Beggars Group

United Kingdom • LondonFounded 1977

Beggars Group is the UK's largest independent music company, founded in 1977 by Martin Mills in London. It owns or co-owns XL Recordings (51%), 4AD (100%), Matador Records (50%), Rough Trade Records (50%), and Young. In 2024 it reported revenue of GBP 109.9 million ($140.4 million), up 6.5% year over year, and transferred ownership to a trust to preserve its independence.

Contact & HQ

Headquarters

17 Alma Road, London, UK

Ownership & Distribution

Label Type

Independent Label Group

Parent Company

Beggars Group Trust

Distribution

Independent (in-house and partner distribution worldwide)

Additional Details

Genres

IndieAlternativeElectronicRockPop

Signing Process

Beggars Group does not sign artists at the group level. Each label (XL, 4AD, Matador, Rough Trade, Young) runs its own A&R. Demos are typically not accepted unsolicited. Artists are signed through A&R scouting, manager or attorney referrals, and existing relationships.

Demo Policy

No unsolicited demos at the group level. Check individual labels for any open submission policies.

Notable Artists

Adele (XL)
The Prodigy (XL)
Fontaines D.C. (XL)
Arctic Monkeys (Domino, distributed)
Big Thief (4AD)
Queens of the Stone Age (Matador)

Sub-Labels / Imprints

XL Recordings4ADMatador RecordsRough Trade RecordsYoungBeggars Banquet Records

Beggars Group is the UK's largest independent music company, founded in 1977 by Martin Mills in London. It owns or co-owns XL Recordings (now a 51% subsidiary after Beggars acquired the additional stake in October 2024), 4AD (100%), Matador Records (50%), Rough Trade Records (50%), and Young. In 2024 the group reported revenue of GBP 109.9 million ($140.4 million), up 6.5% year over year, with operating profit jumping 49%. In October 2024, ownership was transferred to a trust to preserve the company's independence.

Beggars is the model of a successful independent group. It built its reputation on alternative and electronic music and has remained independent while competing with major labels for prestige signings. Its labels have released albums by Adele, The Prodigy, Fontaines D.C., Big Thief, Queens of the Stone Age, and many others.

How Beggars Is Structured

Each label operates independently with its own A&R and identity:

XL Recordings (51% owned) is the most commercially successful, home to Adele and The Prodigy.
4AD (100% owned) focuses on alternative and art-pop (Big Thief, Future Islands).
Matador Records (50% owned) is the US-based indie rock label (Queens of the Stone Age, Interpol).
Rough Trade Records (50% owned) has a historic independent identity.
Young handles niche and experimental signings.

Beggars also has a publishing wing (Beggars Music) and a catalog imprint (Beggars Banquet Records).

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Beggars is the gold standard for independent label groups. Its labels offer major-label-quality marketing and global distribution while preserving artist-friendly deal terms and creative control. If you make alternative, indie, electronic, or art-pop music, a Beggars label is among the best possible homes.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

Selective signing: Beggars labels sign very few new artists each year. Getting in requires real traction or a strong referral.
No group-level demos: You must approach a specific label, not Beggars itself.
Indie does not mean cheap: Beggars labels offer competitive advances but still take master ownership in traditional deals (XL's Adele deal is a notable exception with its unique structure).
Trust ownership changes governance: The 2024 transfer to a trust preserves independence but changes how decisions are made long-term.