Sharing a newsletter with fans, on Friday (5.22) Ed Sheeran said his fifteen year run with Warner Music Group has come to an end.
Formerly signed to Atlantic/Asylum Records, the superstar singer/songwriter will now officially be an independent artist, releasing music through his own Gingerbread Man Records label, adding:
“This isn’t a ‘disgruntled artist leaves record label’ type situation.” “This is a boy who started as a teenager in the company with different priorities, to the father-of-two man who exists now, who feels like he needs a shift and change in the way he does things professionally.”
At a 2009 gig in Notting Hill, England, the British-born musician landed a deal with Warner after a chance meeting with Ed Howard, formerly head of A&R for Asylum.
Releasing his debut LP, Plus, under Atlantic/Asylum in September of 2011, the major labels would go on to oversee the release of six more albums, including Multiply, Divide, Subtract, Equals, and the new series starter, Play. It was during this period that the now 35-year old musician went from a small time pub player to one of the biggest pop stars of his generation.
“Over the past 15 years, I’ve put out so much music and had so much success with that company. We’ve built something amazing together, and enjoyed such life-changing stuff happening to us.” “My life is hugely different now to what it was when I was a teenager, and I’ve been feeling in my gut for a long time that a lot of things in my professional life need to change. I am, underneath it all, a singer-songwriter who plays pub gigs. And I’ve sorta morphed into this pop star who plays stadiums over 15 years, it’s a super amazing thing to have happened, but also a lot to get your head around.” “I leave the company with so much love and gratitude for everything we have achieved together.” said Ed.
Sharing a statement to Music Week, Warner Music Group said “Warner Music Group is proud to have supported Ed through his discovery and remarkable rise over the past 15 years and grateful for his continued partnership. Everyone in the Warner Music family wishes Ed the very best as he embarks on the next chapter of his extraordinary artistic journey.”
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Author: Al Dente
Photo: Harald Krichel