Kelly Rowland Leaves Columbia Records

Kelly Rowland began 2009 by dropping a bombshell that she had ended her professional relationship with Mathew Knowles as her manager. Now the 28 year-old songtress is making more dramatic changes by severing ties with Columbia Records.

On Monday (March 30th), reports of Rowland being dropped from the label began to surface due to her no longer being "commercially valuable". Possibly due to the artist and record label catching wind of this, a joint press release was issued. The press release stated that Rowland would no longer record as a solo artist on Columbia Records however would remain on the label with Destiny's Child.

While this may seem shocking to some, it doesn't come as a surpise to me.It appears that Kelly is finally ready to take control of her career.And leaving the Knowles camp and Columbia is definitely the right move to make. On a personal,sure they were good to her. However,professionally she needed to disassociate herself from them in order to be taken seriously as a solo artist.

She could be a on the brink of superstardom, I'm sure many record labels would love to have the Destiny's Child Alum on their team and hopefully she will be picked up before long.

Her last album, "Ms. Kelly" (2007) sold just 213,000 in the US according to Nielson Soundscan was actually a solid album. Much like her former bandmate Michelle Williams, the album's quick death and inability to sell was due to poor single selection and inadequate promotion.

To read the press release in it's enterity click on the link below.
Kelly Rowland Amicably Parts Ways with Columbia Records as a Solo Artist

Watch Kelly perform "Like This" on the Today Show.