[1] ROIR was founded the same year that the Sony Walkman launched, and initially, the label exclusively distributed its releases in cassette format.

ROIR released its first cassette, by James Chance and the Contortions, in 1981.

Most of ROIR's early catalog consists of punk rock and no wave releases by artists such as Suicide, Glenn Branca, and Lydia Lunch.

The label later branched out into other genres including hardcore punk, reggae, ska, psychedelia and dub.

ROIR released early recordings by Bad Brains (Bad Brains),[3] Beastie Boys, Einstürzende Neubauten (2X4), Flipper (Blow'n Chunks), MC5, GG Allin, New York Dolls, Suns of Arqa, Prince Far I, Television, The Legendary Pink Dots, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, The Stimulators, and The Skatalites (Stretching Out).