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.
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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.
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