Universal Music parts ways with singer Dean Lewis just months after misconduct allegations

2 months ago 13

Universal Music Group has parted ways with Australian singer Dean Lewis, ending a decade-long partnership just months after the pop star became embroiled in misconduct allegations.

“We can confirm that Dean Lewis is no longer signed to Universal Music Australia or any Universal Music Group label,” a Universal Music Australia (UMA) spokesperson told this masthead on Tuesday.

Dean Lewis is no longer signed to Universal Music Group after a decade-long partnership.

No reason was given as to why the partnership ended. While Lewis’ management did not immediately respond to this masthead’s request for comment, a spokesperson told Rolling Stone Australia that while there are no immediate plans to talk to other music labels, Lewis was looking forward to working as an independent artist and intended to release new music this year.

The decision to part ways comes about two months after several female fans from around the world alleged that the ARIA Award-winning musician upset or unsettled them through text messages or in-person interactions. They also shared phone recordings and screenshots of the text chains between themselves and the singer.

Lewis, who is known for chart-topping hits including Be Alright, later apologised for being careless and causing hurt. He also withdrew from last year’s ARIA and TikTok Awards.

“I realise I’ve made an incredible mess, people are genuinely hurt, and I need to make changes,” he wrote in a statement on Instagram in October.

He said that having his intimate, private conversations aired in public had been an “overdue wake-up call” and he recognised he needed to make changes. This included enrolling himself in “intense therapy to make better choices and dramatically shift [his] approach to dating, relationships and showing greater care to the women in [his] life”.

However, Lewis said he had not engaged in any criminal behaviour and his private conversations and relationships over the past decade were all with consenting adults.

Lewis, 38, first signed to UMA and Island Records in April 2016. He secured representation in the US and UK with Island the next year, according to Rolling Stone Australia.

The Sydney artist entered the spotlight in 2017 when his song Waves was used on global hit shows such as Suits and Riverdale. Since then, Lewis has won three ARIA Awards, including best male artist, and has worked with overseas musicians such as the Jonas Brothers.

Lewis’ most recent album The Epilogue (2024) hit No.2 on the ARIA charts. He has been touring the world since the end of 2024, which included Australia and Europe, and he began a month-long US and Canadian tour in Denver, Colorado this week.

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