Pop icon Madonna has signed a new record deal with Warner Records, marking her return to the label where her career began. The agreement includes plans for a new dance album, her first full-length collection of new songs since 2019. This move reunites the best-selling female artist of all time with her original musical home after almost two decades.
Key Takeaways
- Madonna has signed with Warner Records, her original label.
- A new dance album is planned for 2026.
- This marks her first album of new material since 2019.
- She will collaborate with producer Stuart Price for the album.
- The deal brings Madonna's career full circle with Warner.
Madonna's Return to Original Label Home
Warner Records announced the new deal on Thursday, September 18. This partnership signifies a significant moment in Madonna's career. She previously spent the first 25 years of her professional life with Warner, starting in 1982.
The label confirmed that the agreement covers her "highly anticipated, upcoming new dance album." This project is expected to be a sequel to her 2005 hit album, Confessions on a Dance Floor.
"Almost 2 decades later — And it feels like home with Warner Records! Back to music, Back to the Dance Floor, Back to where it all began! COADF – Pt. 2 2026," Madonna shared in an Instagram post, celebrating her return.
Her post included several images. One showed the 67-year-old artist on a mattress, looking at the camera with an old-fashioned typewriter nearby. Another slide featured gold heels and a black purse with the message "P–sy Power" in rhinestones.
Fast Fact
Madonna signed with Sire Records, a Warner subsidiary, in 1982. Her self-titled debut album was released in 1983, launching her into global stardom.
A New Album and Collaboration
The new album is scheduled for release in 2026. This will be her first album of all-new material since Madame X in 2019. The untitled project will see Madonna working again with producer and songwriter Stuart Price. Price was a key collaborator on the original Confessions on a Dance Floor, which featured popular tracks like "Hung Up" and "Sorry."
The announcement from Warner Records highlighted Madonna's enduring influence. Co-chairmen Tom Carson and Aaron Bay-Schuck expressed their excitement about the reunion.
"We are honored to welcome Madonna back home to Warner Records. Madonna isn’t just an artist — she’s the blueprint, the rule-breaker, the ultimate cultural juggernaut," stated Carson and Bay-Schuck. "This signing represents a historic, full circle moment, one that brings her back to the label where it all began and reaffirms her unparalleled influence, setting the stage for an exciting new era of creativity and impact."
Historical Context
Madonna's early career with Warner Records produced many of her most famous hits. These include "Everybody," "Burning Up," "Holiday," "Lucky Star," and "Borderline." Her work during the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s set numerous records and shaped pop music globally.
Madonna's Enduring Legacy and Impact
Madonna's statement emphasized her long-standing relationship with the label. She reflected on her journey from a struggling artist to a global superstar.
"From being a struggling artist in New York City to signing a record deal to release just three singles it seemed at the time my world would never be the same again and in fact that couldn’t have been truer," Madonna said. "Since the beginning Warner Records has been a real partner with me. I am happy to be reunited and look forward to the future, making music, doing the unexpected while perhaps provoking a few needed conversations."
Her career at Warner included many iconic albums. These include Like A Virgin (1984), True Blue (1986), Like a Prayer (1989), Erotica (1992), Bedtime Stories (1994), Ray of Light (1998), Music (2000), American Life (2003), the original Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005), and Hard Candy (2008). She moved to Interscope Records in 2012 for her album MDNA.
Did You Know?
In July, Madonna released Veronica Electronica, a collection of eight rare and unreleased remixes from her critically acclaimed 1998 album, Ray of Light.
The Future of Madonna's Music
The upcoming album is a highly anticipated event for fans. No specific release date has been announced yet, beyond the 2026 timeframe. The collaboration with Stuart Price suggests a return to the successful sound of Confessions on a Dance Floor, an album celebrated for its electronic dance music influences.
Madonna's ability to reinvent herself and influence culture has been a constant throughout her career. This new deal with Warner Records aims to continue that tradition. It promises new music and potentially new cultural conversations, as Madonna suggested.
Fans and industry observers will be watching closely for more details about the album and its creative direction. The reunion with Warner is seen as a strategic move, bringing Madonna back to a label that understands her long history and artistic vision.
This return signifies not just a business deal but a full-circle moment for an artist who has consistently pushed boundaries in music and performance. Her influence on global pop music and culture remains undeniable.