Ed Sheeran announces he left his record label after 15 years

[Teletubby 160,171]

Ed Sheeran has announced his decision to leave Warner Music after 15 years of incredible global success.

The superstar singer-songwriter broke the news in a statement sent to fans today.

Hey everyone

A little update from me, I left my record label a month ago…

I met Ed Howard from Asylum records at a show in Notting Hill when I was 18 and I ended up crashing at his and his now wife’s house. Whilst there I played him a bunch of music, and just chatted about life and what I wanted to do. I honestly didn’t know at the time he worked at a record label, I thought he was just someone cool who was letting me crash on his sofa. But the next day I found out who he was, and we started chatting. He came to so many of those small gigs, with Ben Cook who ran Asylum at the time. All the tiny tiny pub gigs no one came to, they came to. So when no.5 collaborations came out, and I was offered a deal, I signed instantly. I love those guys so much. 

Over the last 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 decided to leave Asylum / Warner last month. I leave the company with SO much love and gratitude for everything we have achieved together. This isn’t a ‘disgruntled artist leaves record label’ type situation. This is a boy who started as a teenager on the company with different priorities, to the father of 2 man who exists now, who feels like he needs a shift and change in the way he does things professionally. I love Ed Howard forever, I love Asylum forever, and the door is always open for the future. Thank you everyone across Warner worldwide who has worked on my projects over the last 15 years, it’s been an incredible journey. Excited to see where the next 15 years takes me. 

Loads of love to everyone x

Edited yesterday at 03:16 PM by Teletubby

[RAMROD 115,829]

Oh, I thought you mean he is retiring

[darkgaga 7,034]

Now leave the music industry as well. Thanks

[Starmie25 22,148]

I think this will slowly become the norm for many major label artists.

I wouldn't even be surprised if Gaga is next up.

[loveandpeace 380]

[RAMROD 115,829]

4 minutes ago, Starmie25 said:

I think this will slowly become the norm for many major label artists.

I wouldn't even be surprised if Gaga is next up.

True, she already have a label with Michael too, and have been putting on the imprint on the current releases, so it's only natural the next move will be being independent, and only work with major label for distribution.