It’s onwards and upwards for Alexandra Burke.
Fresh from nabbing a major US management deal, the 24-year old is now a free agent (musically) after departing her record label.
Details after the jump…
According to OK!, Burke – whose debut single ‘Hallelujah’ sold more than one-million copies, was released upon her request from RCA Records last month.
A subsidiary of Sony Music, the imprint were responsible for the release of the singer’s sophomore set ‘Heartbreak On Hold’ – which didn’t fare favourably on the charts upon its arrival in May last year. Prior to then, The X Factor winner achieved multi-Platinum success under the wing of Simon Cowell’s SyCo (also a Sony imprint) – which she left in 2011. Yet, even that “situation” wasn’t without its hardships; for, despite her chart-topping run there, many music critics were not fans of the bubble-gum flavoured Pop Burke was pushing out.
Interestingly, it’s this very fact that sources say served as a catalyst for Alex’s decision to take flight. She reportedly wants to veer more toward the Urban arena, while her label were eager to try again on the Pop front – a narrative seemingly confirmed (albeit wrapped in multiple coatings of “PC”).
A label spokesperson confirmed the news, saying: “We were in negotiations with Alexandra over continuing her relationship with RCA. However, the two sides had differing views over the best creative path for Alexandra to take. As a result, both sides have parted amicably.”
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Ultimately, ish like this happens all the time – the artist has their vision, while the label has another. There aren’t any “villains” in the equation. It simply is what it is.
With that said, kudos to Alex for being headstrong about where she wants to steer her sound next go round and making the right power plays to achieve it. Urban may be all-but-dead in the UK (see: the likely reason for the label’s stance), yet Ms. Burke has the benefit of possessing a talent that is global. As such, if what we’re hearing proves correct, she’s on the brink of signing a mega-US recording deal — that’s if she hasn’t already. Whatever the case, we know she’ll be snapped up with the swiftness. She’s too talented and too marketable for it to be any other way.