As rumored, Ed Sheeran announced in a statement to fans in his newsletter that he is leaving Warner Music after 15 years and eight full-length albums. The news was confirmed by the company in a statement to British publication Music Week.
“This is not a ‘disgruntled artist leaves record company’ situation,” Sheeran wrote in the message, which can be read in full below. “This boy, who joined the company as a teenager with different priorities and is now a father of two, feels there needs to be change and change in the way he works professionally.”
With an estimated 200 million albums sold since his 2011 debut “+” and “Shape of You” one of the most streamed songs of all time (nearly 5 billion cumulative streams on Spotify alone), Sheeran is one of the world’s top recording artists and by most measures the biggest artist on Warner’s roster. His 2017 album “-” (“Divide”; Sheeran’s albums often feature title symbols) is one of the most commercially popular releases of the streaming era, with approximately 40 million album-equivalent units. However, even though he continues to tour and perform to stadium-sized audiences around the world, recent releases have been less commercially successful. He has had four No. 1 albums in the U.S., but his latest full-length, 2025’s “Play,” peaked at No. 5.
Sheeran signed with Asylum Records, a British subsidiary of Warner, and the album was released in the United States through Warner’s Atlantic label. His early albums are owned by Warner, but the rights to recent releases are held by his own Gingerbread Man label and licensed to Warner.
As per a statement from Warner (full text below), Sheeran’s Warner catalog will remain in a “continuing partnership” with the company, while the licensed release is part of what sources describe as a long-term distribution deal. A number of executives who worked closely with Sheeran have left the company, including former Warner Music head Max Lousada and former Atlantic Music Group CEO Julie Greenwald, who recently announced the launch of the 26.2 record label through Sony Music.
contact address variety, A representative for Universal Music Group did not immediately confirm rumors that Sheeran had signed with the company.
Sheeran’s full statement is below.
“When I was 18, I met Ed Howard from Asylum Records at a show in Notting Hill, and I ended up going to his and his now wife’s house. So I played him a bunch of music and just talked about life and what I wanted to do. To be honest, I didn’t know him at the time when he was working at the record label. I thought he was a cool guy who would put me on the couch. But the next day I found out who he was and we started talking. He came here. No one came for the little gig with Ben Cook, who was running Asylum at the time, but for the “No. 5 Collaboration” they came. [Sheeran’s independently released debut EP] ‘ came up and offered me a contract, so I signed right away. I love those people very much.
“Over the past 15 years, I’ve put out a lot of music with that company and had great success. We’ve created great things together and enjoyed the life-changing things happening to us. My life is very different now than it was as a teenager, and I’ve felt deep down for a long time that a lot of things in my professional life needed to change. I’m basically a singer-songwriter who gigs in pubs, and I kind of morphed into this pop thing.” For a star player who has played at the stadium for more than 15 years, this is a very surprising development, but it also raises a lot of questions.
“Last month, I decided to leave Asylum/Warner. I leave the company with a lot of love and gratitude for everything we have accomplished together. This is not a ‘disgruntled artist leaves record label’ situation. This is a priority. As a young boy who joined the company when he was a teenager, and a father of two children who are now present, I feel there needs to be change and change in the way we work professionally.I love Ed Howard forever, I love Asylum forever, and the door is always open.” Thank you to everyone at Warners around the world who has worked on my projects for the past 15 years. I can’t wait to see where the next 15 years take me. ”
“From a couch-surfing teenager he met in 2009 to the global music icon he is today, Ed has spent the last 15 years showing the world what happens when unparalleled talent meets unwavering integrity,” Howard said in a statement.
“It was an honor to be a part of his extraordinary musical journey and I learned so much from him.
“Beyond music, the example he sets as a mentor to other artists, an advocate for education, a father, a friend, and simply as a human being is truly special. I’m so grateful to have him in my life. He’s my much-loved brother.”
“On behalf of the incredible Warner Music team around the world who has championed him over the years, I know we are all standing squarely in Ed’s corner as he steps into his next chapter.”
Warner Music said in a joint statement: “Warner Music Group is proud to have supported Ed through his discovery and remarkable growth over the past 15 years and is grateful for his continued partnership. We look forward to stewarding his iconic catalog into the future and ensuring that his music moves the hearts and feet of people around the world for generations to come. The entire Warner Music family wishes Ed the best of luck as he embarks on the next chapter of his extraordinary artistic journey.”
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