Adele Set To Exit Indie Label For Britain's Biggest Ever Record Deal

Grammy Award-winning singer Adele is set to land the biggest ever record deal given to a British musician when she makes the jump to Sony Music upon exiting her current label, XL Recordings.

As The Sun reports, the 28-year-old artist is to sign a £90 million record deal (over $AUS180 million) with the new label which will not only topple fellow British singer Robbie Williams' £80 million deal (over $AUS160 million) with EMI in 2002, but is the most valuable contract given to a female artist following the late Whitney Houston's deal with Arista in 2001, worth £70 million (over $AUS140 million).

"We’ve secured Adele, who’s ­without doubt the biggest music star in a generation. This is massive," a source at Sony said.

"Adele’s deal with her original label XL expired and we’d an existing relationship with her in America.

"The deal is being worked on by our Columbia label in the US, but is worth £90million and gives Sony the rights to release her future music exclusively around the world."

The massive deal isn't new for Sony, given that they hold the title for the biggest recording deal in history with the late King Of Pop, Michael Jackson, who signed a $250 million deal (over $AUS346 million) in 2010.

Other big money deals include U2's $US200 million contract with Polydor in 1993, as well as rappers Jay Z and Lil Wayne who signed deals with Live Nation and Cash Money Entertainment respectively for a figure of $US150 million.

Adele's latest album 25 spent seven weeks at the top of the ARIA Albums Chart upon its release last November and is still a regular feature in the top ten.