Posted June 3, 201411 yr Good decision. Syco have given up on her, and she needs a fresh direction! http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/leona-l...ek%3A+Stream%29 Long-term Sony artist Leona Lewis has signed an exclusive recording contract with Universal's Island Records. Lewis released four studio albums at Sony, clocking up sales of over 20 million globally. Her hit singles include the chart-topping Bleeding Love, which became the best-selling single worldwide in 2008. When her 2012 studio album Glassheart - released on Syco/Sony - was a commercial disappointment in the UK and failed to be granted a full released in the US, her career appeared to have taken a serious knock. But Lewis's 2013 Christmas-themed single One More Sleep breathed life back into her prospects, hitting No.3 on the Official UK Chart after being released in late November. The track's heavy airplay rotation helped propel festive album Christmas, With Love - another Syco release - to gold sales status in the UK. Speaking about her signing to Island - a label of Sony rival Universal - Lewis said: “After seven incredible years at Sony I feel honoured to be given the opportunity to sign to perhaps the most iconic label of all, Island Records. "To me Island has always been a label where artists can really flourish and are encouraged to express themselves. Island stands for quality music and signing with such a legendary label is really like a dream come true for me. I can’t wait to start making music with my new team.“ Darcus Beese president of Island added: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Leona into the Island family. I’ve watched and admired Miss Lewis from afar, witnessed her grow into one of this country’s most formidable female artists. Witnessed a girl from Hackney making and breaking records, topping the UK and US charts, earning numerous Brit and Grammy nominations, while remaining true to herself and her principles. All the while maintaining a genuine down to earth appeal. Soon as the ink dries, it’s on to the most exciting part of all, getting into the studio and making the record we know Leona has in her." Lewis has been nominated for seven BRIT Awards, three Grammy Awards and won an Ivor Novello award. She was recently confirmed as the most successful British female solo artist in UK chart history, with more Top 5 hits to her name (8) than any other British female. Edited June 3, 201411 yr by April
June 3, 201411 yr Happy about this Island Records seem to have some good artist signed to them! I like the bit where someone from label says "getting into the studio and making the record we know Leona has in her." I cant wait for the new album!
June 3, 201411 yr Author Happy about this Island Records seem to have some good artist signed to them! I like the bit where someone from label says "getting into the studio and making the record we know Leona has in her." I cant wait for the new album! They've basically inferred that she's been badly handled under Syco - which is completely true! Poor single choices and bad promo/release schedules have caused her lowering success. Christmas, With Love and One More Sleep showed she still has massive potential for success. Hopefully Island Records help her to achieve it!
June 3, 201411 yr They've basically inferred that she's been badly handled under Syco - which is completely true! Poor single choices and bad promo/release schedules have caused her lowering success. Christmas, With Love and One More Sleep showed she still has massive potential for success. Hopefully Island Records help her to achieve it! Yes I agree! One More Sleep got number 1 on iTunes so with the right song she can do well!
June 3, 201411 yr Tweet from Leona Leona Lewis @leonalewismusic · 12m So happy to finally be able to share the amazing news that I have joined the @islandrecordsuk family! Excited for this next chapter...
June 3, 201411 yr Author A very nice tweet from Mr Cowell himself too... Simon Cowell @SimonCowell · 56m Congratulations Leona. We had 7 great years together and now wish you all the best for the future. You put X Factor on the map. X Nice to see him acknowledge how much she has done for X Factor.
June 3, 201411 yr Mixed reaction for this. On the positive side, I think it's a good move as if Ella Henderson continues to be as successful as 'Ghost' suggests she will be then I think Syco will not give much attention to Leona and focus on Ella in the future. On the other hand, 'Christmas, With Love' had a fantastic promotional campaign so is there a guarantee that the promotional opportunities will continue with another label? I also hope Simon continues to let Leona perform on his shows but this is no longer a guarantee. Also, we saw what happened once Alexandra left Syco and moved to another label, but I don't think Leona will become that unsuccessful anyway. It's definitely a risk and probably a worthwhile risk to take, I just hope it pays off! EDIT: Just seen Simon's tweet, hopefully this means that he will let her continue to perform on his shows then! :D
June 3, 201411 yr Very exciting news! :D I can't wait to see (and hear!) what comes from this label move. Reassuring to see that the parting of ways is on good terms too, re: Simon's tweet.
June 3, 201411 yr This will be make or break for her then. It seems like things didn't end badly with Syco so hopefully we will still see her get promo slots on the big Simon Cowell shows. Fingers crossed Island don't mess this up.
June 3, 201411 yr Mixed reaction for this. On the positive side, I think it's a good move as if Ella Henderson continues to be as successful as 'Ghost' suggests she will be then I think Syco will not give much attention to Leona and focus on Ella in the future. On the other hand, 'Christmas, With Love' had a fantastic promotional campaign so is there a guarantee that the promotional opportunities will continue with another label? I also hope Simon continues to let Leona perform on his shows but this is no longer a guarantee. Also, we saw what happened once Alexandra left Syco and moved to another label, but I don't think Leona will become that unsuccessful anyway. It's definitely a risk and probably a worthwhile risk to take, I just hope it pays off! EDIT: Just seen Simon's tweet, hopefully this means that he will let her continue to perform on his shows then! :D Bit late on that. 1D took a lot of attention away from Leona and they focused more so on them than her. Also, I'm sure Leona's promotional opportunities will be fine. Island is under Universal and they have a lot more money than Syco (a rather small label). She's also label mates with the likes of Florence & The Machines/Drake/Disclosure/Robbie Williams and given Leona's potential success, I think she'll do well under them. I'm pretty sure Leona will be able to perform on X-factor still, as she is a previous winner and has a decent relationship with the show and Simon, unlike previous winners. In regards to Alexandra, she isn't in the same situation thankfuly. Plus Epic isn't as good as Island from what I've seen. So fingers corssed. :)
June 3, 201411 yr Yeah the more I read about this the more positive I'm feeling. The reason I focused on Ella is the comparisons that her and Leona have had and are both similar artists whereas One Direction are obviously a boy-band rather than a female solo singer. Although you are right, since One Direction became successful, Leona has become less of a priority. I just think Ella becoming successful too would be the turning point due to the similarities between her and Leona.
June 3, 201411 yr On the positive side, I think it's a good move as if Ella Henderson continues to be as successful as 'Ghost' suggests she will be then I think Syco will not give much attention to Leona and focus on Ella in the future. Why can't they focus on BOTH
June 3, 201411 yr I think this is a positive, Christmas With Love was handled well but they didn't really seem to care about Glassheart, hopefully Island will handle the next era well!
June 3, 201411 yr Why can't they focus on BOTH Well obviously they could, but it feels like Ella is Syco's opportunity to "start again" and possibly have worldwide success whereas they may feel that Leona has hit her worldwide peak and modest UK success wouldn't be as beneficial to them as possible worldwide success would be with Ella, therefore they would naturally put more effort into Ella.
June 3, 201411 yr I hope this works in her favour. She is certainly the best thing to ever come from poo factor.
June 3, 201411 yr Tweet from the new label Island Records @islandrecordsuk · 55m We're excited to say that @leonalewismusic has joined the Island family!! Looking forward to what's to come! One Love x https://twitter.com/islandrecordsuk and tweet off John Newman (he's on the same label) John Newman @JohnNewmanMusic · 22m Welcome to the @islandrecordsuk fam @leonalewismusic ! https://twitter.com/JohnNewmanMusic
June 3, 201411 yr Author Leona is definitely better off away from Syco. They seem to stop caring after the initial success, and focus on the next talent. They've shown this time and time again. It's best for both parties that she moved on and she'll do much better with Island Records imo.
June 4, 201411 yr So excited about this, she's definitely made the right decission, Syco seemed to stop caring about Leona afte Echo. Really hope this works out for her, fingers crossed for amazing things to come. She's done it before & I believe she'll do it again. Makes me so excited for this new era! :wub: hopefully we'll hear news on the new album soon! :D
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