Lily Allen Not Leaving The Music Biz

After announcing last month that she had no plans to make another album, fans and the media wondered if the British pop star really was retiring from the industry for good. Although it wasn’t the first time Allen threatened not to make another album, maybe this time she meant business and would bid farewell to the music world with just two albums under her belt.

“Just so you know, I have not renegotiated my record contract and have no plans to make another record (applause). I do however remain a fan of new music, so this is not some selfish crusade,” Allen wrote Sept. 24 on her “It’s Not Alright” blog. Later that day she deleted the post and the entire blog, explaining on Twitter “and i’ve shut down the blog, the abuse was getting too much.”

Shortly after the blog post hit the interwebs, Allen’s representative told NME.com that the singer “is not quitting pop music. She is not thinking about her next album right now because she is still in the middle of promoting her current record.”

The singer has cleared things up, explaining that although she might take a break from making her own music, she’s interested in helping jump-start other artists’ careers.

During at interview Monday at the Q Awards, Allen reiterated what her rep said, telling BBC 6 Music, “I’m not retiring from music. I might retire from singing for a bit. But yet, we’ll see.”

Allen explained that she felt like “having a bit of a time for a break from doing that and do something else for a while.”

And maybe the reason she said she has not renegotiated her record contract is because she’s interested in launching her own label.

“I love working in music,” she told the BBC. “I like to help other bands and stuff so I’m thinking about – well we’re in talks about setting up my own label and dedicating the next couple of years to that.”

Allen refused to drop any hints regarding the type of bands she’d like to sign.

“I’ve got lots of bands in mind but I’m not going to say, because lots of people will steal them off me.”

The singer said she’s also involved in discussions about appearing in a West End show.

Although Allen isn’t retiring from the music biz, it looks like she’s taken a step back from social media. The frequent Twitterer last used her Twitter account Sept. 28, days after she shut down the “It’s Not Alright” blog. Her last Tweet announced, “I am a neo-luddite, goodbye.”  Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines “luddite” as “one who is opposed to … technological change.” 

Last week Allen kicked off a U.K. and European tour, which includes shows lined up through a Dec. 15 gig at London’s O2 Academy Brixton. She then plays the “Big Day Out” festival in New Zealand and Australia with performances on Jan. 15, Jan. 17, Jan. 22-23, Jan. 26, Jan. 29 and Jan. 31. In March she’s set to play a few more U.K. shows.
 
Click here for the BBC story.

Click here for Allen’s Twitter account.