Global music superstar Ed Sheeran is set to begin a new chapter in his career after ending his 15-year relationship with Warner Music Group, with reports indicating he will soon sign a long-term recording deal with Interscope Records.
The move marks one of the biggest label switches of Sheeran’s career and will see the award-winning singer-songwriter join Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s largest music company.
Although the financial details of the agreement have not been made public, the new partnership is expected to be a long-term deal as Sheeran prepares for the next phase of his musical journey.
The British singer first signed with Warner Music Group in 2011 through its Asylum and Atlantic Records UK imprints, a partnership that coincided with his rise from an emerging singer-songwriter to one of the world’s biggest recording artists.
During his time with the label, Sheeran released seven studio albums, including his acclaimed mathematics-themed album series and his breakthrough debut album, + (Plus), which introduced him to a global audience.
His Warner era also produced some of the biggest songs of the past decade, including the chart-topping singles “Shape of You” and “Perfect,” both of which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became defining hits of his career.
When announcing his departure from Warner earlier this year, Sheeran made it clear that the decision was not driven by conflict or dissatisfaction with the label.
Instead, he described it as a personal and professional transition that reflects how much his priorities have changed since he first signed as a teenager.
“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.”
Warner Music Group also acknowledged the end of the partnership on positive terms, thanking the singer for the years they worked together.
In a statement, the company said it was “proud to have supported Ed through his discovery and remarkable rise” and wished him “the very best” as he embarks on the next stage of his career.
The move to Interscope Records places Sheeran alongside a roster of globally recognised artists under Universal Music Group, reinforcing his position as one of the industry’s most influential singer-songwriters.
Over the course of his career, Sheeran has sold millions of records worldwide, earned multiple Grammy Awards and consistently dominated streaming platforms with a catalogue of hit songs spanning pop, folk and acoustic music.
While fans await an official announcement of his first project under Interscope, the label change signals a fresh start for the chart-topping artist as he looks to evolve creatively while continuing his remarkable career.
After 15 years with Warner Music Group, Ed Sheeran is embracing change—not because of a falling out, but because, as he puts it, the teenager who signed that first record deal has grown into someone ready for a new beginning.
