Young

Young is a British independent electronic and pop label based in London. It is home to Robyn, Two Shell, and 1000 Rabbits. The label's 2026 releases include Two Shell's Infinite Now (October 16, 2026), 1000 Rabbits' Are we friends yet? (May 7, 2026) and Virgin Soil (February 17, 2026), and Robyn's Sexistential (March 27, 2026). Young focuses on avant-garde electronic pop and club-influenced music.

Young was founded in 2006 by Caius Pawson as an imprint of XL Recordings, originally under the name Young Turks. The label changed its name to Young in April 2021 after Pawson became aware of the term's association with the Armenian Genocide. The label made a donation to the Armenian Institute in London as part of the name change. Young is now a 50/50 venture with XL Recordings and sits within the Beggars Group of labels. The label operates an artist management company (Young Artists) and a publishing company (Young Songs) alongside the record label, employing 33 people across 9 countries from its East London headquarters.

Robyn's "Honey" (2018) was her first album released through Young. The music video for the title track was directed by Max Vitali, who previously directed Robyn's "Call Your Girlfriend" video. Robyn cast fans through an open call on Twitter, seeking a "diverse cast of interesting and expressive people" who "love to dance to music in their own way." The video has accumulated over 2.9 million views on Robyn's VEVO channel.

Young built its reputation on curating avant-garde electronic pop and club-influenced music. Its signing of Robyn (whose Honey album was released through Young) established the label's credibility in electronic pop. Two Shell's anonymous, genre-blending electronic music and 1000 Rabbits' experimental output represent the label's continued commitment to avant-garde electronic music. The label's 2026 release schedule shows continued investment in its core roster.

Notable Artists and Releases

Young's catalog spans two decades of alternative, electronic, and pop music. The label has built a roster that includes Mercury Prize winners and nominees alongside developing avant-garde acts. Its most significant artists and releases include:

• Robyn (active): The Swedish pop icon released her eighth studio album "Honey" (2018) through Young, her first release on the label. The album was supported by the singles "Missing U" and "Honey." Her ninth studio album "Sexistential" was released on March 27, 2026 through Konichiwa Records and Young. The album runs 29 minutes 27 seconds across 9 tracks and was produced with Klas Ahlund, Elvira Anderfjard, Jonathan Bates, Oscar Holter, and Joseph Mount. It was supported by the singles "Dopamine" (November 2025), "Sexistential"/"Talk to Me" (January 2026), and "Blow My Mind" (March 2026).
• The xx (active): Signed to Young (then Young Turks) in the late 2000s. Their self-titled debut album "xx" (2009) won the Mercury Prize. "Coexist" (2012) debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. "I See You" (2017) reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and number two on the US Billboard 200.
• FKA twigs (active): Signed to Young. "LP1" (2014) was nominated for the Mercury Prize. "Magdalene" (2019) and "Eusexua" (2025) followed. Her releases on Young are distributed through Atlantic Records in the US.
• Sampha (active): Signed to Young. "Process" (2017) won the Mercury Prize. "Lahai" (2023) was his second album on the label.
• Jamie xx (active): Signed to Young. Solo album "In Colour" (2015) was nominated for the Mercury Prize. "In Waves" (2024) was his second solo release on the label.
• Two Shell (active): Anonymous London electronic duo. "home" (2022) has over 200,000 views on their YouTube channel. Releases include the "Lil Spirits" EP and singles "GHOST2," "Pods," and "Oops..." (March 2025). The duo also releases on their own Mainframe Audio label. Their 2026 release "Infinite Now" is scheduled for October 16, 2026 on Young.
• 1000 Rabbits (active): Formed in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Debut single "Virgin Soil" (February 17, 2026) on Young. Debut EP "Are we friends yet?" (May 7, 2026) on Young, featuring singles "Virgin Soil" and "Rubik's Cube." The band played over 50 shows in 18 months before signing, including performances at The George Tavern and Brixton Windmill in London.
• Kamasi Washington (active): Jazz saxophonist. "The Epic" (2015) and "Heaven and Earth" (2018) released on Young.
• Koreless (active): Electronic producer. "Agor" (2021) released on Young.
• John Maus (active): Synth-pop artist. "Screen Memories" (2017) and "Addendum" (2018) released on Young.

Two Shell's "home" (2022) was released on Young and has accumulated over 200,000 views on the duo's YouTube channel. The track blends hyperpop, club, and electronic elements, reflecting the label's curatorial approach to avant-garde electronic music.

1000 Rabbits' debut single "Virgin Soil" was released on February 17, 2026 on Young. The band described the track as representing "the band's beginnings: experimenting together and making music with no rules." The single was released digitally and as a limited multicolour 7" vinyl with a screen-printed sleeve.

How Young Operates

Young runs dedicated A&R from its London headquarters. The label is highly selective and signs artists with a distinct avant-garde electronic or club-influenced identity. Its model is built around curatorial consistency rather than commercial trends. The label's strength is its ability to attract established electronic pop artists (Robyn) while developing newer avant-garde acts (Two Shell, 1000 Rabbits).

Deal Structures and Royalties

Young operates on standard independent label terms within the Beggars Group infrastructure. Typical deal structures include:

• Traditional recording deal: Young funds recording, marketing, and distribution through Beggars Group's network. Artists receive an advance against royalties. Independent label royalty rates within Beggars Group typically range from 18% to 25% of suggested retail price, higher than major-label rates but with smaller advances. Standard deductions apply for packaging, free goods, and video costs.
• Master ownership: Young typically owns master recordings for the deal term. Beggars Group labels have a history of reverting master ownership to artists after a defined period or allowing artists to buy back their catalogs, though this is negotiated case by case.
• Creative control: Young is known for giving artists significant creative latitude. The label does not impose A&R-driven commercial direction on its signings, which is a major reason artists like The xx, FKA twigs, and Sampha have remained with the label for their entire careers.
• Distribution through Beggars Group: Young releases are distributed globally through Beggars Group's independent distribution network, which includes Redeye Distribution in the US, PIAS in Europe, and Beat Records in Japan. Atlantic Records handles FKA twigs releases in the US.
• 360 provisions: Young's deals may include provisions for a percentage of touring and merchandising revenue, though these are generally less aggressive than major-label 360 deals. The Beggars Group model tends to focus on recording revenue rather than extracting percentages from all artist income streams.
• Publishing and management: Through Young Songs (publishing) and Young Artists (management), the label can offer integrated services beyond the traditional recording deal. These are separate companies and artists are not required to use them.

Artists considering Young should understand that the label signs very few artists per year. The roster is curated rather than volume-driven. The label's reputation for artistic credibility means that a Young signing carries weight in music criticism and independent radio, but the advances are smaller than what major labels offer.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you make avant-garde electronic pop or club-influenced music with a distinct artistic identity, Young is a respected British independent label in that space. Its track record with Robyn and Two Shell shows it can work with both established and developing electronic artists.

Drawbacks and Things to Consider

• Highly selective: Young signs very few artists each year.
• No unsolicited demos: Young does not accept cold submissions.
• Avant-garde focus: Young favors avant-garde electronic and club-influenced music. Mainstream pop or underground techno artists may find it less relevant.
• Small team: A boutique operation has limited marketing bandwidth.

Related Resources

• Record Label Contracts Explained - What a Young deal contains
• Independent Labels vs Major Labels - The boutique electronic model
• How to Get a Record Deal in 2026 - Building an electronic profile
• XL Recordings - Young's 50/50 venture partner and former parent imprint
• Beggars Group - Young's parent group within the Beggars network
• Warp Records - A comparable British independent electronic label
• Ninja Tune - A comparable British independent electronic label
• Transgressive Records - A related UK indie label
• Domino Recording Company - A comparable British independent label
• Young Official Site - Roster and releases