Kelly Clarkson’s Bold Move: Launching Her Own Record Label

Kelly Clarkson is stepping into a new role as a music executive with the launch of her independent record label.

Kelly’s career began in 2002, coming out on top of her season of American Idol. Since, she’s led quite a successful music career, with over 82 million records worldwide, three Grammy wins, and several chart-topping hits. But, her decision to transition from singer to record label owner may be the most significant, highlighting the importance of musicians taking control of their careers—particularly in an industry where women-led labels are still rare.

“I feel like I’ve earned it, so I’m excited. I think I’ve earned the moment,” Kelly said on a January episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, featuring Keke Palmer.

As the New York Times reported in 2018, 1,239 artists featured on Billboard’s top 100 charts between 2012 and 2017 — just 22.4 percent — were women. Not to mention, only about fifteen percent of record labels are owned by women.

A more recent 2023 study from USC Annenburg found the percentage of women artists on the Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Charts to have reached 35 percent, marking a 12-year high. But, women-led record labels are still largely in the minority, and Kelly’s move is helping pave the way for other women to follow suit, challenging the status quo in the industry.

“I’m so much older than you…and it’s my first time in my career and I just now started my own label and I’m putting out my own stuff.,” Kelly said to Keke. “And I’ve had some good teams, like, to work with, but there is nothing like being that 10-year-old again and being excited and nobody saying ‘Oh, you should do this’ and ‘You should do this.'”

Kesha and Keke made similar moves, with both artists launching their own respective record labels. Keke founded Big Bosses Entertainment in 2023, while Kesha launched Kesha Records in 2024. Other artists who have taken this step include Ani DiFranco with Righteous Babe Records, Mýa with Planet 9, and Yubin with rrr Entertainment, all of whom have embraced independence in their careers by establishing their own labels.

On an episode of “Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce,” Kelly revealed that the primary reason for launching her own record label was to have a platform where she could release her music on her own terms. While she’s not currently signing artists, she’s focused on exploring new creative avenues, including trying her hand at producing music videos.

Maintaining a sense of independence and curiosity is important to Kelly, as she’s likened owning her record label to being like a 10-year-old, playing and experimenting as she pleases with nobody over her to slap her hand and tell her “no.”

“The label wants to portray you in a slightly different way to how you want to be portrayed,” Paulette Long, director of PRS for Music, told The Guardian. “That happens with men and women, but definitely more so with women. It may be that your music is compromised as well, which is why quite a lot of people are taking the independent route.”

Kelly’s decision to launch her own record label is not only a personal milestone in her career, but a powerful statement about the shifting dynamics of the music industry — where women have historically been underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles.

With such a successful artist taking control of her own career and creative direction, she’s proving that it’s possible for women to navigate the complexities of the music industry without compromising their artistic vision.