Photo Credit: Justin Higuchi / CC by 2.0
Jessie J announces she is parting ways with Republic Records and UMG after 17 years and will release her next project independently.
English singer Jessie J announced in a video on social media on Friday (September 29) that she has amicably parted ways with Republic Records, her longtime home label, and plans to independently release her next project.
“After 17 years, I have decided to leave Republic Records,” says the 35-year-old J, in a selfie video posted to Instagram. She explains her lawyer advised her to make a statement about the decision, but that there’s no “negative spin” and she parted ways with Republic and UMG amicably. Jessie also credits Republic Records founders Monte and Avery Lipman and former A&R rep Jason Flom for “being so gracious and kind in supporting my decision.”
“I just feel so grateful that I’ve got to experience being signed to the best record label in the world — but I have to just be honest with who I am and what I want from my career now,” Jessie continues. “There’s no negative spin; nothing’s happened. It’s not dramatic. It’s just me literally saying, ‘This doesn’t feel right,’ and it hasn’t for years.”
Jessie J, whose birth name is Jessica Ellen Cornish, debuted in 2011 with her single “Do It Like a Dude,” and her follow-up single, the Dr. Luke produced hit “Price Tag,” which peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her third album, Sweet Talker (2014), featured the hit “Bang Bang” which featured Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj and peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 chart.
“I am now in the process of doing all the legalities and sorting out the music so I can put out new music and do it my way; on my time, on my terms, and do it independently,” she said, promising that new music is in the works. “There’s nothing but good vibes on this.”