Lorde Ends Decades-Long Contract With UMG to Go Independent
New Zealand pop star Lorde has officially ended her seventeen-year record deal with Universal Music Group, becoming a fully independent artist effective immediately following the contract's expiration in December of last year. In voice memos shared on March 18 to fans and media outlets including The Independent and Hollywood Reporter, she criticized how signing at age twelve resulted in having "pre-sold" her creative output before it was even created while expressing gratitude for working with Universal despite leaving them as a business partner no longer exists between the two parties.
Key Points
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1Lorde has officially parted ways with her record label after a contract that lasted for approximately seventeen years.
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2The singer signed the original deal at age 12 when she pre-sold much of her creative output to Universal Music Group, and confirmed in voice memos on March 18. She is now an independent artist seeking what describes as 'a clean slate'.
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3"I adore them" Lorde expressed gratitude toward UMG staff despite the departure.
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4The contract expiration was announced late last year but formally concluded after a long-term agreement spanning from her early teens into adulthood.
Developments
Perspectives
Lorde has officially parted ways with her record label after a contract that lasted for over seventeen years.
— (Music-news)The pop star revealed she is now operating as independent artist following the expiration of her deal in December, having signed when only twelve years old. (Popcrave)
— [Mar 19, 00:38] Lorde has parted ways with Universal Music Group after signing at age 12.'I have been under that contract for a very long time,' the singer stated in voice memos to fans.
— (Hollywoodreporter)"A twelve-year-old girl pre-sold her creative output," Lorde said, expressing relief at finally having "a clean slate" after years of being bound by an unfair agreement with Universal Music Group. (Independent.co.uk)
— [Mar 18, 22:59]"I adore them [the label], they're incredible people," Lorde said in her voice notes.
— (Pitchfork)Lorde has left Universal Music Group after 17 years following the expiration of her contract signed when she was just twelve. She described leaving as taking on "a clean slate" because signing at that age meant pre-selling creative output before understanding its implications, though she did not rule out a future re-signing with another deal structure similar to hers in Paraguay's Asunción festival dates this week
Lorde has become an independent artist after the expiration of a nearly two-decade contract with Universal Music Group, which she signed at age twelve and described as selling creative output before understanding its implications. She expressed excitement about her "clean slate" to pursue newness while noting that future deals could potentially include UMG or Republic Records again once opportunities arise for full independence from ownership constraints.