Raye and Polydor 'part ways' after she claimed label wouldn't allow her to release an album

Brit Award-nominated singer Raye has “parted ways” with her record label after she claimed she was not allowed to release an album.

The 23-year-old, who had been signed to Polydor since 2014, blamed the split on “different goals artistically” in a statement posted to Instagram and Twitter on Monday night.

“Today I am speaking to you as an independent artist,” she wrote.

“Polydor and I have spoken and have agreed to part ways.

“I want to say a big thank you to the Polydor team, and all the individuals who have fought for me, believed in me and worked so hard for me across the years.

“Polydor are an incredible infrastructure powerhouse team, unfortunately we have different goals artistically and I am very grateful to them for giving me a graceful, smooth exit to start my next chapter as an artist.”

She captioned the post: “Just a little Croydon girl with a dream.”

A post shared by RAYE (@raye)

At the end of June, the singer shared an emotional series of tweets in which she said she was “sick of being slept on” by Polydor.

Raye, real name Rachel Agatha Keen, claimed the company was stopping her from releasing an album, despite having signed a four-record deal seven years ago.

“For context, in order for an album to be created, the label has to release money for songs to be finished, fees for producers, mixes, masters and marketing support etc… I have waited 7 years for this day and I am still waiting.

“So now I’m being told if Call On Me [her latest single] does well then I can do my album but there can’t be a green light until. Imagine the PRESSURE of me waking up every day frantically looking at numbers and stats hoping that I can just make MY BLOODY FIRST ALBUM.”

She said she refused to suffer in silence anymore, adding: “I’ve done everything they [the record label] asked me, I switched genres, I worked 7 days a week, ask anyone in the music game, they know. I’m done being a polite pop star. I want to make my album now, please that is all I want.”

She also revealed she would be pausing promotions for Call On Me, released in June.

“I am supposed to be in Call On Me promo mode but I just don’t have the strength to promote this record right now,” she wrote on Twitter.

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“I am leaving for a while and I am leaving my phone behind. Keep streaming and sharing this song for me. I love you.”

Last year, the singer released a “mini-album”, Euphoric Sad Songs, made up of nine tracks, and has five EPs to her name, dating back to 2014.

She headlined her own tour in 2018, and has supported the likes of Jess Glynne, Halsey and Khalid at their shows.

Earlier this year, she was nominated for best British single at the Brit Awards for her 2020 track with Regard, Secrets – but was beaten to the trophy by Harry Styles with Watermelon Sugar.

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