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 left his longtime label home at Warner Music Group 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.
