The Grammy-winning singer shared the news with fans through a personal message sent via his email list on Friday, explaining that the decision was not driven by conflict or dissatisfaction, but by personal growth and a desire for change.
In the emotional statement, Sheeran reflected on how much his life and priorities have evolved since first signing with the label as a teenager in 2011.
“I’ve decided to leave Asylum/Warner last month. I leave the company with SO much love and gratitude for everything we have achieved together,” he wrote.
He made it clear that the split was amicable and rooted more in transition than tension.
“This isn’t a ‘disgruntled artist leaves record label’ type situation,” Sheeran explained. “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.”
Over the last 15 years, Sheeran has become one of the defining artists of his generation, dominating charts globally and building a catalogue filled with commercial and critical successes.
During his time with Warner Music Group, the singer scored multiple chart-topping albums and singles, including smash hits like Shape of You and Perfect. His album ÷ (Divide) became one of the standout releases of 2017, while projects such as x, No.6 Collaborations Project and = also reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Industry data from Luminate shows that since his debut in 2011, Sheeran has accumulated nearly 26 million equivalent album units in the United States alone, alongside more than 32 billion streams and millions of album sales.
Despite his departure, Warner Music Group will continue to control much of Sheeran’s biggest catalogue. The company also retains long-term licensing rights to his more recent albums, including Autumn Variations and Play, both released through Sheeran’s independent imprint, Gingerbread Man Records, in partnership with Atlantic Records.
Responding to the announcement, Warner Music Group praised the singer’s legacy and contribution to the company over the past decade and a half.
“We are proud to have supported Ed through his discovery and remarkable rise over the past 15 years,” the company said in a statement.
The label added that it remains committed to preserving and promoting Sheeran’s music for future generations.
Behind the scenes, Sheeran’s exit also comes during a period of transition within the company itself. The singer originally signed to Asylum/Atlantic U.K. under executive Ed Howard, who played a major role in his development and career growth.
Several longtime executives associated with Sheeran’s success, including former Atlantic Records chief Julie Greenwald and former Warner Music executive Max Lousada, exited the company in 2024 to launch a new venture under Sony Music Group.
Meanwhile, Atlantic Records has entered a new era under chairman and CEO Elliot Grainge, who has overseen steady market growth for the label in the United States music industry.
While Sheeran has not yet revealed what his next professional move will be, fans and industry observers alike are already speculating about whether the singer plans to pursue greater independence through his own label or align with a new music partner.
For now, the singer appears focused less on business headlines and more on personal evolution — closing one successful chapter while preparing for another.
Read Sheeran’s full note below.
Hey everyone
A little update from me, I left my record label a month ago…
I met Ed Howard from Asylum records at a show in Notting Hill when I was 18 and I ended up crashing at his and his now wife’s house. Whilst there I played him a bunch of music, and just chatted about life and what I wanted to do. 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. But the next day I found out who he was, and we started chatting. He came to so many of those small gigs, with Ben Cook who ran Asylum at the time. All the tiny tiny pub gigs no one came to, they came to. So when no.5 collaborations came out, and I was offered a deal, I signed instantly. I love those guys so much.
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. My life is hugely different now to what it was when I was a teenager, and I’ve 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’ve sorta morphed into this pop star who plays stadiums over 15 years, it’s a super amazing thing to have happened but also a lot to get your head around. I decided to leave Asylum / Warner last month. 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. 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. Excited to see where the next 15 years takes me.
Loads of love to everyone x