"Progressive" is a word that has often been associated with guitarist Robert Fripp.  Yet it is not only his rock with King Crimson and his pioneering solo work that has been of a progressive persuasion, but his sense of business - as evident from the words and deeds of his label, Discipline Global Mobile.

Since founding Discipline in 1993, Fripp has issued some 30 albums drawn from his solo work, King Crimson-related projects, and the efforts of such kindred spirits as the California Guitar Trio.  Last month saw the release of "Pathways," the California Guitar Trio's third Discipline disc, and "Absent Lovers," a two-disc archival set documenting the final concert of the 1981-84 model King Crimson.

Other recent issues include "Space Groove," from the King Crimson "fractal" Projeckt Two (featuring Fripp and Crimson bandmates Adrian Belew and Trey Gunn);
"The Nightwatch," a two-disc live recording of the 1973 Crimson in Amsterdam that was a hot bootleg for years; singer/songwriter Peter Hamill's "Everyone You Hold"; and Fripp's "November Suite," the latest in his series of solo ambient recordings, or soundscapes."

Discipline has been cultivating an international clientele for these records slowly but surely via mail order, sales at shows, and distribution by such companies as Rykodisc in the U.S., Pinnacle in the U.K., and Pony Canyon in Japan.

And all these activities have been marked by Fripp's outspoken wariness of the music industry-"the history of the music industry is a history of exploitation and theft," he says, adding that this view comes from his own hard-won lessons.  Last year, a bitter 71/2-year legal dispute over alleged nonpayment of royalties and other abuses was settled between Fripp and E.G., his former management/publishing/record company (and that of many other English progressive rock acts of the
'70s).

Most Discipline releases feature liner notes detailing Fripp's manifestos on the ethical pursuit of business; these highlight the fact that, contrary to "standard industry practice," artists who record for his label own the copyrights in their work and are paid higher-than-normal royalties without the arcane "new technology" or "breakage" deductions in most contracts.  As he puts it, age-old industry practices regarding copyrights, royalties, and general control over the artistic process "have always been questionable, often improper, and are now indefensible."

Fripp says that after the frustrating experience of the last King Crimson studio album (1995's "Thrak," on Virgin), he doubts that he'll "ever work that way again, under those business arrangements or in the outmoded, counterproductive fashion of a big rock tour and all the nonsense that surrounds it." The independent ethos of Discipline is all about "enabling music to come into the world despite all the conditions set up to deny it a place," he adds.  "We want to operate in the marketplace while being free of the values of the marketplace, which are often antithetical to real creativity."

Discipline is a small operation, with Fripp working alongside operations manager Diane Aldahl, label manager/recording engineer David Singleton, and four others in its Salisbury, England, headquarters.  The label also has a three-person office in Los Angeles, mainly for its Possible Productions mail-order "shop." Japan is Discipline's biggest retail market, with mail order representing 10% of the label's sales (yet half of its profits, Singleton says) ' The label's catalog with sound samples is up on its Internet site (www.discipline.co.uk), and each Discipline disc features a catalog as part of its enhanced CD features.

The Crimson-related elements of Discipline's catalog have proved the most popular so far, although "some of the more obscure albums sell surprisingly well," Singleton says.  "But our customers are our customers because they're not interested in the usual sort of thing."

Beyond the excellent series of King Crimson archival sets, "official bootlegs," and experimental offshoots, the highlights of the Discipline catalog include the Robert Fripp String Quintet's "A Bridge Between" (a meeting of Fripp, Gunn, and the California Guitar Trio that ranges from metallic Bach to intrepid new compositions) and Fripp's soundscape disc "A Blessing Of Tears" (a moving study of grief in abstraction dedicated to his late mother).  There is also the Europa String Choir's lovely "The Starving Moon" (due to be reissued in an expanded edition) and "The Acoustic Adrian Belew" (available only in Europe and Japan).

Future discs include two from renowned prog-rock guitarist Bill Nelson in September: the new album "Atom Shop" and the two-disc retrospective "What's Now, What's Next." Due in August is the budget-priced Discipline sampler "Sometimes God Smiles," the sequel to "Sometimes God Hides" from '96.  And early next year should bring the Discipline reissue of "The Great Deceiver," a boxed set devoted to the 1973-74 Crimson that was originally released by Virgin.  An official bootleg of the "King Crimson On Broadway" shows from '95 may also see light.

With King Crimson's 30th anniversary next January, several commemorative projects are in the works.  Fripp is working with Virgin to remaster the entire Crimson back catalog for reissue next year, and Discipline will release a live "greatest hits" compilation in November.  The band also may come together for some celebratory shows.

Although King Crimson-which comprises bassist Tony Levin, drummer Bill Bruford, and drummer Pat Mastelloto along with Fripp, singer/guitarist Belew, and "stick" virtuoso Gunn-hasn't convened since the Thrak world tour, its members have collaborated in alternate formations.  Projeckt One (Fripp, Levin, Bruford, Gunn) improvised over several nights last year in a London club and may release an album soon.  Projeckt Two played this spring in Japan in support of "Space Groove" and has been touring North America this summer, making in-store appearances along the way.

King Crimson, Gunn (supporting his Discipline solo set), and the California Guitar Trio have all played in-stores at Music Millennium in Portland, Ore., as has Fripp with both his soundscapes and its "Frippertronics" precursor of the late '70s.  "This store has a big history with Fripp and Crimson," says owner Terry Currier.  "And their fans are real record buyers-the 'Absent Lovers' set should do really well."

The fact that Discipline is as oriented toward process as product makes the label special, according to John Schaefer of WNYC-FM New York.  He has played a variety of Discipline discs on his "New Sounds" show, as well as hosted Fripp and sundry cohorts playing live.  And every airing brings feedback, he says: "Fripp has fans like just about nobody else-a lot of them will follow him wherever he leads."