IT didn’t go her way at Eurovision and now, despite making her name at the contest, Mae Muller has been dealt a difficult hand.
I can reveal that the singer, who finished 25th out of 26 entries in Liverpool last May, has split from her record label following a tough year.
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Mae’s Eurovision entry, I Wrote A Song, bagged her a Top Ten single but she has now gone her separate ways from Capitol Records UK, who she signed to in 2018.
It is believed creative tensions led to the decision for Mae to leave, after she grew frustrated at the direction bosses wanted her to pursue with her music.
Mae, whose album Sorry I’m Late peaked at No33 last October, is now taking a complete break from the industry after admitting the experience with the label had taken its toll.
A music insider said: “Everyone hoped that Eurovision would be the thing to propel Mae into the mainstream and make her a big star.
“It certainly raised her profile — but not for all the right reasons and it has been a very tricky year for everyone involved.
“The label really tried to support her with her album but she struggled to muster up a hardcore fanbase and had to cancel her tour in the autumn because the demand wasn’t there.
“She feels like she compromised her artistic integrity for the label.
“But they feel like they did everything they could to turn her into a star, so it became clear the time was right for Mae to leave the label.”
In a rather bitter parting shot, Mae has also ditched her management company, saying she wants to “make music I actually like.”
Harsh.
Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder breaks his silence after Mae Muller’s crushing defeat
The news comes just five months after Sam Ryder, who took the UK to second place at Eurovision in 2022, also split from his record label.
Months later, Sam got a No2 single with his festive release You’re Christmas To Me, which has breathed new life into his career.
Mae will have to hope she strikes lucky with a move like that, too.
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TAY ALL OUT FOR ALWYN
TAYLOR Swift’s ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn better brace himself, he is about to get both barrels on her new album.
The singer announced the release of album The Tortured Poets Department on stage at the Grammys on Sunday and has now revealed the tracklist, which includes titles that appear to make pretty pointed digs at the actor.
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On the back cover of the record – which will feature collaborations with Florence + The Machine and Post Malone and is due out in April – Taylor tellingly wrote: “I love you, it’s ruining my life.”
I’ve had a few bad break-ups in my time and if I was a chart-topper, I’d give them both barrels, too.
The American superstar, who split from Joe early last year after six years together, has called songs on the record My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys, Fresh Out The Slammer, I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can), I Can Do It With A Broken Heart, Guilty As Sin? and loml, which stands for love of my life.
Taylor moved to the UK to be with British-born actor Joe, so that explains the title of another song – So Long, London.
Taylor also appears to reference The Little Mermaid with the title But Daddy I Love Him, a quote from the 1989 Disney film that sees Ariel give up her voice to be with the love of her life.
Her collaboration with Florence is called Florida!!!, the first place she performed on her Eras Tour after the split was revealed.
I told yesterday how the album title itself referenced a group chat that Joe previously revealed he had with actors Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott called The Tortured Man Club.
Strap yourselves in everyone, this is about to get very messy.
GAGA ROLLS LIKE STONES
LADY Gaga got more than just a tune out of her Rolling Stones collaboration.
The Poker Face singer teamed up with rockers last year for Sweet Sounds Of Heaven and now I can reveal she has enlisted their producer Andrew Watt to work on her next album.
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Gaga has been in the studio with Andrew, who produced the Stones’ album Hackney Diamonds last year, as well as Ozzy Osbourne’s 2022 record Patient Number 9.
Andrew has also worked on tracks for artists including Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Britney Spears and an entire Miley Cyrus album, so any Gaga fans panicking she might lose her pop vibe needn’t worry.
Gaga has been working on the project at the Shangri-La. studio in Malibu, California.
It has been almost four years since her last record and while I know you can’t rush perfection, if she could get a move on us fans would all be very grateful.
Peachy keen on Usher
KIM Kardashian is giving us ladies what we all want – photographs of some of the world’s hottest blokes in their pants.
The American reality star has enlisted a host of famous fellas to pose in her Skims menswear range.
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The latest is Usher, who looked, well, peachy, ahead of his performance at American football’s Super Bowl half-time show this Sunday.
The singer, who has abs you could grate your cheddar on, will drop his album Coming Home on Friday.
Skims will be releasing an exclusive digital download version with a bonus track titled Naked, which makes sense given how little he’s got on here.
After Kim – who has already encouraged footie’s Neymar Jr to strip off for a campaign too – shared pictures of Usher in his pants on Instagram, one fan wrote: “Kim out here doing the Lord’s work.”
Amen.
GOOD luck to anyone hoping for tickets to Adele’s residency in Munich when they go on sale this morning.
I’m told 2.2million people have signed up for access to the sale but only 800,000 tickets are available.
The incredible numbers mean 1.4million fans are set to miss out on seeing Adele live, despite her bumping up her initial four shows to ten due to demand.
It makes getting tickets to Glastonbury look easy. Do us all a favour, Adele, and stick on a few more dates.
GRANDE SILENCE
ARIANA Grande fans won’t be hearing another note from the singer until her new album, Eternal Sunshine, comes out on March 8.
In a post on Instagram explaining her decision, Ariana – who dropped single Yes, And? last month – said: “As hard as it is to resist the urge to share another song or single with you all asap, I would really love for you to experience the album in full this time.
“Waiting a little longer for you to be able to listen fully through first really is my ideal way for you all to experience this body of work.
“I am so excited for all that is to come. More than ever.”
DUA Lipa has taken things to the next level with boyfriend Callum Turner by introducing him to her family.
The four went out for a meal in Los Angeles at the weekend. Dua and Callum have been practically inseparable since getting together last month and he joined her at a Grammys after-party in LA on Sunday evening.
They are both busy, with Dua gearing up to release her third album and Callum promoting his new series TV Masters Of The Air.
But no amount of work is getting between them.
Lily’s a dust buster
I’D love it if Lily James popped around to my gaff to waltz around in this frock because it looks like an ideal feather duster.
She appeared as though she would absolutely clean up as she posed in the backless, floaty frock at the premiere of her film Finally Dawn in Rome on Monday.
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The Italian period drama follows an intense night for an aspiring actress, played by Lily, where she meets love interest Sean Lockwood, played by Stranger Things star Joe Keery.
Away from work, Lily reconciled with her rocker boyfriend Michael Shuman from the band Queens Of The Stone Age last year following a short split.
It sounds like their love story could be just as dramatic as the one she is portraying on screen.
Ashley’s comical
ASHLEY Roberts shows even cartoon sweatshirts can be glam in a new campaign for Comic Relief.
The former Pussycat Dolls singer posed in a cracking Chicken Run one to launch a clothing range in support of Red Nose Day for TK Maxx.
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The collection features iconic Aardman characters and is available online and in-store now.
Sales will raise money to help tackle poverty and provide essential support for young people in the UK and around the world.
There is a few weeks to go before Red Nose Day on March 15, so that gives you plenty of time to pop down and get your own top for the big day.
