Warp Records

Warp Records
Founded	1989; 36 years ago (1989)
Founder	Steve Beckett Rob Mitchell Robert Gordon
Distributor(s)	FUGA
Genre	Electronic IDM techno experimental downtempo indie rock
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Location	Sheffield (1989–2000) London (2000–present)
Official website	warp.net

Warp Records is a British independent record label that specialises in electronic, indie rock and experimental music. It was founded in Sheffield in 1989 by Steve Beckett, Robert Mitchell and Robert Gordon. It has released records by acts including Aphex Twin, Autechre, Boards of Canada, Squarepusher, Brian Eno, Broadcast, Flying Lotus, Maxïmo Park, !!!, Battles and Grizzly Bear.

Warp began as a record shop in 1987 before releasing its first record, "Track With No Name" by Gordon's band Forgemasters, in 1989. In the early 1990s, Warp became associated with the UK's bleep scene, releasing music by acts such as LFO, Sweet Exorcist and Nightmares on Wax. Rather than releasing dance singles by short-lived acts, Warp prioritised releasing albums and building longevity. In 1992, it released Artificial Intelligence, a compilation of tracks by various Warp artists that helped establish intelligent dance music, a genre of electronic music intended for home listening rather than dancing.

Gordon left in 1991 and Mitchell died in 2001, leaving Beckett as the head of Warp. Warp moved to London in 2000. Over the following decade, Warp expanded its roster to include rock, hip-hop, film soundtracks, neoclassical music and ambient music. In 2001, Warp established a film production company, Warp Films, initially to release films by Chris Cunningham and Chris Morris. In 2004, Warp launched Bleep, one of the first download stores.

Warp is associated with the experimental electronic music of acts such as Aphex Twin, Autechre and Boards of Canada, but has influenced music of other genres. Publications such as The Independent, The Guardian and Resident Advisor described it as one of the most influential and respected independent labels. In 2017, Beckett received the Pioneer Award at the AIM Independent Music Awards.