Usher is making major moves as he maps out his musical comeback.
Details below…
Billboard reports that the 40-year-old has signed with 100 Management – an agreement that will see his career shepherded by Luke Mitzman.
Over the years, the R&B crooner has been managed by a succession of titan-sized managers with equally huge artists on their roster. This list includes Benny Medina, Randy Phillips and most recently Scooter Braun.
However, this partnership places the singer amidst a unique mix of names.
For, 100 Management also represent Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, Netsky and Maya B, among others.
Mitzman will integrate with Usher’s current team (which includes Julia Khan) and together they’ll press ahead in guiding the next chapter his career.
One of the first bullet points on the agenda will be the star’s next studio album, which will be released in 2019 – according to the same report. Production on the project is said to come courtesy of longtime collaborators Jermaine Dupri, Bryan Michael Cox, and Rico Love. The father of two was also snapped in the studio this summer with Jay-Z.
Last month, Ush unleashed ‘A’ – a joint project with Zaytoven.
**************
Interesting development.
We’re keen to see how the next instalment of Usher’s story plays out.
Of course there’s the clean-up of his scandal, something we’re not sure will disappear without a head-on addressing. But, crucially, there’s also the music.
‘A’ had a few compelling corners, but as a body of work felt a little pointless (unless released as some sort of contractual obligation).
For years, it’s been more than apparent that Ush was is need of an angle. Something narrative-driven a la ‘Confessions’ or ‘8701’; an angle he could then pair with a fresh sound musically.
Fingers crossed his next release embraces that mantra. He keeps teasing with Trap tunes, but we’d much prefer something altogether…different.
What are…
![Melanie Fiona Dances Up a Storm in the Music Video for 'I Choose You' [Watch]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/melanie-fiona-i-choose-you-music-video-thatgrapejuice-2024-464x260.jpg "Melanie Fiona Dances Up a Storm in the Music Video for 'I Choose You' [Watch].")
![Tyla Turns Up the Heat with 'Push 2 Start' & 'Shake Ah' Live at the Billboard Music Awards 2024' [Performance]](https://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/tyla-bbma-tgj-1-464x260.jpg "Tyla Turns Up the Heat with 'Push 2 Start' & 'Shake Ah' Live at the Billboard Music Awards 2024' [Performance].")
I think these artist are in denial.
No matter how much management deals and label changes they do, When you’re expired that’s it.
Artists of Ushers calibur are afforded the benefit of being able to make music for the rest of their lives. He will always be able to release projects. TGJ is calling it a “comeback”, he’s not helming it as a comeback. He’s just doing his job minding his business
who are u to say someone expired or not? To u he expired yet ur on here commentin about him loool. Non sense.
I wanna know why some of these older artists made more mature sounding music when they were teenagers! Now they want to be all trendy and childish? Usher still looks youthful, but that doesn’t mean make a trap song or one of those terrible songs JLo tries to sell….how does Jlo’s first album sound more mature than everything that followed? ? And how does Tiffany’s debut album sound more mature than anything Nicki has EVER done? Madonna is guilty as charged too with those trendy sounding songs she’s been pushing lately! We really need to talk about it lol ☕️ These artists put songs last on the list and image and branding first these days smh
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiffany_(album)
That’s a very good point. I can’t relate to artist like Ursher and JLO now because their music ain’t mature enough for me. Ain’t that some ish.
This is why I appreciate artist like Rihanna who grows and change their sound to keep it align with aging audiences. Rihanna ain’t out here making kiddy bops anymore. Others should follow suit.
@Meme I agree! Rihanna’s music has grown with her step by step! And in my opinion, she’s never really made a kiddy bop…her music is like TLC’s…fun, yet mature and edgy
The reason that the music was more mature then is because the A&R and Label heads at the time assessed correctly that type of sound would sell. They didn’t do it for fun. It’s a business of making money – so the music is less mature today because they are trying to assess what the fan (and casual listeners) will buy (and stream) which as we all know if no longer an easy task given that R&B is not trending to commercially cross over and have mass appeal like it did in the 90‘s.
I understand it’s a business but jlo and ursher still ain’t selling so….
@Haterz, I see what you’re saying, but Adele takes that same mature sound from the 90’s and CLEANS HOUSE with it lol #30MillionPerAlbum
@Meme lol exactly ?
Usher is not expired!! He can still make hits. Everyone deserves second chances.
He had several.
Does not need second chances cause he is still making hits. When was his last one? in the US “No limit” in 2016 and in Uk and Australia “crash”.Does it seem so far to you for someone reaching his third decade? Learn to make some sense. Ur fav will never reach his level lol. Bey spent nearly a decade without a hit,but am sure u said no word abut it. pfff
Bey had plenty hits this decade. She just didn’t have a number 1 until this yr. I’ve NEVER heard anything besides Drunk In Love and Perfect on pop radio. NEVER. so if that’s what you mean I get it. Like Bey, if Usher sticks to his fan base he will be fine. Black radio will support him.
Well release singles & stop pushing albums especially when it’s not benefiting your career!!
His single days are over. He should push albums, mature ones at that. He should be near Beyonce’s level now, cause actually he was bigger than her once. But while she was smart and grew and released albums as a whole body of work, he jumped on trends and lost his signature sound. He could sing nearly all male r&b acts under the table, but he was such a trendchaser that he lost his route.
he can do watever he wants at his level. He can still release albums. U should rather say “release a r&b album” not “stop releasin albums when watever” Are u alright ? loool. That guy is one of the few real talents left in the music business now.
He needs to stop trying to keep up with this new generation and put out songs showcasing his vocals for real and some uptempo bangers by the OG producers.
9 Hot 100 number 1’s all as a lead artist. Over 75 million albums sold worldwide. 20 plus years in the game, the man has nothing to prove. He Can experiment and make whatever kind of music he wants. Its called being an ARTIST.
well said. People talkin s*** on here know nothin. Or maybe they are hatin cause their fav will never get there lmaooo
Come back…..?????? He never Left..
People constantly JUDGE Usher like he’s still 20 years old. He’sinto his thr
Third decade, name any great…MJ, Prince, Whittney, Stevie. All of their careers slowed down after 20 plus years lol
The multpile marriages, the divorces, the trend chasing and the h***** crisis ruined any possibility of Usher having any type of comeback. Have people not paid attention to his latest “album” flopping? The drop in social media followers across all platforms? A confessions like album in 2018, wouldn’t be as effective as it was in 2004. It’s not as easy to shock people now, we’ve seen it all. Artist do have expiration dates as far as their commercial appeal. After that’s gone, it’s up to them to maintain their base. I still love 8701,Confessions, and Here I Stand. Usher has nothing left to prove but a comeback isn’t going to happen, at least not anytime soon.
Usher just needs to leave that trap/hip hop sound alone and stop trying to keep up with Chris Brown. He needs to blend authentic R&B with a top 40 sound on his next album like Bruno Mar’s 24k Magic. His comeback could definitely work with the right sound and promo. Hopefully his new management team doesn’t screw this up.
They are