Katherine Jenkins ditched by record company after 'spending £1,500 a day on hair and make-up'
- Welsh mezzo soprano dropped by Warner Music Entertainment
- The label are understood to have lost £2million on the star
- The 32-year-old signed the biggest classical deal in history in 2008
- Her last album, This is Christmas, peaked at number 26 in the charts
By SIMON CABLE
|
Dropped: Katherine Jenkins, pictured performing before the Grand National last month, has been dropped by her record label following a slump in sales
Katherine Jenkins has been dropped from her record label following a slump in sales and a string of 'diva demands'.
Executives at her record company are said to have lost patience after the singer requested up to £1,500-a-day be spent on her styling, hair and make-up during promotional and live events, while the label are understood to have lost around £2m on the star.
The move comes just five years after the 32-year-old signed the biggest classical recording deal in history.
However, sources have said that the singer was left angered at what she sees as a failure to market and promote her properly.
The Welsh mezzo-soprano signed a £5.8m three-album contract with Warner Music Entertainment in 2008 in a bid to try and crack the US market and become a global superstar.
Her last album, This is Christmas, was released last year, but peaked at number 26 in the UK album charts, while her previous album for the label, Daydream, reached number six.
A music industry source said last night: ‘Some estimates say she has lost the record company over £2m. Her record sales are not doing well.
'£1,500-a-day on hair and make-up and styling is not an outrageous amount to spend on an artist, but only if they are selling lots of records. It wasn’t a motivating factor in the decision to part company, but it was a last straw.’
Miss Jenkins has fulfilled her contract, releasing three albums with the company. However, following discussions with Warners executives, it was decided not to renew the professional relationship.
Another source told the Mail: ‘Any record deal lasts for x amount of albums, and the contract has now run its course and has expired.
'Katherine delivered those albums, but both parties decided that they didn’t want to carry on.
Scroll down for video
Costly: The star is said to have been spending £1,500 a day on hair and make-up, to transform her from the girl next door into an operatic bombshell
‘Record companies make decisions on an extremely black and white basis, and there is no room for sentiment in the industry.
'They take decisions based on the financial situation and if an artist is not making money, they won’t continue.
‘Katherine also decided that it was best not continue with the label as she felt they had not promoted her in the right way.’
The Welsh star’s style has been described as ‘classical crossover’ – a mix of opera, pop and traditional hymns.
Ready for every opportunity: Katherine ran the London Marathon last month with a full face of make-up
Jog on: Katherine smiled widely as she ran along the streets of London
She started to sing when she was just four in her local church choir where her mother ran a Sunday school.
She worked as a music teacher, a guide on the London Eye and a part-time model before signing a six-album, £1m recording contract with Universal in 2003.
She quickly became one of the most successful UK female soloists in history, with her first album ‘Premiere’ becoming the fastest selling classical CD of all time, selling over 30,000 copies in the first week.
She is also the only singer in musical history to hold simultaneously the numbers one, two and three positions in the classical charts, which she did with her three albums - Premiere, Second Nature and Living A Dream - in 2005.
Back in the day: Katherine signed a £1million record deal with Universal in 2003
Moving on: In 2008, Katherine made the move from Universal to Warner
Miss Jenkins has also tried to emulate the role of Dame Vera Lynn as the forces’ sweetheart. She sang at the VE Day celebrations in 2005 and has performed for troops in Afganistan and Iraq.
Falling popularity: Katherine's last album This Is Christmas peaked in the charts at number 26
However, in 2008, she quit Universal to sign the lucrative deal with Warner Brothers, claiming that she hoped to become a global star.
She hoped the move would help her break into the American market, and said at the time: ‘My main aim is to try and take classical music to a wider audience.’
She went on to appear in the US version of Strictly Come Dancing, Dancing With The Stars.
A spokesman for the singer said last night: ‘Katherine is looking at options at the moment, details of which will be announced soon.’
Miss Jenkins then posted a lengthy statement on her Twitter page, writing: 'Dear friends and fans, yes I can confirm that I'm moving record label. I have reached the end of my 3 album deal with Warners.
'I'm super excited about where I'm going next but am currently sworn to secrecy... you will of course be the first to know as soon as I can say!
'This is a happy time for me personally and as an artist so please do not be concerned by nonsense reports in the press. Love you xxx'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2333070/Katherine-Jenkins-ditched-record-company-spending-1-500-day-hair-makeup.html#ixzz2UlfMkbkw
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
