Lorde Shares Her Record Deal Has Ended and She’s Excited for a Fresh Start
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Lorde has announced her readiness for change following the expiration of her contract with Universal Music Group last year. The announcement was made via a voice note to fans on March 18, ahead of her performances at the Ultrasound festival.
In her message, Lorde revealed that after approximately 17 years, she is no longer affiliated with her first label. “At the end of last year, my label deal — my record contract with Universal — came to an end,” she shared. “I have been in that contract for a very, very long time, in some form … since I was 12 years old, when I signed my first development deal with Universal.”
The 29-year-old artist expressed her appreciation for the “incredible people” at Universal who supported her through her first four albums, starting with 2013’s Pure Heroine. “I adore them there,” she stated. “I’ve had an amazing experience with them. But the truth is that a 12-year-old girl pre-sold her creative output before she knew what it would be like, and before she knew what she was signing away.”
Looking ahead, Lorde is confident about her future in the music industry, suggesting she may partner with Universal again. However, she emphasized the need to take time for herself: “I needed to take a second to have nothing being bought or sold that comes from [her].”
“When I see an opportunity for a clean slate, I try to take it,” she continued. “And it does feel different … I feel a feeling of openness and possibility, and I’m inspired. It just feels exciting to have removed the container or something for a second.”
Billboard has reached out to both Lorde’s representative and Universal for additional comments.
Among her new endeavors, Lorde is also pursuing her driver’s license. “I’m studying for my permit … I must be a licensed driver before I turn 30,” she joked. Additionally, she has signed a lease for her first official office space, describing it as a combination of study, studio, and workspace. “I don’t even really know what I’m going to do with yet … I’ve run all of this from my bed forever, and I am excited to see what having a bit more of a formalized space for all my crap will look like.”
Throughout her career with Universal, Lorde experienced significant success, particularly with her debut single “Royals,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks. Her discography includes Melodrama (2017), Solar Power (2021), and her latest album, Virgin, released in 2025. All of her LPs have achieved a spot in the top five of the Billboard 200.
As she embarks on her journey as an unsigned artist, Lorde is preparing to headline several festivals, including BottleRock Napa Valley in California and the Governor’s Ball in New York City. Just a day prior to her voice note, it was announced that she will lead the lineup at Lollapalooza 2026 alongside Charli XCX, JENNIE, Tate McRae, Olivia Dean, and others.
