Warner Music Australia Responds to Jessica Mauboy Exit

There are no hard feelings after Jessica Mauboy stepped away from Warner Music Australia following fewer than five years on the major label’s roster, and one album release.

As previously reported, Mauboy has become an independent artist with the launch of her own label Jamally, distributed by DistroDirect.

Mauboy caught the industry by surprise when she signed with Warner Music in 2020, ending what was a career-long association with Sony Music.

Confirming her departure from WMA, a spokesperson says, “yes, Jess has decided to strike out on her own. WM Australia wishes her all the best for this next phase of her career.”

With WMA, Mauboy released her fifth studio album, Yours Forever, in February 2024. The collection went on to nab ARIA Award nominations for Best Pop Release and Song Of The Year for “Give You Love”.

Mauboy initially signed to Sony Music after a deep run on the 2006 season of Australian Idol, when she finished second behind Irishman Damien Leith.

She’s gone on to score seven ARIA top 10 albums and 16 top 20 singles, accumulate over 200 million streams globally and win two ARIA Awards.

In 2016, she made history as first Indigenous Australian solo artist to debut at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart with The Secret Daughter (Songs From The Original TV Series). Mauboy climbed the chart summit once again with 2019’s HILDA.

The Darwin-raised artist represented Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018, with “We Got Love”, and had the honours for leading Australia’s Paris Olympic games contingent with the team song “Higher,” which she performed in the French capital.

To celebrate her entry into the indie ranks, Mauboy last week the single “While I Got Time,” written with longtime collaborator PJ Harding.

She’ll perform the fresh cut at the 2025 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) this Saturday, August 9th, presented by YouTube. On the night, Mauboy will be recognised for her outstanding contribution to music and culture with induction to the NIMA Hall of Fame.