Ed SheeranAfter a 15-year partnership with Warner Music Group, Ed Sheeran has announced his departure from the label, citing his need to “shift and change in the way he does things professionally.”
The Shape Of You hitmaker revealed the news in an email newsletter sent to fans, which has since been seen and published by Music Week and Billboard.
In his statement, Sheeran confirmed that there’s no animosity between himself and his longtime record label – his musical home for his entire career so far – by saying that the move “isn’t a ‘disgruntled artist leaves record label’ type situation,” and he leaves with “SO much love and gratitude for everything we have achieved together.”
Billboard reports that Warner Music Group will retain Sheeran’s catalogue of hits, as well as the long-term licensing of his most recent albums, Autumn Variations, released in 2023, and Play, which dropped last year. Both albums were released via the singer’s own label, Gingerbread Man, and Atlantic Records.
Sheeran initially signed with Ed Howard, who represented Asylum Records and Atlantic UK, in 2011. The pair were a team throughout the bulk of the singer’s career, until Howard was named Co-President of Atlantic UK in 2019.
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Variety notes that many of the executives at Warner who once worked closely with Sheeran have since departed the company. Warner’s former Record Music Chief, Max Lousada, and ex-Atlantic Music Group CEO Julie Greenwald left Warner in 2024 and have since launched their own label, 26.2, through Sony Music.
Sheeran began his note by sharing a “little update” with fans, in which he said he left his record label a month ago. Telling the story of meeting Ed Howard during a show at Notting Hill at the age of 18, the singer explained that due to the kindness of the Asylum Records team, when he was offered a record deal, he signed it “instantly.”
“Over the last 15 years, I’ve put out so much music, and had so much success with that company,” Sheeran continued. “We’ve built something amazing together, and enjoyed such life-changing stuff happening to us. 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.
“I am, underneath it all, a singer-songwriter who plays pub gigs. And I’ve sorta morphed into this pop star who plays stadiums over 15 years, it’s a super amazing thing to have happened, but also a lot to get your head around. I decided to leave Asylum / Warner last month.”
After sharing his love and gratitude for his former label homes and assuring the world his experience with Warner didn’t disgruntle him, Sheeran opened up about the differences in his life that led to a life-changing decision.
“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,” Sheeran wrote.
He concluded the note, “I love Ed Howard forever, I love Asylum forever, and the door is always open for the future. Thank you everyone across Warner worldwide who has worked on my projects over the last 15 years, it’s been an incredible journey. Excited to see where the next 15 years takes me.”
In a statement of his own, Ed Howard described his experience working with the singer as a “privilege” from which he’s “learnt so much,” per Variety.
“Beyond the music, the example he sets as a mentor to other artists, a champion for education, a father, a friend and simply as a human being is truly special. I feel incredibly grateful to have him in my life. Big love, brother,” Howard said.
He added, “On behalf of the wonderful Warner Music teams around the world that championed him over the years, I know we all stand squarely in his corner as Ed steps into his next chapter.”
Warner Music Group also issued a statement, expressing its pride in supporting Sheeran “through his discovery and remarkable rise over the past 15 years” and gratitude for his long-standing 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,” the label continued. “Everyone in the Warner Music family wishes Ed the very best as he embarks on the next chapter of his extraordinary artistic journey.”
