Stefflon Don inks BMG deal
British-Jamaican dancehall artiste Stefflon Don has reportedly signed a global recording partnership with BMG, according to Billboard.com.
The first project from the Stefflon Don deal will be the release of her debut album Island 54 in 2023.
Clockwork featuring Spice and produced by BEAM, son of gospel deejay Papa San, is among the tracks that will comprise Island 54.
In a statement announcing her new partnership, Stefflon Don said: “I’m excited about partnering with BMG because they trust my creativity. They have an amazing support team across the globe, and I am super excited to expand my fan base alongside my new family BMG.”
Tim Reid, BMG’s senior vice-president of repertoire and marketing, had high praise for the female act.
“Stefflon Don is a unique artiste who has already accomplished so much on a global scale, collaborating with some of the biggest names in music while gaining equal acclaim on her solo projects. We are incredibly excited to partner with her on the next chapter of her musical career,” he said in a statement.
Thomas Scherer, BMG’s president of repertoire and marketing, Los Angeles and New York, said, “Stefflon Don is an artiste who knows exactly what she wants to achieve, and we are happy to be part of her journey towards this. Our partnership expands on a string of recent BMG signings with artistes who desire more control of their music with our global team fully supporting them in exceeding their goals.”
Stefflon Don, whose real name is Stephanie Allen, was born in the United Kingdom to a Jamaican mother. She released the mix tape Real Ting in 2016 and Secure in 2018, which featured the remix of her hit single Hurtin’ Me with Sean Paul, Sizzla, and Popcaan.
Hurtin’ Me, in its original format is a collaboration with rapper French Montana, peaked at number seven on the UK Singles chart. It was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.
The song also charted in the United States, peaking at number 32 on Hot R&B Airplay chart in early 2018.
Stefflon Don, who won the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) award in 2017 for Best Female, was nominated for a 2018 BET Award for Best International Artiste.
Her other silver-, gold-, and platinum-certified singles include 16 Shots; Alone with Halsey and Big Sean; Instruction with Demi Lovato and Jax and Jones; Boasy with Wiley, Sean Paul, and Idris Elba; Senseless; Calypso with Luis Fonsi; and Cigarette with Raye and Mabel.
She recently collaborated with producer DJ Frass on the track Sweet Bounce, Amazing featuring Vybz Kartel, and hit producer Calvin Harris on the track Woman of the Year with Chloe Bailey and Coi Leray.
Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) was a division of a German media company Bertelsmann before its sale of the majority of its assets to Sony Corporation of America in October 2008. Although it was established in 1987, the music company was formed as RCA/Ariola International in 1985 as a joint venture to combine the music label activities of RCA’s RCA Records division and Bertelsmann’s Ariola Records and its associated labels, which include Arista Records.