Ed Sheeran is set to sign a record deal with Interscope, sources familiar with the matter have confirmed hollywood Reporter, It marks the next step in Sheeran’s career after the pop singer-songwriter’s long-running deal with his label at Warner Music Group ended earlier this year. The deal is said to be a long-term arrangement, but it is unclear how many albums the contract includes.
Sheeran has been in talks via the major label system, with sources saying other major music label Sony has also been in contact with him. By joining UMG’s Interscope, Sheeran is now part of a roster that also includes Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar and more. The signing reunites Sheeran with Interscope CEO John Janek, who worked with the pop star when he previously headed up Warner’s Elektra Records.
An Interscope rep declined to comment.
Sheeran is one of the most streamed artists of all time, ranking sixth on Spotify’s recently revealed all-time artist list. He’s also a major live act, with his years-long +-=÷X tour being the third highest-grossing concert tour of all time. Sheeran first signed to WMG’s Asylum and Atlantic out of the UK in 2011, and was one of the most prolific artists on Warner’s roster before his departure, alongside the likes of fellow stars such as Bruno Mars and Coldplay. With 83 million monthly listeners on Spotify, he was one of the most streamed acts on the WMG platform.
Sheeran boasts one of the most successful catalogs of all time, and as Warner said earlier this year, the label will continue to keep his work such as hits like “Shape of You,” “Thinking Out Loud” and “Bad Habits.” However, Sheeran’s last few albums haven’t delivered the same chops as his biggest hits like X (Double) and ÷ (portion). 2023 – (Subtract) was Sheeran’s first album since his 2011 debut not to open at number one on the Billboard charts, debuting at number two and remaining on the chart for 15 weeks. Autumn variations It was released a few months later and opened at number four before falling off the chart two weeks later. last year He plays It debuted at number five and lasted five weeks on the chart.
Earlier this year, Sheeran confirmed in a newsletter to fans his departure from Warner, saying: “I leave the company with so much love and gratitude for all we have achieved together.”
“This is not a ‘disgruntled artist leaves the record company’ type situation,” Sheeran wrote. “This is the kid who started out as a teenager at the label with different priorities, the father of two who is now here, who feels like he needs a shift and a change in the way he does things professionally. I love Ed Howard forever, I love Asylum forever, and the door is always open to the future. Thank you to everyone across Warner around the world who has worked on my projects over the past 15 years, it has been an amazing journey. “
Sheeran is one of many high-profile acts to have left their old homes in recent months. Lorde announced back in March that she was going independent following the completion of her long-running deal with Universal Music Group after she released her fourth studio album Virgin last year. It is unclear whether it will remain independent or sign elsewhere. Meanwhile, Zara Larsson, who has long been with Sony’s Epic Records label, has signed a new deal with Sony’s RCA, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to THR.
