Lorde Parts Ways with Universal Music Group After 17-Year Relationship

Lorde has announced her departure from Universal Music Group (UMG), marking the end of a 17-year association that began when she was just 12 years old. The New Zealand-born singer shared the news with fans via WhatsApp voice messages, describing a feeling of “newness” and “openness” as she enters a new phase of her career.

The artist, whose real name is Ella Yelich-O’Connor, is currently on a South American tour, with a performance scheduled for Wednesday night at the Asunciónico festival in Paraguay. She reflected on her time with UMG, stating she “adores” the people she worked with and had an “amazing experience,” but felt the need for a “clean slate.”

“I have been in that contract for a very long time, in some form of that contract since I was 12 years old when I signed my first development deal with Universal,” Lorde explained. “I knew that I needed to take a second to have nothing being bought or sold that comes from me.” She did not rule out a future return to UMG, acknowledging the possibility of re-signing with the label at some point.

Lorde’s decision comes after her contract with Universal expired at the end of last year. She expressed a desire to experience a period without creative output being “bought or sold,” fostering a sense of “openness and possibility.”

In a lighter moment shared in her message, Lorde revealed she had recently been playing chess with Addison Rae, who is also performing at the Asunciónico festival.

Lorde is set to headline London’s All Points East festival in August, alongside artists such as PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson, and Audrey Hobert.