Ed Sheeran is set to switch labels after 15 years, with the singer-songwriter on track to ink a new deal with Interscope Records, Rolling Stone has confirmed. The news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
The change is a big one for Sheeran, who’s spent the entirety of his career so far at Atlantic, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group. His deal with WMG ended earlier this year, and by jumping to Interscope, he’ll now be under the umbrella of Universal Music Group, the largest major label in the world.
The terms of Sheeran’s Interscope deal were not disclosed. According to THR, it’s expected to be a long-term arrangement, though it’s unclear how many albums Sheeran has signed on to make.
A rep for Sheeran did not immediately return a request for comment.
Sheeran signed with WMG and Atlantic in 2011, the same year he released his blockbuster debut, + (Plus), which contained hits like “The A Team,” “Lego House,” and “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You.” Over the next 15 years, Sheeran established himself as one of the most dominant singer-songwriters in pop, with four of his albums going to Number One in the United States. He also scored a pair of Number One hits on the Billboard Hot 100 — “Shape of You” and “Perfect” — while also notching a string of additional multi-platinum Top 10 singles.
In total, Sheeran released seven albums through WMG, including all of his math-themed albums + (Plus), x (Multiply),÷ (Divide), = (Equals), and − (Subtract). His run also included his 2019 LP, No.6 Collaborations Project; his most recent album, Play; and 2023’s Autumn Variations, which was released through Sheeran’s own Gingerbread Man label via WMG.
While Sheeran has remained one of the biggest stars on the planet, his most recent releases haven’t reached the same commercial heights as his earlier material. After a run of platinum albums, neither − (Subtract), Autumn Variations, or Play earned the same certification from the RIAA. Play, meanwhile, reached a peak of Number Five on the Billboard 200 before dropping off the chart after five weeks.
When Sheeran announced his departure from Warner, though, he shared a newsletter with fans saying, “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.”
Warner added in its own statement, “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. As we steward his iconic catalogue into the future, we’ll ensure that his music will touch hearts and move feet around the world for generations to come. 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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