Apparently indie is the way to go. R&B singer Ashanti recently joined the ranks of the many artists who are either ditching (or getting ditched by) their major label affiliations for the more suitable independent labels. The Grammy Award-winning singer just announced that she has established her own label, Written Entertainment, under a partnership with Entertainment One Music.
"I'm so excited to have my own record label, Written Entertainment," said Ashanti. "With eOne as my distributor, I feel that their innovative and ambitious approach to the music industry really gives my label a worldwide presence. They have the top radio people in the business and are hungry to win! The more I learned the business the more I knew this is what I wanted. Ownership is so important. As a businesswoman this was a great move for me!"
The feeling is mutual. Alan Gunblatt, president of eOne Music, went on record saying, "eOne is proud to have a partnership with Ashanti and her label, Written Entertainment. Ashanti truly has the independent entrepreneurial attitude that eOne was built on, and we're thrilled to be working with her."
Ashanti's soon-to-be-released fifth album, the follow up to 2008's The Declartion, will be the first project to come out of the deal. The first single, "The Woman You Love," featuring Busta Rhymes, is already available on iTunes.
As previously reported, whispers that Ashanti was gearing up a new release started as early as July with the release of a promotional photograph shot by celebrity photographer Robert Ector. There was also word that she'd been in the studio with Lil Wayne and Dr. Dre.
Ashanti was previously signed to The Inc./Universal Motown. No word on when exactly the album will be released.

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