RAYE, one of the most exciting contemporary singer-songwriters from the UK, has renewed her publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group. She first signed to the publisher in 2016 and this deal extension covers both her catalogue and future recordings.

RAYE’s debut solo album My 21st Century Blues was released in February and went to Number Two in the UK’s Official Albums Chart, received universal critical acclaim and was shortlisted for the 2023 Mercury Prize. It contained the single ‘Escapism featuring 070 Shake’, which was RAYE’s first UK Number One and has amassed over 1 billion streams to-date, securing RAYE one of the very first BRIT Billions Awards. The album also topped the charts in Ireland and Denmark, as well as going Top 10 in 24 countries, and reached Number One in Spotify’s Top Album chart.

RAYE’s songwriting has been recognised with a prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song for ‘Escapism’, and she’s also been nominated for four BRIT Awards.

RAYE says: "I’m very grateful to the Warner Chappell family for supporting me as a songwriter and I’m looking forward to us beginning another chapter together.”

Amber Davis, SVP, Head of A&R, Warner Chappell Music UK, adds: “I’m over the moon to get the opportunity to continue working with RAYE. She’s an unparalleled global songwriter and performer and I genuinely believe we’re still only at the beginning of her story and she’s going to continue to go from strength to strength.”

Guy Moot, Co-Chair and CEO of Warner Chappell Music, concludes: “RAYE is a true original. She writes from the heart and pours herself into every performance. We’re delighted that she’s placed her faith in us again and look forward to supporting her creative genius in the years ahead.”

RAYE has been performing My 21st Century Blues as direct support for SZA, Kali Uchis, and Lewis Capaldi’s respective sold out 2023 world tours across North America, Europe, and the UK. From September 2023, RAYE will commence the second instalment of her world tour with 45 dates across North America, Europe, the UK, and Australia.

RAYE was born and raised in South London, and first got into performing in her local church gospel choir. She attended the BRIT School and began to write music in professional studios, releasing her debut EP Welcome to the Winter in 2014, aged just 17. Collaborations with the likes of Charli XCX and Stormzy followed, while she enjoyed her first chart success featuring on Jonas Blue’s ‘By Your Side’.

In 2016, she co-wrote and featured on Jax Jones’s single ‘You Don’t Know Me’, which went to Number Three in the UK charts and was certified Double Platinum. Further collaborations followed with artists as varied as David Guetta, Mabel, Odunsi, Stefflon Don, and then in 2019 she co-wrote Beyoncé’s track ‘Bigger’.

Her first mini-album, Euphoric Sad Songs, was released in 2020, which included collaborations with the likes of Rudimental and Joel Corry. In 2021, she collaborated with Corry and David Guetta again on the track ‘Bed’, which went to Number Three in the UK.

RAYE took the decision to become an independent recording artist, self-releasing her single ‘Hard Out Here’ in 2022. It would go on, alongside ‘Escapism’, ‘Black Mascara’ and ‘The Thrill Is Gone’, to be a track on My 21st Century Blues. RAYE has had a hugely successful year performing her new album.