Mariah Carey, who has released more No. 1 singles than any other solo pop female artist, has fluttered away from Columbia Records and landed a deal with Virgin Records.
Carey, whose most recent albums include Butterfly and Rainbow, released a joint statement Monday with Columbia Records to announce her departure from the label.
“Mariah Carey is one of the most talented artists in the world. We have shared many commercial and creative successes, and we wish her only the best as her career continues to grow and evolve,” Sony Music, Columbia Records’ parent company, said in the statement.
Carey, 31, has signed a deal with Virgin Records worth $20 million per album, according to New York’s Daily News. Her first record for her new label will be the soundtrack for Glitter, her upcoming summer release from 20th Century Fox.
Sony Music Chairman Tommy Mottola signed Carey to Columbia Records. They later got married and then divorced. Carey‘s self-titled multiplatinum debut album, released in 1990, earned her a Grammy for best new artist.
According to Columbia Records, Carey was one of the label’s best-selling artists, having sold more than 140 million singles and albums worldwide. She scored 12 U.S. No. 1 singles, including One Sweet Day with Boyz II Men.
