Sony Music Entertainment and its subsidiary label RCA Records have dropped R. Kelly from their roster and will not issue new releases from the singer, as Billboard, Variety, and the New York Times report. According to Variety, Sony Music/RCA do not plan to issue an “external announcement of the move” and Kelly will not be removed from the artist roster on the RCA website, “as his back catalog will remain with RCA/Sony.“ Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for RCA and Kelly for further comment.
In addition to RCA’s move to distance themselves from Kelly, today Billboard reported that Universal Music Publishing Group quietly dropped Kelly from their roster last spring. “UMPG no longer represents R. Kelly,” a spokesperson told Billboard. UMPG acquired Kelly’s catalog back in 2007.
Kelly continues to face allegations of sexual and physical abuse by multiple women. Scrutiny of R. Kelly has increased in recent weeks due, in part, to Lifetime’s new documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly,” which features interviews with several women who claim Kelly has abused them. In addition, women have been coming forward publicly to speak out against R. Kelly since reporter Jim DeRogatis broke a story in 2017 that Kelly has been allegedly holding them against their will in what‘s described as a “cult.” Among the women to speak out are Kelly’s ex-wife Andrea Kelly, women who claim to have been held captive in Kelly’s “cult,” and more.
As allegations against Kelly have mounted, the music industry has been slow to react. Last year, Spotify removed R. Kelly’s music from its editorial and algorithmic playlists, but walked back its policy weeks later following backlash. Apple Music and Pandora, however, quietly stopped promoting Kelly. Recently, several musicians who have worked with R. Kelly—including Lady Gaga, Phoenix, and Chance the Rapper—have apologized for their collaborations.
On January 11, the women’s rights activist group UltraViolet chartered a plane to fly over the Sony Music offices in Culver City, California with a banner that read, “RCA/Sony: Drop Sexual Predator R. Kelly.” Protesters also gathered outside the Sony Music headquarters in New York City on January 16 to demand that the singer be dropped from the label.
R. Kelly has continued to deny allegations of misconduct and abuse. He recently issued a statement, via his lawyer, furthering his denial.
Read “The Struggle to Silence R. Kelly” on the Pitch.
This article was originally published on Friday, January 18 at 4:43 p.m. Eastern. It was last updated on January 18 at 10:52 p.m. Eastern.
