Young
A British independent record label within the Beggars Group, known for developing artists including the xx, FKA twigs, Jamie xx, Sampha and Koreless.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Young is a British independent record label based in the United Kingdom and associated with the Beggars Group. The label was established in 2006 by Caius Pawson, initially as a small imprint operating within XL Recordings. It was originally called Young Turks, a name Pawson had encountered through the title of a 1981 Rod Stewart song and through the phrase's association with rebellious youth. The label later shortened its name to Young in April 2021 after acknowledging that the historical meaning of “Young Turks” was connected to a political movement and that the name could cause hurt or confusion, particularly in relation to the movement's role in the Armenian genocide. Young accompanied the change with a donation of an undisclosed amount to the Armenian Institute in London. The label's early identity was closely connected to electronic music, forward-looking pop and alternative music. Before founding the imprint, Pawson had organized all-night dance events under the Young Turks name and supplied DJs and sound equipment. After one of his parties was raided by police and his equipment was seized, he moved into A&R work at XL Recordings. This experience led to the creation of the label with Katie O'Neill and Tic. Young subsequently developed from an XL imprint into a larger operation and became a 50/50 venture with XL Recordings, while remaining part of the wider Beggars ecosystem. Young's most important early breakthrough came with the xx. The label released the band's debut album, “xx,” in 2009. The record's sparse production, restrained vocals and minimalist guitar arrangements attracted wide critical attention, and it won the Mercury Prize in 2010. The success established Young as a credible home for artists working outside conventional pop formulas and helped define its reputation for combining commercial reach with experimental or distinctive artistic identities. The label's roster and associated activities have expanded across indie rock, electronic music, alternative pop, contemporary R&B, jazz and experimental music. Artists associated with its current roster include the xx, FKA twigs, Sampha, Jamie xx, Koreless, Kamasi Washington and John Maus. In addition to releasing recordings, the Young operation has expanded into artist management through Young Artists and music publishing through Young Songs. Its affiliated label activities have also included the imprint that began as Whities, a white-label project for Young artists and later developed into AD 93, with a focus that broadened from club and techno music into alternative and experimental work. AD 93 also launched the Lith Dolina sub-label in 2021. Young operates internationally through the distribution, infrastructure and market reach associated with Beggars Group and its relationship with XL Recordings. Its core business is the discovery, development, release and promotion of recorded music, supplemented by artist management and publishing. The label's identity is based less on a single genre than on a preference for artist-led projects, distinctive production and boundary-crossing contemporary music.
History
Young began with Caius Pawson's involvement in London's late-night dance culture. In 2004, Pawson supplied DJs and sound equipment for all-night parties promoted under the Young Turks name. After police raided one of the events and confiscated his equipment, Pawson moved into A&R at XL Recordings. He subsequently used that experience to establish a small label within XL in 2006, working with Katie O'Neill and Tic. The imprint initially operated under the Young Turks name and developed within the broader XL and Beggars Group infrastructure. Its activities were initially associated with electronic and dance music, but the label soon became known for a wider selection of progressive independent music. Over time, the relationship with XL developed into a 50/50 venture. Young also broadened its business beyond recordings by establishing Young Artists for management and Young Songs for publishing. A major turning point came in 2009, when Young released the xx's debut album, “xx.” The album's minimal sound and understated performances gained substantial critical recognition, culminating in the group receiving the 2010 Mercury Prize. This success gave the label a stronger international profile and reinforced its reputation for supporting artists with distinctive approaches to songwriting, production and presentation. Young's subsequent artist community has included the xx, FKA twigs, Sampha, Jamie xx, Koreless, Kamasi Washington and John Maus. The associated label activity that began as Whities also evolved beyond its original white-label function. It became a more established imprint focused first on club and techno releases and later on alternative and experimental music, changing its name to AD 93 in June 2020. AD 93 launched the Lith Dolina sub-label in 2021. In April 2021, Pawson announced that Young Turks would henceforth be called Young. He explained that the original name had been chosen for its perceived connection with rebellious youth and the Rod Stewart song, but that further discussion had made him aware of its association with the early twentieth-century political movement known as the Young Turks. Because that history included responsibility for violence connected to the Armenian genocide, the label concluded that changing the name was appropriate. Young also announced an undisclosed donation to the Armenian Institute in London. Today, Young remains a British independent label operating within the Beggars Group and in partnership with XL Recordings. Its scope includes record releases, artist development, management and publishing. The label's catalog and roster span alternative pop, indie rock, electronic music, contemporary R&B, jazz and experimental work, with an emphasis on artist identity and long-term creative development.
- 2021
Young Turks becomes Young
[1]The label changed its name to Young and announced a donation to the Armenian Institute in London.
- 2020
Whities becomes AD 93
[1]The affiliated Whities imprint changed its name to AD 93 amid the Black Lives Matter period and continued developing its alternative and experimental music focus.
- 2010
xx wins the Mercury Prize
[1]The xx's debut album received the Mercury Prize, raising Young's profile in the British and international music industries.
- 2009
The xx release xx
[1]Young released the xx's debut album, a landmark project in the label's early catalog.
- 2006
Label founded within XL Recordings
[1]Caius Pawson established the Young Turks imprint at XL Recordings with Katie O'Neill and Tic.
- 2004
Young Turks parties begin
[1]Caius Pawson supplied DJs and equipment for a series of all-night dance events using the Young Turks name.
Products and positioning
Artist-led independent label focused on innovative electronic, alternative, experimental, pop, R&B and jazz-oriented music.
Record label releases · 2006
Recorded music
Young releases albums, singles and EPs by artists working across alternative pop, indie rock, electronic, contemporary R&B, jazz and experimental music. The label's catalog is characterized by artist-led projects and a willingness to support distinctive production and songwriting rather than a narrowly defined genre format.
Artist management
Young Artists
Young Artists is the label's associated artist-management operation, extending the business beyond recording contracts into career development and representation.
Music publishing
Young Songs
Young Songs is the associated publishing arm, allowing the wider Young operation to participate in the administration and exploitation of songwriting and composition rights.
Album · 2009
xx
The xx's debut album was released by Young in 2009. Its sparse, atmospheric production and restrained performance style became a major critical success and helped establish Young's reputation as a home for unconventional and highly distinctive artists.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Young Turks to Young name change
United Kingdom · International
The label publicly explained that its former name had acquired troubling historical associations and that the organization had reconsidered the effect of continuing to use it.
Outcome. The label adopted Young as its name and announced an undisclosed donation to the Armenian Institute in London.
Brand decisions
2021
Rename the label from Young Turks to YoungStrategyBackground
The label determined that the former name's historical association with the Young Turk political movement could cause hurt and confusion, despite its original use being tied to rebellious youth and a popular song.
Action taken
Caius Pawson announced the new name, Young, and said the label would make a donation to the Armenian Institute in London.
Aftermath
Young continued operating within Beggars Group under the new identity.
2020
Whities becomes AD 93StrategyBackground
The affiliated imprint reconsidered its name during the 2020 Black Lives Matter uprisings.
Action taken
The imprint changed its name from Whities to AD 93 and continued broadening its musical remit beyond club and techno music.
Aftermath
AD 93 developed as an affiliated label for alternative and experimental releases and later introduced the Lith Dolina sub-label.
Recent events
Young launches Young Then archival platform[3]
Reported:
Independent label Young launched Young Then, an online platform for the label’s history and future work, featuring archival material and previously unreleased content.
Sources3 sources
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