May 20, 2010

Press release:

Universal Motown Records has signed Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter-television host-actress Kelly Rowland as a solo artist, it was announced today by Sylvia Rhone, President of Universal Motown Records.

“I think Kelly is an immensely talented, gracious, and beautiful woman, and I am thrilled about the opportunity to work with her on what’s turning out to be an amazing album,” said Ms. Rhone. “For an artist whose career began as a member of a landmark group like Destiny’s Child, Kelly has truly come into her own and I am deeply inspired by her incredible energy.”

“I could not be happier working with Sylvia Rhone and the entire Universal Motown staff,” stated Ms. Rowland. “They have really embraced me and have set me up to succeed. I decided, after careful thought, to sign with Universal Motown not only because of their track record of success, but also because they truly put their artists first.”

Kelly Rowland first rose to prominence in 1998 as a member of Destiny’s Child, one of the most successful groups of all time. In 2002, the Texas native launched her post-Destiny’s Child solo career with the release of her RIAA-gold certified debut album, Simply Deep, which reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart. That same year, Ms. Rowland teamed up with Universal Motown hip-hop sensation Nelly for a duet called “Dilemma,” which appeared on his 2002 album, Nellyville. “Dilemma” topped Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and earned two Grammy nominations, including a win for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. In 2007, Kelly Rowland’s second solo album, Ms. Kelly, hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold more than 1.2 million copies worldwide.

Together with her recent move to Creative Artists Agency, a new management team in place, a new record label, and a worldwide No. 1 hit, “When Love Takes Over,” with acclaimed French dance producer David Guetta, Kelly Rowland is exerting full control over a dazzling career that has already produced millions of album sales, smash hit records, and numerous honors, including three Grammy Awards. Now hailed as the Queen of the Night, she is currently in the studio working on her hotly anticipated Universal Motown debut album, featuring the new international single “Commander,” with David Guetta, in addition to collaborations with Dr. Luke, Stargate, Salaam Remi, Ne-Yo, Rico Love, and Esther Dean.

http://www.earthtimes.org...7224.shtml

I'm happy 4 her. She has had a pretty successful solo career...even without a lot of "big" hits. I'm so proud of her.

Identity said:

She really just not need to go in the lame r&b zone ANYMORE

She needs to be with me about 3 hours. Wink.

Congratulations Kelly!!!


psst... is that a Beyonce press release on the horizon?

HonestMan13 said:

The release where she's "retiring" or "having a baby"?

Beyonce is gonnna sing duets on half of P's new album..haha

Back to the plantation.

"UNIVERSAL MOTOWN?!"

Timmy84 said:

Disaster, you might as well just go indie, whats the freaking point? Motown is a disaster, no one has a clue what is going on there at the label, MYA signed with them after leaving and the result was a "runaround" "delays" and then a lawsuit and a settlement that saw her album released only in Japan. And if you say that "kelly' is way more talented than MYA, you are drinking the Kelly Kool Aid, they are both in the same boat, IF Kelly was smart she would just do some underground dance stuff and start circulating a mixtape here, then keep working her overseas strengths, fuck the US market, she will sell 75,000 here if she is lucky overall, and the label will drop her plain and simple, i saw this script before.

Wish her the best of luck.

Timmy84 said:

HonestMan13 said:

I was just about to say....Beyonce will find some way to overshadow Kelly's news,like she always does.

SoulAlive said:

Damn, are Beyonce and Kelly the new version of Beverly Hills 90210's Brenda & Kelly?????

like others have said she may as well had gone the independant route because signing to motown is like being put in a retirement home never to be seen or heard of again.

Caramelpfe said:

Kelly Rowland just needs to stick with David Guetta and some other European producers. Fuck the US. She is much more popular overseas, and didn't she buy a home in London?
She might as well just move over here permanently. People in the UK appreciate her much more than in the US.

Yeah, I agree with those who says she should stick with Guetta and the dance market. She still needs to grow as a performer too. The last few times I saw her performing live I felt really bad for her. She just seemed like she wasn't ready for the solo stage. Very little confidence or stage presence and her vocals were just not there. I was rooting for her to kill it too. Hopefully, she can command her own audience and do well.