to 19.45cat [http://www.45cat.com/record/rts701 Record Details, Catalogue: RTS 701]Billboard March 17, 1979 [https://books.google.com/books?id=ISUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=RTC+Billboard+New+Zealand&pg=PT122 Page 95 Billboard Hits Of The World, New Zealand] Others include Joy Division.Billboard 12 June 1982 [https://books.google.com/books?id=GCQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Kama+Fitzgerald%22&pg=PT65 A/NZ-16 New Zealanders, Radio]

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Category:New Zealand independent record labels