Eurovision star Mae Muller 'splits from her record label' weeks after announcing break from music

Last month, the singer hit out at the industry about the ‘pressure of chasing hits’
Mae Muller pictured in June 2023
Getty Images
Lisa McLoughlin 7 February 2024
The Weekender

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Mae Muller has split from her record label less than a year after representing the United Kingdom at the Eurovision, according to reports.

The singer, 26, finished in second-to-last place with her track I Wrote A Song at the song contest which was held in Liverpool, in place of war-torn Ukraine, in May.

Despite her disappointing Eurovision result, her song earned her a Top Ten single in the UK charts.

Following the song’s success in the UK charts, she released her debut album Sorry I'm Late in September, but it failed to resonate with audiences and didn’t break the Top 30, reaching number 33 on the UK album charts.

And now, it has been reported that the singer has parted ways with Capitol Records UK.

A source told The Sun: “Everyone hoped that Eurovision would be the thing to propel Mae into the mainstream and make her a big star. It certainly raised her profile — but not for all the right reasons and it has been a very tricky year for everyone involved.”

Muller performing at the Eurovision Song Contest last May
AFP via Getty Images

The insider claimed Muller “struggled” to find a solid fanbase following her Eurovision appearance and cancelled her tour as a result.

They also alleged that the Climax hitmaker now feels as if she “compromised her artistic integrity” for the sake of the label so felt she it was time to leave.

The source added: “The label really tried to support her with her album, but she struggled to muster up a hardcore fanbase and had to cancel her tour in the autumn because the demand wasn't there.

“She feels like she compromised her artistic integrity for the label. But they feel like they did everything they could to turn her into a star, so it became clear the time was right for Mae to leave the label.”

The Standard has contacted Mae Muller’s rep for comment.

The reports come a month after Muller announced she is taking a break from music as she hit out at the industry about the "pressure of chasing hits".

Taking to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, she shared a lengthy message with her fans explaining she wanted to hang up her mic to "re-energise".

Muller wrote: "Time is going so fast it's insane but in the past few years I have done some incredible things and I am so proud of my achievements, and while I've been taking a break for the last couple weeks I have been reflecting on where I am and who I want to be as an artist.

"Despite my achievements, at times I've felt like I lost sight of what I was doing this for and why I started music in the first place. the pressure of chasing hits for so long (which many signed artists can relate to) wore me out, which caused me to make decisions which didn't sit well in my gut personally or creatively.

"Music went from being my passion to becoming a job churning out songs to try and impress [executives] or get a playlist spot for radio, which is not why I started doing this. I started it because I love it and I want to get back to that."

Muller continued: "It's been emotional, exciting and at times scary but to grow you have to be uncomfortable and when you're not happy where you are you need to make a change, which is what I've been doing behind the scenes. I had the album campaign of dreams, making little to no compromises with a major label, which is so rare in this day and age, and for that I am extremely grateful but I need to take a little step back.

"Last year was the most intense year of my life and I am creatively (and emotionally) fatigued, so [your] girl just need a moment to re energise!

"I just wanted to be honest with you, because at the end of the day it all comes down to you guys, my fans (I hate calling you that you're so much more) but you have been there for me every step of the way. some of you since the very beginning, and I've always wanted to be upfront, so if things seem to be a bit quiet that's why.

"I want to be my best self for you because it's what you deserve and honestly, it's what I deserve too. I love you all an incredible amount and I'm not going anywhere!!! just working more behind the scenes to get back in touch with myself and the artist I want to be."

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