{"id":463212,"date":"2026-05-23T10:11:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T10:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/463212\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T10:11:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T10:11:12","slug":"ed-sheeran-leaves-warner-music-after-15-years-tells-fans-decision-was-not-a-disgruntled-artist-situation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/463212\/","title":{"rendered":"Ed Sheeran leaves Warner Music after 15 years, tells fans decision was not “a disgruntled artist situation”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ed Sheeran<\/a> has left Warner Music after 15 years. Find all the details below.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0Ed Sheeran \u2013 \u2018Play\u2019 review: a hasty retreat to the genre-spanning of old<\/a><\/p>\n

The singer made the announcement in his newsletter on Friday (May 22), writing that it \u201cisn\u2019t a \u2018disgruntled artist leaves record label\u2019 type situation,\u201d and that he remains on good terms with the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis 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,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

Sheeran was signed to the Warner subsidiary Asylum Records in the UK, with his albums being released through Warner\u2019s Atlantic label in the US. He released his first album, \u2018+<\/a>\u2018, with them in 2011, before later sharing \u2018x\u2019, \u2018\u00f7<\/a>\u2018, \u2018\u2013<\/a>\u2018, \u2018=<\/a>\u2018, and his new series starter \u2018Play<\/a>\u2018.<\/p>\n

While his earlier albums are owned by Warner, the rights to his more recent releases, including 2023\u2019s \u2018Autumn Variations<\/a>\u2018, are held by his own Gingerbread Man label and licensed to Warner.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the last 15 years, I\u2019ve put out so much music, and had so much success with that company. We\u2019ve built something amazing together, and enjoyed such life changing stuff happening to us,\u201d Sheeran wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy life is hugely different now to what it was when I was a teenager, and I\u2019ve 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\u2019ve sorta morphed into this pop star who plays stadiums over 15 years, it\u2019s a super amazing thing to have happened but also a lot to get your head around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ed Sheeran left Warner Music after 15 years:<\/p>\n

\u201cMy life is hugely different now to what it was when I was a teenager, and I\u2019ve 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\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/5ydRzLbk4A<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) May 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Sheeran began working with Warner after a chance meeting with Ed Howard, formerly head of A&R for Asylum at a show in Notting Hill. \u201cI was 18 and I ended up crashing at his and his now wife\u2019s house. Whilst there I played him a bunch of music, and just chatted about life and what I wanted to do,\u201d he said. \u201cI honestly didn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Howard supported Sheeran by coming to the \u201ctiny tiny pub gigs no one came to,\u201d alongside Ben Cook, who previously helmed Asylum. \u201cWhen [his debut EP] \u2018No. 5 Collaborations\u2019 came out, and I was offered a deal, I signed instantly. I love those guys so much,\u201d Sheeran said, adding: \u201cI 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\u2019s been an incredible journey. Excited to see where the next 15 years takes me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Warner Music Group said in a statement they were \u201cproud\u201d to have supported Sheeran through his \u201cremarkable rise over the past 15 years\u201d.<\/p>\n

Per Music Week<\/a>, they continued: \u201cAs we steward his iconic catalogue into the future, we\u2019ll 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ed Howard added: \u201cFrom 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to play a part in his extraordinary musical journey has been a privilege and I\u2019ve learnt so much from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeyond 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

In other news, Sheeran was recently named among the wealthiest names in British music<\/a>, alongside Noel<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Liam Gallagher<\/a>,\u00a0Paul McCartney<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0the Eavis family<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, back in January, he was\u00a0asking fans to \u201ctext in song recommendations\u201d for him to play on his 2026 \u2018Loop Tour\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n