Ed Sheeran Exits Warner Music Group After 15 Years: ‘I Leave With So Much Love & Gratitude’
Categoria: Musica
In a letter emailed to fans on Friday (May 22), Ed Sheeran detailed his reasons for leaving his record label.
Por Billboard | 22/05/2026
Ed Sheeran announced to fans on Friday (May 22) that he’s left the Warner Music Group after spending 15 years at the record label in a letter via his email list. In his statement, which was also shared with Music Week and obtained by Billboard , Sheeran said there was no animosity at leaving the only record company he has worked with across his career so far, saying he exits with “SO much love and gratitude for everything we have achieved together.” Sheeran leaves as one of the most successful artists of the past 15 years, having landed eight top five albums on the Billboard 200, including four No. 1s, and 60 songs on the Hot 100, including nine top 10s and two No. 1s. Sheeran’s single “Shape of You” sat atop the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks in 2017, ultimately spending 59 weeks on the chart, while his single “Perfect” also reached No. 1 on the Hot 100. His 2017 album ÷ ( Divide ) spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 when it debuted in 2017. His other No. 1 albums include 2014’s x , 2019’s No. 6 Collaborations Project and 2021’s = . According to Luminate, Sheeran has racked up 25.9 million equivalent album unites in the United States since his 2011 debut, including more than 32 billion streams and 5.8 million album sales. Related WMG Revenue Jumps 17% to $1.7B on Major Q1 Releases From Bruno Mars, sombr & More 'The Breakfast Club' to Stream Live Daily, Commercial-Free on Netflix: 'The Future Belongs to Those Who Can See What's Possible' Woman Accused of Attempting to Murder Rihanna to Face Mental Health Competency Test Warner Music Group is keeping Sheeran’s catalog of biggest hits, and has long-term licenses for his two most recent albums, 2023’s Autumn Variations and 2025’s Play , which were released on Sheeran’s own label, Gingerbread Man, and Atlantic Records. In his letter, Sheeran wrote, “I’ve decided to leave Asylum/Warner last month. I leave the company with SO much love and gratitude for everything we have achieved together. 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.” Billboard has reached out to Sheeran’s camp and Atlantic Records for comment. Warner Music Group said in a statement to Billboard it 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.” Sheeran initially signed with Asylum/Atlantic U.K.’s Ed Howard in 2011, ultimately spending much of his career with the longt