14 DAY TRIAL // Although she’s yet to complete her own comeback album, of which not much has been heard in recent weeks, British crooner Amy Winehouse is diving into the music business with her own record label. Lioness Records will deal with new artists that Amy knows and loves, an announcement on the official page says, and will function with full support from the label she’s now signed on, Island Records.
As several music-oriented publications point out, this means that Winehouse will remain with Island, to which she is supposedly contractually bound for another album. Unfortunately, this could also mean that she will now have even less time to work on her own, since she would personally oversee the debut of new artists. What with the drug addiction and the alcohol dependency that she’s now struggling with, a messy divorce and the new business endeavor, this could mean the singer’s fans have a long wait ahead of them in terms of a new, musical release from the “Back to Black” hitmaker.
“Five-time Grammy winner Amy Winehouse, the most exciting and biggest-selling female artist to emerge in the music scene in years, follows the enormous worldwide success of her 10 million selling album ‘Back to Black,’ with the launch of her own record label, Lioness Records. Inspired by Berry Gordy’s Motown, and The Specials’ 2Tone label, Amy wanted to create a label where she could sign and work closely with a small roster of artists she really believed in. The first release on the new imprint will be ‘Introducing Dionne Bromfield,’ the debut album from thirteen year old Londoner Dionne Bromfield.” the announcement on the official webpage reads.
While no mention is made on the aforementioned site of where does this put Amy’s own album, the announcement makes it clear that the singer is ecstatic about Bromfield’s upcoming project, showing her intention of fully supporting her. Equally uncertain is whether Winehouse will depart from Island too, especially in the light of relatively recent reports that had it the bosses at the label were not happy with the tracks she had recorded for her third album to date.
“The name Lioness was inspired by a necklace, bearing a Lioness pendant, given to Amy by her nan, Cynthia. ‘My nan was like my best friend. She was the sweetest, strongest, most amazing person I’ve ever met and when I was thinking of what to call the label I picked up the necklace and knew straight away that I’d call it Lioness, in honor of Cynthia.’ Lioness symbolizes strength, pride and confidence, and will be a place where the artist is given the time, space and the opportunity to develop and flourish. As a brand new label Lioness will be able to call on the creative support of her Island Records family.” the announcement further reads.