{{Short description|British record label}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Use British English|date=October 2012}} {{Infobox company | name = XL Recordings | image = <!--XL Recordings Logo.svg--> | genre = Various | foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1989}} | parent = Beggars Group | founder = Tim Palmer and<br />Nick Halkes | key_people = Richard Russell <small>(CEO)</small> | location = {{hlist|London, England, United Kingdom|<br />New York, United States {{small|(satellite)}} }} | homepage = {{URL|xlrecordings.com}} | industry = Music & Entertainment }}
'''XL Recordings''' is a British independent record label founded in 1989 by Tim Palmer and Nick Halkes. It has been run and co-owned by Richard Russell since 1996. It forms part of the Beggars Group.
It releases an average of six albums a year. The label releases albums worldwide and operates across a range of genres.<ref>{{cite web|author=Tim Jonze |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/feb/16/richard-russell-xl-recordings-dizzee-rascal-prodigy |title=XL Recordings, the record label that's tearing up the rule book |work=The Guardian |date=16 February 2011 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref>
==History== ===1980s and 1990s=== Originally launched in 1989<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/vampire-weekend/49347l |title=Vampire Weekend top US albums chart |work=NME |date=21 January 2010 |access-date=2 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602071816/http://www.nme.com/news/vampire-weekend/49347l |archive-date=2 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> to release rave and dance music, the label began as an imprint of Beggars Banquet's more commercial dance label Citybeat, which was known for records by acts such as Freeez, Rob Base & EZ Rock, Starlight, Dream Frequency and the Ultramagnetic MCs. However, with the success of acts such as the Prodigy and SL2, XL superseded Citybeat in its lineup.
During the early 1990s, XL releases were dance-oriented, ranging from Belgian techno (T99's "Anasthasia") to breakbeat hardcore (SL2's "On a Ragga Tip")<ref name="LarkinDM">{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1998|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0252-6|page=371}}</ref> to drum and bass (Jonny L's "I'm Leavin'"). This period of XL's history has been recorded on the ''XL Recordings Chapters'' compilation series. In 1993, Halkes left XL to form the EMI-owned commercial dance label Positiva,<ref name="LarkinDM"/> and subsequently his own independent commercial dance label Incentive. After Palmer retired in 1996, Russell took over the business.<ref name="guardian2007" />
Russell later broadened the label's musical horizons, whilst maintaining a credo of working with artists he saw as original and inventive.<ref name="guardian2007">{{cite news|author=David Teather |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/jul/13/musicnews.pop |title=The Friday interview: Richard Russell |newspaper=The Guardian |date=13 July 2007 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref> In 1994, the label released the Prodigy's second album, ''Music for the Jilted Generation'' which debuted atop the UK Albums Chart, and in 1997 it released the group's third album, ''The Fat of the Land'' which entered atop the British and American charts and went on to be number one in 26 countries.<ref name="guardian2007"/>
===2000s=== June 2000 saw the release of Badly Drawn Boy's ''The Hour of Bewilderbeast'' which won the 2000 Mercury Music Prize.<ref name=Metacritic>[https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-hour-of-bewilderbeast/critic-reviews Critic Reviews for The Hour of Bewilderbeast]. Metacritic. Retrieved 23 June 2011</ref> The next year, the White Stripes' third album ''White Blood Cells'' was released together with reissues of the band's previous albums, ''The White Stripes'' and ''De Stijl''. In 2003, XL Recordings won the ''Music Week'' A&R award,<ref>[http://www.musicweekawards.com/2007/ar.php] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008152205/http://www.musicweekawards.com/2007/ar.php|date=8 October 2007}}</ref> and also released the White Stripes' fourth album ''Elephant'' which was their first UK number one album and eventually reached double platinum certification in Britain.<ref>{{cite web | title=BPI | work=British Phonographic Industry | url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/index.asp?Page=stats/content_file_118.shtml | access-date=17 January 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230171351/http://www.bpi.co.uk/index.asp?Page=stats%2Fcontent_file_118.shtml | archive-date=30 December 2007 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all }}</ref> That same year, XL released Dizzee Rascal's first solo album, ''Boy in da Corner'' for which Dizzee was awarded the Mercury Prize for the best album of 2003.<ref>{{cite web|author=Angelique Chrisafis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/10/arts.mercuryprize2003 |title=Rapper wins Mercury prize |work=The Guardian |date=10 September 2003 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref>
In March 2005, M.I.A.'s debut album ''Arular'' was released after several months' delay.<ref name="Metacritic Arular">{{cite web | author=Metacritic | title=M.I.A.: Arular (2005): Reviews | work=Metacritic | url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/mia/arular | date=31 December 2005 | access-date=24 February 2007 | archive-date=7 May 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507025758/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/mia/arular | url-status=dead }}</ref> Thom Yorke, from Radiohead, released his first solo record, ''The Eraser'', on the label in July 2006. In October 2007, Radiohead completed negotiations to sign with XL for physical release of their seventh studio album, ''In Rainbows''. Radiohead subsequently went on to release through XL, and have so far released everything since their eighth studio album ''The King of Limbs'' on the label. As director of XL Recordings, Richard Russell was included in a 2007 ''Evening Standard'' list of the most influential people in London,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23415330-details/Music/article.do |title=Music |work=Evening Standard |date=29 November 2007 |access-date=20 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205105657/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23415330-details/Music/article.do |archive-date=5 December 2008 }}</ref> and in August of that year M.I.A.'s second album ''Kala'' was released—''Rolling Stone'' named it the ninth best album of the decade.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31248017/100_best_albums_of_the_decade/print |title=100 Best Albums of the Decade |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=9 December 2009 |access-date=3 January 2010 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106030254/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/31248017/100_best_albums_of_the_decade/print |archive-date=6 January 2010 }}</ref>
In March 2008, XL added Friendly Fires and the Horrors. In 2009 the label won the "Music Week" Best Independent Label award;<ref>{{cite web|author=Mayer Nissim |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/a152302/music-week-awards-2009-the-winners.html |title=Music Week Awards 2009: The Winners |publisher=Digital Spy |date=9 April 2009 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref> Adele won the awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, and at the same ceremony Radiohead won Best Alternative Album for ''In Rainbows'' as well as Best Boxed or Special Edition Album.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jody Thompson |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2009/02/09/coldplay-led-zepellin-s-robert-plant-radiohead-duffy-and-adele-win-at-grammy-awards-after-rihanna-pulls-out-of-show-115875-21109334/ |title=Coldplay, Robert Plant, Radiohead, Duffy and Adele win at Grammy Awards after Rihanna pulls out of show |work=Daily Mirror |date=9 February 2009 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref> Also in 2009, the xx's debut album ''xx'' was released on XL Recordings partner label Young, and in September, Giggs was signed.
===2010s=== On 11 January 2010, XL Recordings released Vampire Weekend's second album ''Contra'', the band's first album to top the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart.<ref>{{cite magazine| last = Caulfield| first = Keith | title = Vampire Weekend Lands First No. 1 Album|magazine = Billboard| date = 20 January 2010| url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/959680/vampire-weekend-lands-first-no-1-album| access-date = 14 March 2010}}</ref> Gil Scott-Heron's thirteenth studio album ''I'm New Here'' was released in February; it was Scott-Heron's first release of original material in sixteen years and would ultimately be his last studio album before his death the following May. Recording sessions for the album took place between 2007 and 2009 and production was handled by XL Recordings-owner Richard Russell.
In July, XL signed Jai Paul, who was shortlisted for BBC's Sound of 2011, and in September the xx's eponymous debut album won the Barclaycard Mercury Prize, acquiring best British and Irish album of the year.<ref>Cardew, Ben. "CHARTS: Mercury Win Expedites the Xx's Chart Fortunes." Music Week (2010): 3. Print.</ref><ref>Paine, Andre. "The XX Factor." Billboard – The International Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment 122.38 (2010): 42. Print.</ref><ref>"The Xx at a Crossroads After Mercurys Win." Music Week (2010): 1. Print.</ref>
On 24 January 2011, XL Recordings released the album ''21'' by Adele. In February the (then) 19-year-old OFWGKTA member Tyler, the Creator was signed for a one-album deal for his debut studio album and commercial debut ''Goblin''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/02/odd-futures-tyler-the-creator-signs-one-album-deal-to-xl-recordings-.html |title=Odd Future's Tyler the Creator signs one-album deal with XL Recordings |work=Los Angeles Times |date=14 February 2011 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref> Singer Gil Scott-Heron died in May and his final recordings, ''I'm New Here'' (produced by Richard Russell), and the remix album, ''We're New Here'' made with Jamie xx were released on XL Recordings.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Power |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/may/28/gil-scott-heron-obituary |title=Gil Scott-Heron obituary |work=The Guardian |date=28 May 2011 |access-date=20 November 2011}}</ref> The label also released new albums by Radiohead, Friendly Fires, and the Horrors and singles by Jai Paul and Portishead, as well as the Adele Blu-ray/DVD, ''Live at the Royal Albert Hall''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://xlrecordings.com/2011/05/04/xl-recordings-2011-release-schedule |title=XL Recordings 2011 Release Schedule |publisher=XL Recordings |date=4 May 2011 |access-date=20 November 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
On 24 April 2012, XL released ''Blunderbuss'', the debut solo record by Jack White. It entered the UK album charts at number one, displacing ''21'' by Adele.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/46450/jack-whites-blunderbuss-bumps-adele-off-uk-chart-throne |title=Jack White's Blunderbuss Bumps Adele Off |magazine=Billboard |date=30 April 2012 |access-date=30 April 2012}}</ref> In 2012, XL Recordings was named 'Label of the Year' at the Music Week Awards in London. XL also won awards for 'Best A&R' and 'Best Artist Campaign'. Label head, Richard Russell, became the youngest ever recipient of the lifetime achievement 'Strat Award'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/27/entertainment-us-xl-awards-idUSBRE83Q0E720120427e |title=Adele's label XL is big winner at Music Week Awards |publisher=Reuters |date=27 April 2012 |access-date=27 April 2012}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
Sales of Adele's ''21'' helped increase XL Recordings' bank balance from £3 million to £32 million over 12 months.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/adele/66643|title=Adele's '21' helps boost label XL profits to £41million|work=NME|date=3 May 2012|access-date=21 October 2012}}</ref> As of March 2011, XL Recordings had released three albums that had sold over a million copies in the UK: The Prodigy's ''The Fat of the Land'', Adele's ''19'', and Adele's ''21''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/adeles-19-sells-millionth-copy/045097|title=Adele's 19 sells millionth copy|work=MusicWeek|date=9 March 2011|access-date=10 January 2013}}</ref>
In April 2016, Radiohead's Parlophone albums transferred to XL Recordings. A month later, on 8 May, the band released their ninth studio album, ''A Moon Shaped Pool'', through XL to critical acclaim.
== XL Studio == In early 2008, Russell transformed the rear garage of the label's Ladbroke Grove headquarters into a small, in-house recording and mixing studio called '''XL Studio'''. It served as a makeshift studio space for the label's various artists and his own projects until producer Rodaidh McDonald was assigned in September of that year to manage and properly equip it in preparation for The xx to record their self-titled debut album. According to McDonald, "before Richard brought me in to be Studio Manager, it was just a bit of a free-for-all. Artists could come in and rehearse, demo or write here and things like that ... but it was good idea and we decided we should be stepping it up and making records here."<ref name="Frost"/> Russell and McDonald were inspired by the success of modest studios such as Hitsville U.S.A. and wanted to create an economic, non-commercial space.<ref name="XlStudio">{{cite web|url=http://www.xlrecordings.com/studio/About/2/about|title=XL Studio|publisher=XL Recordings|access-date=21 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024053841/http://www.xlrecordings.com/studio/About/2/about|archive-date=24 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
Set up specifically with The xx in mind, XL Studio features little outboard gear and is equipped with a Neotek Élan custom 24-channel mixing console, Yamaha NS10 studio monitors, and instruments that include an upright piano, Roland Juno-60, Moog Prodigy, Vox Continental organ, and Sequential Circuits Pro-One synthesizer.<ref name="Frost">{{cite journal|last=Frost|first=Matt|year=2011|issue=July|url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun11/articles/the-xx.htm|title=Rodaidh McDonald: Recording the xx|journal=Sound on Sound|location=Cambridge|access-date=27 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114816/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun11/articles/the-xx.htm|archive-date=26 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Russell and McDonald augmented the studio to twice its original size after The xx's album, which was done in what became the studio's control room; they incorporated an adjacent office as the studio's live room for musicians.<ref name="XlStudio"/>
In 2016, Walters-Storyk Design Group (WSDG) completed the construction of a new recording studio in the basement of the XL Recordings offices in New York City.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Molho|first=David|title=XL Studios|url=https://wsdg.com/projects-items/xl-studios/|access-date=2020-06-15|website=WSDG|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Roster== ===XL Recordings=== As of 2025, XL Recordings is home to a range of artists including:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xlrecordings.com/ |title=XL Recordings |publisher=XL Recordings |date=30 April 2011 |access-date=30 April 2012}}</ref>
{{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} * Arca<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sonar.es/en/2017/artists/arca-live-jesse-kanda-av|title=Arca (live) & Jesse Kanda (AV)|access-date=30 January 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202052035/https://sonar.es/en/2017/artists/arca-live-jesse-kanda-av|url-status=dead}}</ref> * BadBadNotGood * Blawan * Burial * CASISDEAD<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/everything-is-recorded-friday-forever-xl-recordings-richard-russell-interview-2020-bandwagon-asia-ghostface-killah |title=With Everything is Recorded, XL Recordings' Richard Russell engages |date=3 April 2020 |access-date=4 April 2020 }}</ref> * Charlotte Day Wilson * DJ Python * Everything Is Recorded / Richard Russell * Fontaines D.C. * Ibeyi * Jim Legxacy * Joy Orbison * Kenny Beats * King Krule / Archy Marshall * Makaya McCraven * Overmono * Nourished by Time {{Col-2}} * Jai Paul * KeiyaA * Peggy Gou * Jack Peñate * Radiohead * Ratatat * Rostam * Sigur Rós * Smerz * Special Request * The Smile * Standing on the Corner * Thom Yorke * Yaeji {{Col-end}}
===XL Recordings alumni=== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}}
* Adele<ref>{{Cite web|last=Paine|first=Andre|date=13 October 2021|title=Adele says Hello to Columbia Records UK, 30 album confirmed for November 19|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/adele-says-hello-to-columbia-records-uk-30-album-confirmed-for-november-19/084337|access-date=13 October 2021|website=Music Week}}</ref> * Atoms for Peace * Azealia Banks * The Avalanches * Basement Jaxx * Badly Drawn Boy * Be Your Own Pet * Beck * Bobby Womack<ref>{{cite web|last=Smirke |first=Richard |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/xl-s-richard-russell-on-adele-six-grammy-1005621152.story |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107195040/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/xl-s-richard-russell-on-adele-six-grammy-1005621152.story |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 January 2012 |title=XL's Richard Russell On Adele, Six Grammy Noms, What's Next (Bobby Womack!) |publisher=Billboard.biz |date=9 December 2011 |access-date=28 May 2012}}</ref> * Blue Roses / Laura Groves * Capitol K * Dizzee Rascal * Discovery * East India Youth * Electric Six * Eyedress * Fontaines DC * Friendly Fires * Giggs * Gil Scott-Heron * Golden Silvers * Gotan Project * Holly Miranda * The Horrors * House of Pain * Iceage * Jack White * Jungle<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xlrecordings.com/jungle|title=XL Recordings|work=www.xlrecordings.com|access-date=28 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228115814/http://xlrecordings.com/jungle|archive-date=28 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Karen Elson * Kaytranada * Kirin J Callinan * Kwes * Leila {{Col-2}} * Lemon Jelly * Liquid * Magistrates * M.I.A. * Monsta Boy * Nines<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobo.com/news-blogs/rapper-nines-inks-record-deal-xl-recordings?page=1|title=Rapper Nines inks record deal with XL Recordings - MOBO Awards|work=MOBO Awards|access-date=25 December 2016|archive-date=25 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225214219/http://www.mobo.com/news-blogs/rapper-nines-inks-record-deal-xl-recordings?page=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Novelist<ref name="Joseph JP Patterson">{{cite web|url=http://uk.complex.com/music/2014/08/premiere-novelist-10-10|title=Premiere: Listen To Novelist's "10 Out Of 10"|author=Joseph JP Patterson|work=Complex UK}}</ref> * Nu-Birth * Peaches * Ratking * The Prodigy * QT * RJD2 * Roy Davis Jr. feat. Peven Everett * Shamir * SL2 * Super Furry Animals * Sunless '97 * The Cool Kids * Theoretical Girl * Titus Andronicus * The Streets * Tyler, the Creator * Various Production * Vampire Weekend * The White Stripes * Wiki * Wiley * Willis Earl Beal * Zomby * Zongamin {{Col-end}}
===Young roster===
{{Col-begin}} {{Col-2}} * Daniela Lalita * Ethan P. Flynn * FKA twigs * Jamie xx * John Glacier * John Talabot * Kamasi Washington {{Col-2}} * Koreless * Mechatok * Oliver Sim * Romy * Sampha * The xx * Treanne {{Col-end}}
===Paul Institute=== {{Col-begin}} * A. K. Paul * Fabiana Palladino * HIRA * Pen Pals * REINEN * Ruthven * Prince85 {{Col-end}}
==See also== ===Affiliated labels/imprints=== * Paul Institute * Young
===Formerly affiliated labels/imprints=== * Kaya Kaya Records * Terrible * Locked On
===Inactive affiliated labels/imprints=== * Abeano * Concept In Dance * HXC Recordings * Merok Records * New Gen * Ore Music * Platinum Projects * Rex Records * Salvia
===Other=== * List of electronic music record labels * List of independent UK record labels * List of record labels
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.xlrecordings.com/}} * {{Discogs label}} * [http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Richard_Russell_Interview.html Interview with Richard Russell, HitQuarters Sep 2008]
{{Beggars Group}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Record labels established in 1989 Category:Electronic music record labels Category:Drum and bass record labels Category:English electronic dance music record labels Category:Alternative rock record labels Category:British independent record labels Category:Indie rock record labels Category:Pop record labels Category:Beggars Group Category:XL Recordings Category:1989 establishments in England