‘I need a shift and change’: Ed Sheeran exits Warner Music Group after 15 years

WASHINGTON: Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has officially parted ways with Warner Music Group after a 15-year association that saw him become one of the world’s biggest recording artists, according to Variety.

The news was confirmed by Warner Music in a statement to Music Week, while Sheeran shared an emotional message with fans through his newsletter, clarifying that the split was amicable and driven by personal and professional evolution.

“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”, according to Variety.

Sheeran joined Warner’s subsidiary Asylum Records in the UK in 2010 after being discovered by label executive Ed Howard during his early days performing pub gigs in London. His music was later distributed in the United States through Warner’s Atlantic label.

Ed Sheeran reveals that he left Asylum/Warner Music after 15 years in a statement pic.twitter.com/dZephpN1Ve

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Recalling the beginning of his journey, Sheeran said, “I honestly didn’t 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.”

Over the course of his career with Warner, Sheeran released eight full-length albums, including blockbuster records like and / (“Divide”), which became one of the most commercially successful albums of the streaming era. His hit track Shape of You remains among Spotify’s most-streamed songs of all time, with nearly five billion streams.

Despite recent albums performing less strongly commercially, Sheeran continues to draw massive crowds worldwide with his stadium tours. His latest album, Play, released in 2025, peaked at No. 5 in the United States.

While Warner will continue to manage Sheeran’s back catalogue in an ongoing partnership, rights to his more recent releases are owned by his own Gingerbread Man label and licensed to Warner through a distribution arrangement.

Industry speculation suggests Sheeran could next sign with Universal Music Group, although no official confirmation has been made.

In his farewell message, Sheeran thanked the Warner team for supporting him from his earliest days. “Over the last 15 years, I’ve put out so much music and had so much success with that company. We’ve built something amazing together and enjoyed such life changing stuff happening to us,” he wrote. He added, “… Excited to see where the next 15 years takes me.”

Ed Howard, who first signed Sheeran to Asylum Records, described the singer as “a global music icon” and praised not only his talent but also his character. “Beyond 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,” Howard said.

In a collective statement, Warner Music said it was “proud to have supported Ed through his discovery and remarkable rise over the past 15 years” and wished him “the very best as he embarks on the next chapter of his extraordinary artistic journey,” according to Variety. (ANI)