Melanie C Virgin Music

Photo Credit: (Front row L-R) Vanessa Bosåen (Virgin Music Group), Melanie Chisholm (artist), Rachel Tan (Virgin Music Group) by Tobi Malomo

Virgin Music Group announces a partnership with pop icon Melanie C and her independent label Red Girl Records, kicking off with a new single and album.

Virgin Music Group, a world-leading partner to independent artists and labels, has announced its partnership with global pop star Melanie C and her independent label Red Girl Records. The partnership kicks off with the release of her highly anticipated new single, “Sweat,” and the announcement of her ninth studio album of the same name, due out in 2026.

“I’m thrilled to be releasing my new music with Virgin Music Group,” said Melanie. “It feels like a homecoming after the successes we shared working together with Spice Girls and my first two solo albums. They are paving the way for more artist-led deals and have an incredibly strong international team. I’m really excited to see what we can achieve together.”

“Melanie is such a unique force of nature who is on the verge of another exciting chapter in an illustrious career,” said Vanessa Bosåen, President of Virgin Music Group UK. “She captivates the heart of everyone she meets and we are thrilled to welcome her into the Virgin Music Group family. We look forward to working alongside her and her team to bring her intoxicating vision to life.”

Recorded between Stockholm and Los Angeles, “Sweat” is an ode to Melanie C’s humble beginnings before the spotlight, when club culture thrived and dance served as a form of liberation. Infused with nostalgic nods to the era that shaped her, the single samples Diana Ross’ “Work That Body” and is a preview of what fans can expect on the album.

Melanie C, who says she “will always be a Spice Girl,” is a solo artist and DJ who can play underground clubs and huge stadiums alike. She is the female artist with the most songs at #1 in the UK chart’s history, and the only female performer to top the charts solo, as part of a duo, quartet, and quintet. Her ninth studio album decidedly brings together so much of her history: “the sport and the spice,” the forgotten teenage raver, and the 51-year-old DJ. But moreover, it’s about joy.

Her partnership with Virgin Music Group comes on the heels of her recently announced headline show at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on October 23 next year.