Kelly Clarkson Signs To Atlantic Records

Christina Lee | June 24, 2016 1:33 pm
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Kelly Clarkson has inked a long-term, worldwide deal with Atlantic Records. Her first order of business is a new album inspired by R&B and soul, as requested by fans. Until its 2017 release, though, Kelly has posted live covers of Coldplay‘s “Fix You,” Radiohead‘s “Creep,” Etta James‘ “I’d Rather Go Blind” and India Arie‘s “Ready for Love” on a new website, KellyClarksonLive.com.

Her excitement also comes through in the press release announcing the deal. “After winning American Idol there was an arranged marriage that occurred that sometimes worked out and sometimes resulted in the hardest experiences of my life,” Kelly says.

She is referring to her previous deal with RCA, where she had been signed since 2002 as the first season winner of American Idol. In 2007, she and Sony Music head Clive Davis publicly feuded over the darker direction of her album My December. Years later, she also claimed that RCA “blackmailed” her into working with producer Dr. Luke for 2004’s “Since U Been Gone.”

Kelly isn’t Atlantic’s only new signee. Rita Ora joined its UK roster earlier this week, after having been signed to Roc Nation.

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