Jessica Mauboy reveals the REAL reason why she left her Sony Music record label after 16 years

Jessica Mauboy announced her shock departure from Sony Music in December, 16 years after signing with the record label. 

And while Sony has faced plenty of bad publicity recently amid reports of workplace ‘bullying and harassment’, Jessica says the reason for her departure was purely a creative decision. 

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Saturday, the 31-year-old said she felt stifled by her contract with Sony, as the label expected her to maintain a saccharine, pop-star image that didn’t reflect her true personality. 

‘I have a bit of grunge, I’ve got a deeper story, but that has always been covered up. It’s nice to be completely real now,’ said Jessica, who has since signed with Warner Music Australia.

Jessica said she’s sick of fans remembering her as an Australian Idol star, insisting: ‘People need to see a deeper story now.’ 

‘I’m clearly stronger than I was before; I have a lot more clarity in where I’m going and what I’m saying within my music,’ she added. 

‘It’s nice to be completely real now’: Jessica she felt stifled by her contract with Sony, as the label expected her to maintain a saccharine, pop-star image that didn’t reflect her true personality 

Moving on: Jessica said she’s sick of fans remembering her as an Australian Idol star, insisting: ‘People need to see a deeper story now’ 

Jessica released four albums with Sony – Been Waiting in 2008, Get ‘Em Girls in 2010, Beautiful in 2013 and most recently, Hilda in 2019. 

In February, she also split from former manager David Champion, who signed her at 16. 

At the time, Jessica said the pair ‘see things differently’ when it comes to her career. 

Cutting ties: In February, she also split from former manager David Champion, who signed her at 16 

‘I found a new way to be the boss lady in the room. I started to put my foot down, and people listened,’ she told Private Sydney. 

Jessica explained she and David separated because from a ‘business and musical perspective, we see things differently’ but said there were on ‘good terms’.

Meanwhile, Jessica is now preparing to return to screens as a judge on The Voice Australia this Sunday. 

She will be joined on the all-star panel by Keith Urban, Rita Ora and Guy Sebastian.  

Sing it: Jessica released four albums with Sony – Been Waiting in 2008, Get ‘Em Girls in 2010, Beautiful in 2013 and most recently, Hilda in 2019