JAKARTA - English singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran has officially announced his decision to leave Warner Music, the label that has been his home for 15 years and has produced eight full studio albums.
This announcement was made directly by the singer of "Shape of You" through an official newsletter sent specifically to his fans. This big step was then confirmed by Warner Music through an official statement to the British music industry media, Music Week.
In his statement, the 35-year-old soloist confirmed that his departure from the giant label was not triggered by internal disputes or professional dissatisfaction. Instead, this is purely a personal reflection of the maturing phase of life and the shift in his priorities as a musician and head of a family.
"This is not a situation of the type 'artist who is not satisfied then leaves the record label'. This is about a boy who started his career as a teenager in this company with different priorities, becoming a father of two children who are now, who feel that he needs a shift and change in the way he does things professionally," wrote Ed Sheeran.
Ed Sheeran's career journey with Warner Music, especially through its subsidiary Asylum Records in the UK and Atlantic Records in the United States, has recorded various achievements in the history of the modern music industry.
Since debuting with the album "+" (Plus) in 2011, Sheeran has transformed from a street musician into one of Warner's biggest assets.
Cumulatively, he is estimated to have sold more than 200 million albums worldwide. One of his masterpieces, the album "รท" (Divide) released in 2017, successfully collected nearly 40 million album equivalent units - making it one of the most commercially popular releases in the streaming era.
His hit song, "Shape of You", even set a record by reaching almost 5 billion streams on the Spotify platform.
Even though the commercial performance of some of his latest album releases has declined - including the full-length album "Play" released in 2025 and only managed to land in fifth place on the US charts - Sheeran's appeal on the live stage has not diminished at all. He is still performing in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators in stadium-scale tours in various parts of the world.
Regarding the ownership of works, the initial materials in Sheeran's music catalog are guaranteed to remain managed by Warner Music under a continuing partnership agreement. Meanwhile, the copyright for his latest works is held directly by Gingerbread Man Records, Sheeran's own independent label, with a long-term licensing system distributed through the Warner network.
Furthermore, the decision to leave is also strongly influenced by the structural restructuring in the ranks of Warner Music executives, following the departure of a number of key executives who have worked very closely with Sheeran, such as Max Lousada and Julie Greenwald.
Responding to the decision, Asylum Records Co-President Ed Howard expressed deep respect and appreciation for the musician's dedication over the past dozen years of partnership. He recalled the early moments when he first met Sheeran, who was still a teenager who often slept to pursue his musical dreams.
"From a teenager who moved from sofa to sofa that I met in 2009 to becoming a global music icon like today, Ed has spent the last 15 years showing the world what happens when unparalleled talent meets unwavering integrity. Being able to take part in his incredible musical journey is a privilege and I've learned so much from him," said Ed Howard.
Warner Music Group also released a collective statement that was similar, expressing their pride in having been witnesses and major supporters behind Ed Sheeran's major career transformation since his early discovery to reaching the peak of global popularity.
"Warner Music Group is proud to have supported Ed through his incredible discovery and rise over the past 15 years and is grateful for their continued partnership. As we guide his iconic catalog into the future, we will ensure that his music will touch hearts and move feet around the world for generations to come," wrote a Warner Music Group management representative.
Until now, Ed Sheeran's next strategic move regarding the new label that will distribute his future works is still a mystery.
Rumors circulating in the industry say that he is exploring a major deal with Universal Music Group (UMG). However, when asked for confirmation by Variety, a representative from Universal Music Group was still reluctant to provide an official comment or confirm the speculation of the cooperation.
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