Overview
- Sheeran announced his departure in a newsletter and to media on Friday, May 22, 2026, saying he left Asylum/Warner about a month earlier and that the move was not a dispute but a change in how he wants to work.
- Warner confirmed it will continue to steward Sheeran’s historic Warner‑owned catalogue and maintain long‑term licensing arrangements for his most recent Gingerbread Man releases.
- Sheeran first signed to Asylum/Atlantic as a teenager after meeting A&R exec Ed Howard and rose under Warner to become one of the best‑selling artists of his generation with roughly 170–200 million records and massive streaming totals.
- No new distribution or release deal has been announced and reports linking Sheeran to other major labels, including Universal, are industry speculation and remain unconfirmed.
- Reports note the departure of several senior Warner executives who once worked closely with Sheeran as background to his decision, and the split could push him toward greater control through his Gingerbread Man imprint or a new partner.