Lola Young has just sealed her status as one of the biggest names in music with a staggering £10 million publishing deal with Universal, following a fierce bidding war with Sony, MailOnline can reveal.
The deal comes after her breakout hit Messy spent four consecutive weeks at No.1, making her the longest-running British female No. 1 single since Adele in 2021 and solidifying her as the UK’s most successful solo star since Sam Smith.
But while her talent is undeniable, some fans will be shocked to learn about her unexpected family connection to one of Britain’s most beloved authors.
Lola is the niece of Julia Donaldson, the celebrated writer behind The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and other iconic children’s books.
She is a Scottish author, who first found success in the late ‘90s and went on to become the Children’s Laureate from 2011 to 2013.
Before her breakthrough as a writer, she penned songs for children’s TV, showcasing her storytelling talents through music.
Lola Young has just sealed her status as one of the biggest names in music with a staggering £10 million publishing deal with Universal, following a fierce bidding war with Sony, MailOnline can reveal
The deal comes after her breakout hit Messy spent four consecutive weeks at No.1, making her the longest-running British female No. 1 single since Adele in 2021 and solidifying her as the UK’s most successful solo star since Sam Smith
Lola is the niece of Julia Donaldson, the celebrated writer behind The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and other iconic children’s books.
Now based in West Sussex, Julia was awarded an MBE in 2011 for her contributions to literature.
Despite her rapid rise to stardom, the 24-year-old South Londoner has faced accusations of being a ‘nepo baby’ and even a ‘music industry plant’.
These claims have only intensified as her song Messy continues to dominate the charts, with some critics pointing to her family ties as evidence that she had an easier path to success.
Hitting back at the comments last week, Lola quipped: ‘They don’t know, otherwise they wouldn’t be saying that. I think it is just the most stupid term.
‘I think there are cases of industry plants but so what? It doesn’t mean they’re not talented and it doesn’t take away from anything.
‘People are saying I’m a nepo baby because my great Aunt wrote The Gruffalo. I mean what kind of rubbish is that?’
She added: ‘I have so much to say on that which I can’t even talk about. But I’m not a nepo baby, I’m not an industry plant, there we go I said it.
‘I’ve cleared that up for all those losers that want to comment rubbish on the internet. Just find something better to do, you’re sad, you’re lonely.
‘The thing is industry plant is just a term for other artists and other people to use who just don’t know what they’re doing in life and feel upset that someone else is having their moment.
‘And if you are an industry plant, you’re not going to have your moment for that long, unfortunately.
‘And maybe sometimes you will, it just doesn’t matter, none of these things matter. If someone’s got talent, then they’ve got talent.’
She then clarified: ‘Yeah, and I’m also not an industry plant at all by the way.’
Despite her rapid rise to stardom, the 24-year-old South Londoner has faced accusations of being a ‘nepo baby’ and even a ‘music industry plant’
Lola first gained recognition after her haunting rendition of Together in Electric Dreams featured in the 2021 John Lewis Christmas advert, but her big break came when Messy went viral on TikTok
Lola first gained recognition after her haunting rendition of Together in Electric Dreams featured in the 2021 John Lewis Christmas advert, but her big break came when Messy went viral on TikTok.
The song, which embraces the contradictions of life and relationships, gained massive traction after being shared by influencer Sophia Richie, sending it into the social media stratosphere and ultimately to the top of the charts.
Lola began writing songs at just 11 years old and won a national open mic competition by 13.
She honed her craft at the prestigious Brit School in Croydon, known for producing stars like Adele and Amy Winehouse.
Lola previously said that having an artistic family helped her believe that making a career in music was within reach.
She mentioned that she grew up surrounded by creativity, which gave her the confidence to pursue her own artistic ambitions.
‘Coming from an artistic family was really helpful because they understood that music is a real job, that I can make money from it,’ she told The Telegraph.
‘I never had a plan B,’ she added.
Industry insiders reveal that before Messy became a hit, Young’s career was struggling to take off.
Some have speculated that without her powerful connections, she may have been dropped by her label altogether.
However, with her newfound success, a fierce battle erupted between Universal and Sony to secure the publishing rights for her future music.
Universal emerged victorious, with a deal reportedly pushed to £10 million as industry heavyweight Lucian Grainge attempted to outbid Sony.
With sold-out tours in the UK and the US and tracks from her latest album continuing to make waves, Lola Young is well on her way to becoming one of the world’s biggest female solo artists.
