EMI Signs Utada

Following her online suggestion that fans avoid a greatest hits album being released by Universal against her wishes, J-pop superstar Hikaru Utada this week signed a new global recording contract with EMI Music, which has distributed her songs in Japan since her debut in 1998.

In addition to dumping Universal for her overseas output, Utada will also retain her full name.

Universal had sold her records under the single-name, all-caps moniker UTADA. For EMI she will be Hikaru Utada. EMI is releasing Singles Collection Volume 2 on Nov. 24, a record she obviously approves of.