Ed Sheeran Announces Departure From Warner Music Group

Ed Sheeran has announced his departure from Warner Music Group, ending a 15-year relationship with Atlantic Records and its Asylum imprint.

The artist revealed the split in a newsletter to fans on Friday, describing it as an amicable decision driven by a shift in priorities rather than any falling-out with the label.

"This isn't a 'disgruntled artist leaves record label' type situation," Sheeran wrote, via Rolling Stone. "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 leave the company with SO much love and gratitude for everything we have achieved together. I love Ed Howard forever, I love Asylum forever, and the door is always open for the future."

Sheeran signed to Atlantic/Asylum in 2011 following a chance meeting with then-Asylum A&R head Ed Howard at a pub show in Notting Hill. The label went on to release seven studio albums — Plus, Multiply, Divide, No.6 Collaborations Project, Equals, Subtract, and Autumn Variations — as Sheeran grew from couch-surfing pub performer to one of the biggest-grossing live artists on the planet. His Play touring campaign delivered $82.6 million from Australia alone.

"Over the last 15 years, I've put out so much music, and had so much success with that company," he said. "We've built something amazing together, and enjoyed such life changing stuff happening to us."

Sheeran founded his own vanity imprint, Gingerbread Man Records, under the Warner umbrella — releasing Autumn Variations (2023) and his most recent album Play through it. He hasn't disclosed where future releases will land, but the Play series — which is set to continue with Rewind, Fast-Forward, and Stop — will presumably be his first releases as a fully independent operator.

Warner Music Group said it would continue to steward his catalogue.

"Warner Music Group is proud to have supported Ed through his discovery and remarkable rise over the past 15 years," the company said in a statement. “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 departure comes months after Sheeran wrapped an expanded Australian and New Zealand stadium run in support of Play, having initially announced the dates late last year before adding extra shows due to demand. The tour also saw him settle a US$20 million copyright lawsuit that had shadowed the campaign.