DRO Records was founded in Spain in 1982 by members of the band Aviador Dro. The label, which was one of the earliest independent labels in Spain, was created in order to give the band the resources to publish their music after being rejected by major labels. At the time, alternative music was emerging in Spain, especially around Madrid. DRO and other independent labels helped alternative artists distribute their music to wider audiences in the 1980s. Because of its role as a label for important artists during this time, the label has been called a pioneer of Spanish independent music. Many of the most successful Spanish artists of the 1980s were signed to DRO.