Summary:
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Ed Sheeran leaves Warner Music Group after 15 years, reflecting on his evolution from pub gigs to stadiums.
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The split from Atlantic and Asylum Records is amicable, driven by personal growth and professional change.
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Warner Music Group expresses pride in supporting Sheeran’s massive success, with his catalog staying with the company.
Ed Sheeran has officially left Warner Music Group, ending a 15-year run that began when he was a teenager and turned him into one of the best-selling artists of his generation.
The singer-songwriter shared the news Friday in an email to fans, revealing he actually exited Atlantic Records and Asylum Records a month ago. He framed the split as amicable and reflective rather than fraught.
“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,” Sheeran wrote. He added that he sees himself as “a singer-songwriter who plays pub gigs” who “morphed into this pop star who plays stadiums over 15 years,” calling it amazing but a lot to process.
Sheeran was clear that the move was not driven by conflict. He wrote that he leaves with “SO much love and gratitude” and described the decision as the choice of “a father of two” who needs a shift in how he works professionally rather than a disgruntled artist storming out.
Warner Music Group echoed the sentiment in a statement to Music Week, saying the company is proud to have supported his rise and grateful for the continued partnership stewarding his catalog. Atlantic UK label boss Ed Howard, who signed Sheeran in 2011 after meeting him at a Notting Hill show, also offered supportive remarks.
The numbers behind the partnership are staggering. Across eight studio albums, Sheeran has sold roughly 170 million records worldwide, racked up 126 billion global streams, drawn 38 billion YouTube views, and landed 14 tracks in Spotify’s Billions Club. His catalog, including Plus, Multiply, Divide, Subtract, Equals, and the recent series opener Play, will remain with Warner.
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Sheeran has not announced where his future music will live. Variety reported that Universal Music Group did not immediately confirm rumors of a new deal. The Play era is set to continue with planned releases titled Rewind, Fast-Forward, and Stop.
“Excited to see where the next 15 years takes me,” Sheeran wrote.
