November 8, 2012
Will Young today announces the signing of a brand new recording contract with Island Records.
Will’s forthcoming albums will be released worldwide through the iconic label, home to many of the most talented artists of all time from Bob Marley, U2, Queen and Amy Winehouse up to current million sellers Florence and the Machine, Jessie J and Mumford & Sons.
Young said: “After almost 11 happy fulfilling years at Sony records I have decided to move on now to Island records. Growing up Island records was known to me as the bastion of real, exciting music. Music that was varied but always shared a common theme of soulful honesty whoever the artist was. It is with a huge sense of pride and excitement that I start the next stage of my pop career with Island records under the flag of Universal.
“To go from winning a talent competition to signing with the legendary Island a decade on is truly the stuff that dreams are made of and I thank everyone who has helped me along the way.”
Darcus Beese co-president of Island Records added: “We are absolutely delighted and enormously excited that Will, without question, one of the most consistently successful and best- loved UK male artists of the last decade, has decided to join the Island family in what we trust will be the defining phase of his career.
“A multi-platinum selling artist, an acclaimed actor and one of the nicest guys you’ll meet in this business, there really isn’t anyone else out there doing what Will does, anywhere near as well as he does it. We can’t wait to get started”.
David Joseph, chairman and chief executive Universal Music UK, echoed those sentiments saying: “I’ve followed Will’s achievements for many years and am delighted that we are going to be working together. Will is a genuine talent and a true long-term artist – I’m confident his next albums will be the most exciting of his career.”
Young’s forthcoming albums will be released worldwide through the label, home to artists such as Bob Marley, U2, Queen and Amy Winehouse up to current million-sellers Florence and the Machine, Jessie J and Mumford & Sons.
Commenting on the new deal, Young’s manager Simon Fuller (founder of XIX Entertainment), said: “I look on with great pride as Will continues his remarkable journey as one of Britain’s most valued and popular singers. Will has an insatiable passion to continue making great music and with David Joseph and the incredible team at Island by his side I have no doubt that the best is yet to come.”
Young’s new relationship with Island Records comes at the end of a year which has included a sell-out national tour, a No.1 platinum album, the publication of his autobiography and a starring role in the acclaimed West End hit stage show Cabaret.
He is one of the UK’s most successful male vocalists and his latest studio album Echoes went to No.1 on its first week of release in the UK, later going platinum and taking his tally of record sales to over nine million units. It spawned four hit singles, a sell-out live tour (including a Christmas Show at The Palladium) and his one ITV1 Saturday night TV Special.
Young has severeal Brit and Ivor Novello nominations and awards, and holds the record for the biggest-selling single of the century in the UK with his first hit Evergreen
Will Young is managed by Simon Fuller at XIX Entertainment
Issued by Island Records