Ed Sheeran is set to sign a record deal with Interscope, sources familiar with the matter confirm to The Hollywood Reporter, marking the next step in Sheeran’s career after the pop singer-songwriter’s deal with his longtime label home at Warner Music Group ended earlier this year. The deal is said to be a longterm arrangement, but it’s unclear how many albums the contract includes.
Sheeran had conversations across the major label system, with sources saying fellow major music company Sony was also in touch with him. Joining UMG’s Interscope, Sheeran is now part of a roster that also includes Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar among others. The signing reunites Sheeran with Interscope CEO John Janick, who’d worked with the pop star when he previously headed Warner’s Elektra Records.
A rep for Interscope declined to comment.
Sheeran is one of the most-streamed artists of all time, landing at Number Six on Spotify’s recently-revealed all time artist list. He’s also a major live act, with his years-long +-=÷X tour sitting as the third highest-grossing concert tour of all time. First signing with WMG’s Asylum and Atlantic out of the U.K. in 2011, Sheeran was one of the most ubiquitous artists on the Warner roster before his departure, alongside the likes of fellow superstars such as Bruno Mars and Coldplay. With 83 million monthly listeners on Spotify, he was one of the most-streamed acts across the WMG system.
Sheeran boasts one of the most successful catalogs of all time, and as Warner said earlier this year, the company will continue to retain his works such as mega-hits like “Shape of You,” “Thinking Out Loud” and “Bad Habits. Still, Sheeran’s past few albums haven’t performed at the same clip as his biggest successes like X (multiply) and ÷ (Divide). 2023’s – (Subtract) was Sheeran’s first album since his 2011 debut not to open at number one on the Billboard charts, debuting at 2 and remaining on the chart for 15 weeks. Autumn Variations came out a few months later and opened at Number 4 before dropping off the chart two weeks later. Last year’s Play debuted at Number 5 and lasted five weeks on the chart.
Earlier this year in a newsletter to fans, Sheeran confirmed his departure from Warner, saying that “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,” Sheeran wrote. “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.”
Sheeran is one of several notable acts departing from their longtime label homes in recent months. Lorde announced back in March that she was independent after her longtime deal with Universal Music Group was completed after she released her fourth album Virgin last year. It’s unclear if she’ll remain independent or sign elsewhere. Meanwhile Zara Larrson, who’d long been with Sony’s Epic Records, has inked a new deal with fellow Sony label RCA, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to THR.
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