Welcome to WRPM!

WRPM's 25th year starts on December 6th 2002

It was set up by Nicolle Freni and Tierl Thompson as part of the Women's Art Collective in 1977. Caroline Hutton bought it in 1979, and ran it as a sole trader enterprise, distributing many radical and feminist titles into larger music stores and bookshops as well as developing direct sales through mail order, women's music festivals and womens' events, peace festivals, conferences and other events.

Over the years, WRPM has built up a network of supportive and loyal followers introducing new musicians and innovatory work to the public. After 20 years Caroline gave up carting music around on public transport, setting up stalls at events all over the country, and has turned her attention to other things.

The WRPM archive containing copies of everything that passed through her hands, including vinyl, tapes, CDs and books, has been lodged with the City of Birmingham Library. WRPM is already referenced in the evolving canon of studies of music, sexuality and gender such as Frockrock by Mavis Bayton (OUP 1998) as well as the trade journals and directories.

In 1999 WRPM was taken on by Hilary Friend, based in Manchester and she is continuing the Archive. The website was launched in 2001 and reaches customers and supporters from Brazil to Poland to Australia.

WRPM is now a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. It aims to make music by women available to a wider public through the sales and distribution of music performed, composed and wherever possible produced by women, by supporting up women's music events and supplying educational resources.

WRPM offers a catalogue of recordings (CDs and tapes), books and resource packs in 12 main sections, including acappella, feminist and political, folk, world music.and women composers from the 11th century to the present day. Whether you like listening to music, you're a woman musician, we hope you find something of interest to you too. Do visit the WRPM Forum to tell the world about your interests and about WRPM in this anniversary year.

If you would like to have a WRPM stall at your event or WRPM stock in your library or shop, or with any other enquiry, do make contact by phone, email or post.

WRPM is at 7 Thornbridge Avenue, Chorlton, Manchester, UK