Virgin had been releasing reggae records since BB Seaton's "Dancing Shoes" in 1974.
[1] By 1975, label owner Richard Branson had begun signing roots reggae artists, and in the three years that followed, Virgin released successful albums by the likes of U-Roy, The Mighty Diamonds, Keith Hudson, Johnny Clarke, Peter Tosh, and I Roy.
[1] Johnny Rotten is rumoured to have signed with Virgin because of the company's progressive policy towards reggae.
[1] In 1978, Branson decided to form a subsidiary label dedicated wholly to reggae, and called this Front Line.
[2] Front Line folded after two years although some of the artists remained signed to Virgin.