Beggars Group
British independent music company founded in 1977, operating multiple record labels including 4AD, XL Recordings, Matador Records, and Young Turks.
Company Type
private
Founded
1977
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
About Beggars Group
Who owns Beggars Group?
Beggars Group is privately owned by Martin Mills, who co-founded the company in 1977 and serves as chairman. The company has no parent organization and is not affiliated with any major label or media conglomerate.
Beggars Group is privately owned by Martin Mills, who co-founded the company in 1977 and serves as chairman. The company has no parent organization and is not affiliated with any major label or media conglomerate.
Is Beggars Group publicly traded?
No. Beggars Group is a privately held company and is not listed on any stock exchange.
No. Beggars Group is a privately held company and is not listed on any stock exchange.
What labels does Beggars Group own?
Beggars Group owns 4AD, XL Recordings, Matador Records, Rough Trade Records, Young Turks, and Beggars Banquet Records, among others.
Beggars Group owns 4AD, XL Recordings, Matador Records, Rough Trade Records, Young Turks, and Beggars Banquet Records, among others.
What artists are signed to Beggars Group labels?
Beggars Group labels have released music by Adele (XL Recordings), The xx (Young Turks/XL), Vampire Weekend (XL), Pavement (Matador), Yo La Tengo (Matador), Cocteau Twins (4AD), The National (4AD), and many others.
Beggars Group labels have released music by Adele (XL Recordings), The xx (Young Turks/XL), Vampire Weekend (XL), Pavement (Matador), Yo La Tengo (Matador), Cocteau Twins (4AD), The National (4AD), and many others.
When was Beggars Group founded?
Beggars Group was founded in 1977 by Martin Mills and Nick Austin as Beggars Banquet Records, a record shop and label in London.
Beggars Group was founded in 1977 by Martin Mills and Nick Austin as Beggars Banquet Records, a record shop and label in London.
Why has Beggars Group remained independent?
Martin Mills has consistently stated that independence allows the company to make decisions based on artistic merit and long-term artist relationships rather than short-term commercial pressures. The company has declined acquisition offers from major labels throughout its history.
Martin Mills has consistently stated that independence allows the company to make decisions based on artistic merit and long-term artist relationships rather than short-term commercial pressures. The company has declined acquisition offers from major labels throughout its history.
History of Beggars Group
Martin Mills and Nick Austin founded Beggars Banquet Records in 1977 as a small record shop and label in London. The company initially focused on punk and new wave music. Early signings included Gary Numan, whose 1979 album Replicas and single "Are 'Friends' Electric?" were major commercial successes.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Beggars Group expanded through the creation and acquisition of multiple labels. 4AD was founded in 1980 and became known for its distinctive visual aesthetic and artists including Cocteau Twins, The Pixies, and Throwing Muses. XL Recordings was founded in 1989, initially focused on electronic and dance music, before expanding to sign artists including The Prodigy, Radiohead (for some releases), Adele, and Jack White. Matador Records, an American indie rock label founded in 1989, was acquired by Beggars Group in stages.
Rough Trade Records, founded in 1978 and associated with artists including The Smiths and The Strokes, became part of the Beggars Group distribution network. Young Turks, a subsidiary of XL Recordings, was established to sign emerging artists.
Beggars Group has consistently declined acquisition offers from major labels, maintaining its independence as a core principle. The company's success with Adele's 21 (2011) and 25 (2015) demonstrated that independent labels could compete commercially with major label releases at the highest level.
Brands Owned by Beggars Group
Beggars Group owns 3 brands in our database.
Matador Records
Owned by Beggars Group
American independent record label founded in 1989, known for releasing music by artists including Interpol, Belle and Sebastian, and Queens of the Stone Age.
record-labelindependent-musicamerican-label
Rough Trade Records
Owned by Beggars Group
British independent record label founded in 1978, known for releasing music by punk, post-punk, and indie artists including The Smiths and The Fall.
record-labelindependent-musicpunk-music
XL Recordings
Owned by Beggars Group
British independent record label founded in 1989, known for releasing music by artists including Adele, Radiohead, and The Prodigy.
record-labelindependent-musicbritish-label
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Beggars Group Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Complete independence from major label corporate ownership allows artist-focused decision-making
- +Portfolio of critically acclaimed and commercially successful labels with deep catalogs
- +XL Recordings' release of Adele's albums demonstrated the commercial potential of independent labels at the highest level
- +Long-term artist relationships built on trust and artistic integrity
- +Strong global distribution network and streaming presence
Considerations
- -Smaller financial resources than major labels limit advances and marketing budgets for new signings
- -Dependence on a relatively small number of high-profile artists for a significant share of revenue
- -Competition from major labels with greater resources for artist acquisition
- -Streaming royalty rates remain a structural challenge for all music companies, including independents
- -Succession planning for a founder-led company with Martin Mills as controlling owner
Frequently Asked Questions About Beggars Group
Who owns Beggars Group?
Beggars Group is privately owned by Martin Mills, who co-founded the company in 1977 and serves as chairman. The company has no parent organization and is not affiliated with any major label or media conglomerate.
Is Beggars Group publicly traded?
No. Beggars Group is a privately held company and is not listed on any stock exchange.
What labels does Beggars Group own?
Beggars Group owns 4AD, XL Recordings, Matador Records, Rough Trade Records, Young Turks, and Beggars Banquet Records, among others.
What artists are signed to Beggars Group labels?
Beggars Group labels have released music by Adele (XL Recordings), The xx (Young Turks/XL), Vampire Weekend (XL), Pavement (Matador), Yo La Tengo (Matador), Cocteau Twins (4AD), The National (4AD), and many others.
When was Beggars Group founded?
Beggars Group was founded in 1977 by Martin Mills and Nick Austin as Beggars Banquet Records, a record shop and label in London.
Why has Beggars Group remained independent?
Martin Mills has consistently stated that independence allows the company to make decisions based on artistic merit and long-term artist relationships rather than short-term commercial pressures. The company has declined acquisition offers from major labels throughout its history.
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