Mariah Carey Announces Return to Epic Records

Today pop icon Mariah Carey officially signed with Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment. Rumors have been circulating that Carey would be making the move to Epic since late January, but this is the first official news that has confirmed the label swap. The recording contract symbolizes a return to Sony for the prolific performer, who began her career with the label under the tutelage of Tommy Mottola in 1988. The new contract will also reunite Carey with L.A. Reid, who worked on her hugely successful and critically acclaimed 2005 comeback album “The Emancipation of Mimi.”

In the 1990s Mariah Carey released several of her most successful albums including her self-titled 1990 debut under Sony Music. In 1993, she married Tommy Mottola who was operating as the head of Sony Music, but the couple ended the tumultuous relationship in 1998. Amidst rumors that Carey had been held in a highly restrictive and controlling relationship with Mottola, Carey left the label and moved to Virgin Records in 2000 after releasing her 1999 Rainbow. Following her signing, Carey released Glitter in 2001, and shortly thereafter was dismissed from Virgin Records only to sign with Island Records in 2003. Carey released her ventures through Island Records until moving to Def Jam when the label split.

Fans are hoping that the new label will be able to better represent Carey, who has struggled with her latest releases. In 2014 she released the long awaited Me. I am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse to her lowest sales to date. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart at number 3 before falling off eight weeks later, symbolizing Carey’s shortest stay on the chart.

Carey is expected to kick things off at Epic Records with the release of a greatest hits compilation, which will coincide with her Las Vegas residency set to take place at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace. The residency, aptly titled #1’s will highlight all of Mimi’s chart topping releases, starting with 1990’s “Vision of Love.” Both the performance and the expected compilation album have been billed as updated versions of Carey’s first greatest hits release, which was released in 1998 and also titled #1’s. The album was one of Carey’s last to come out from her original contract with Sony. Talk about a return to the past and the promise of a bright future.

FDRMX Eyes: Spanish duo Karate Dancer has released a music video entitled “Main Roads.” “Main Roads” features an electronic track and colorful imagery.

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