British soul star Beverley Knight is setting up her own record company so she can self-release her next album.
Knight left music giants EMI back in 2007 - but she hasn't given up making music, and has teamed up with co-managers Alan Edwards and Dave Woolf to launch Hurricane Records.
The singer has reportedly convinced venture capital firm Icebreaker to stump up a six-figure investment to fund to label.
Woolf tells Music Week, "We had an absolutely open mind (about label deals) but having seen (other) people do it themselves we thought it seemed like a sensible option for someone who had a fanbase and a brand. More people are choosing this route, which doesn't say it is right for everybody but it is for Beverley, who wants to be in control of her career and destiny as much as possible".
The new album is expected for release later this year (09), in conjunction with a new cosmetic range the singer has lent her name to.