Perrie Edwards, former member of the globally renowned girl group Little Mix, is at the center of discussions at Columbia Records after her solo music ventures received a lukewarm reception.
Edwards’ debut single, “Forget About Us,” which launched with considerable fanfare in April, peaked at No. 10 on the charts despite significant promotional efforts from the label.
Her latest release, “Tears,” is currently struggling, charting at No. 69, which has sparked concerns among Columbia Records executives. A music industry insider commented, “There’s palpable unease.
Columbia invested heavily in positioning her as a solo star, even enlisting a director who has worked with Beyoncé for her videos. However, the anticipated breakthrough hasn’t materialized yet. While everyone understands that success takes time to build, the reality falls short of their initial high expectations.”
Despite the challenges, a source close to Perrie defended her accomplishments, stating, “Perrie has made an impressive start. Globally, she’s amassed 38 million streams, with ‘Forget About Us’ dominating airplay as the No. 1 single for seven weeks.
‘Tears’ also garnered 2.6 million streams within two weeks. These are accomplishments to be celebrated.”
Since their departure from Little Mix, Edwards, along with fellow members Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson, has faced hurdles in achieving solo success, despite their collective past of selling over 60 million records worldwide.
The journey to solo stardom is often fraught with challenges, and Edwards’ path is proving no different. Her early efforts have shown promise, but the road ahead may require further strategic adjustments and perhaps more time for her to fully establish her identity as a solo artist. Columbia Records remains hopeful, but the pressure is on for Edwards to deliver a hit that matches the high expectations set by her tenure with Little Mix.
As discussions continue at Columbia, both the label and Edwards are undoubtedly reflecting on the next steps needed to turn her promising solo start into sustained success.