Ed Sheeran has announced his decision to leave Warner Music after 15 years of incredible global success.
The superstar singer-songwriter broke the news in a statement sent to fans today and supplied to Music Week – you can read it in full below.
The departure is entirely amicable with Warner Music and longtime Atlantic UK label boss Ed Howard providing supportive statements alongside Sheeran’s.
Sheeran even made the point in his statement that this “isn’t a ‘disgruntled artist leaves record label’ type situation”.
While he is starting a new chapter in his music career, Warner Music will continue to release Sheeran’s enduring catalogue across eight studio albums. It continues to be a weekly chart presence thanks to consistent streaming consumption and radio airplay.
The global impact of Ed Sheeran – in partnership with Warner Music – is incredible: 170 million albums sold around the world, 126 billion global streams, 38 billion YouTube views and 14 tracks in the Spotify Billions Club.
In the UK, he’s had 13 No.1 singles, nine No.1 albums and a staggering 53 platinum and multi-platinum UK Singles.
“We’ve built something amazing together and enjoyed such life-changing stuff happening to us,” said Sheeran of his partnership with Warner Music. “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.”
Thank you everyone across Warner worldwide who has worked on my projects over the last 15 years, it’s been an incredible journey
Ed Sheeran
While many artists move labels in their careers, Sheeran has been closely entwined with the Warner Music family for 15 years, alongside his team at Grumpy Old Management and Sony Music Publishing.
“I decided to leave Asylum/Warner last month,” continued Sheeran in the statement. “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-two man who exists now, who feels like he needs a shift and change in the way he does things professionally. 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.”
Ed Howard famously signed Sheeran to Atlantic’s Asylum imprint in 2011 after first meeting him at a Bruno Mars gig in 2010. The now-Atlantic UK co-president recalled Sheeran’s huge ambition even back then in a Music Week interview for the launch of the Play album last year.
Being able to play a part in his extraordinary musical journey has been a privilege and I've learnt so much from him
Ed Howard
Ed Howard, co-president, Atlantic Records UK, said: “From the sofa-surfing teenager I met in 2009 to the global music icon he is today, Ed has spent the last 15 years showing the world what happens when unmatched talent meets unwavering integrity.
“Being able to play a part in his extraordinary musical journey has been a privilege and I've learnt so much from him.
“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.
“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.”
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
Warner Music
Warner Music Group’s statement said: “Warner Music Group 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.”
At the UK arm of Warner, Sheeran also worked closely with then Asylum label boss Ben Cook in the early days and Max Lousada, former Warner Music UK CEO and chairman, who went on to become global CEO of Recorded Music. He has since left to launch his own label venture with Sony Music, alongside Julie Greenwald.
While there is no official news on his next move, speculation will now turn to where Sheeran goes for future projects.
Sheeran has, of course, launched his own Gingerbread Man label, which has partnered with Atlantic on Maisie Peters including new album Florescence.
He has already released music outside of Atlantic by issuing 2023’s low-key Autumn Variations LP via Gingerbread Man via ADA, Warner Music’s distribution network for independent artists.
Outside of his recording career, Sheeran has had an instrumental role in supporting music education in the UK – even prompting the government to change the curriculum.
Despite a long and successful spell as an artist and songwriter, including playing stadiums worldwide, Sheeran is still only 35. It now remains to be seen where one of the biggest artists of the last two decades ends up for the next stage of his career.
Ed Sheeran statement in full:
I met Ed Howard from Asylum records at a show in Notting Hill when I was 18 and I ended up crashing at his and his now wife’s house. Whilst there I played him a bunch of music, and just chatted about life and what I wanted to do. I honestly didn’t know at the time he worked at a record label, I thought he was just someone cool who was letting me crash on his sofa. But the next day I found out who he was, and we started chatting. He came to so many of those small gigs, with Ben Cook who ran Asylum at the time. All the tiny tiny pub gigs no one came to, they came to. So when No.5 collaborations came out, and I was offered a deal, I signed instantly. I love those guys so much.
Over the last 15 years, I’ve put out so much music and had so much success with that company. 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. 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. 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. Loads of love to everyone x
FOLLOW 
