Ed Sheeran has parted ways with Warner Music after 15 years and eight studio albums, the singer confirmed in a statement to fans. The news was corroborated by the company in a statement to Music Week.
Sheeran, who sold an estimated 200 million albums since his 2011 debut '+', described the split as amicable. 'This isn’t a disgruntled artist leaves record label type situation,' he wrote. '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.'
The singer's Warner catalog will remain with the company under a continued partnership, while his more recent releases, owned by his Gingerbread Man label and licensed to Warner, are part of a long-term distribution deal. Many key executives Sheeran worked with, including former Warner recorded-music chief Max Lousada and former Atlantic Music Group CEO Julie Greenwald, have left the company.
Sheeran signed with Warner subsidiary Asylum Records in the UK after being discovered by Ed Howard. His albums were released through Warner's Atlantic label in the US. Despite recent albums being less commercially successful, Sheeran continues to tour stadiums worldwide.
Rumours of a deal with Universal Music Group have not been confirmed. Sheeran expressed gratitude, saying, 'I leave the company with SO much love and gratitude for everything we have achieved together.'
