Report: Megan Thee Stallion will stay independent but signs major label distribution deal

Megan Thee Stallion has signed a deal with Warner Music Group to distribute her music, Billboard reports. The deal means Meg will maintain ownership of her music, but will be able to rely on the major label to get future releases out into the world. According to Billboard, Meg's team will "include some staffers from 300 Entertainment as well as others across the company."

The new deal represents a new start for Megan, who has spent the past few years locked in legal issues with her former label 1501 Certified Music. She released her albums Traumazine, Something For Thee Hotties, and Good News on the label but agreed to "amicably part ways" in October of this year. She announced her independent era around the same time.

The advantages of a deal like this are clear, with the artist able to subvert the traditional structure in a way that's financially and creatively beneficial. It is only available to artists with major leverage, though. Additionally, it comes with the built in risk of a label potentially not treating the artist as a priority given the lower revenue the label stand to make due to not owning the music they are distributing.

Last month Meg released "Cobra," her first single as an independent artist. She followed it with a metal remix shortly after. Both were credited to her own label, Hot Girl Productions.