EXAMPLE has been dropped by his record label after failing to land a hit single in four years.
The rapper, right, has parted ways with Columbia Records after admitting they both felt “frustrated”.
His last single to chart was Whisky Story in 2015 and it only reached No 96 — a far cry from his 2011 No1s Changed The Way You Kiss Me and Stay Awake.
The Londoner, whose real name is Elliot Gleave, said: “I was getting frustrated at Columbia and they were too because they didn’t really know what to do with me and now I’ve got the freedom. I’m my own boss. If I put a song out and it doesn’t do well we can move on to the next one, whereas at a major label if a song doesn’t perform, the bosses sit there and re-think everything.
“There’s too much planning involved, market research and sales figures. The key to this industry is artistry.
“I put one album out in 2014, which was a bit of a mess, with three people in charge within the label all arguing over what I should do — there was never any agreement of singles.
“They were after big crossover dance singles and I just wanted to make a couple of raw bangers. Once you’ve had the success there is a pressure to repeat the same formula.
“I want to make it up as I go along and put out exciting tracks.”
Having received a payout from the label he’s now channelling his cash into his forthcoming album Bangers & Ballads, which he will release independently in August.
He said: “A lot of my peers like Tinie Tempah, Chase & Status and Professor Green are still on major labels. So I’m really excited. I’m also writing with new artists.”
Living up to his name, he’s leading by Example . . .
Doing it Maya way
MAYA JAMA did what it said on the tin by dressing up to launch her clothing range for Pretty Little Thing.
The TV host was joined by reality stars including Love Island’s Olivia Attwood, Amber Davies and Towie’s Amber Turner and Chloe Sims at the swanky MNKY HSE club in Mayfair, central London.
Even model Ruby Mae, the girlfriend of England star Dele Alli, managed to pull herself away from watching the World Cup to attend.
Lucky fashionistas were treated to a performance from Maya’s boyfriend Stormzy, although it lasted no more than five minutes.
The rapper told Monday’s mainly female crowd: “Not to say this ain’t something I usually do but it’s very pink in here – but this is my missus’s launch party so we’ve got to do it properly.”
Gym kit is Gaga
NEVER one to dress appropriately, here is Lady Gaga turning up for a workout session.
She wore towering platform heels, fishnet tights and an orange jacket for a special soul cycle spin class in New York, held to raise mental health awareness for her Born This Way Foundation.
However, the singer refrained from hopping on an exercise bike herself.
She was back in her uncomfortable footwear on Monday night for a U2 gig at Madison Square Garden.
No wonder she hasn’t released an album for a while – she’s too busy soaking her feet.
Your boozer’s full, James
ASPIRING pub landlord James Blunt is cashing in on World Cup fever.
I can reveal the singer has thrown open the doors of his Chelsea boozer just in time for England’s big game against Belgium tomorrow.
He’ll be pulling pints at the Fox And Pheasant, near Stamford Bridge, after saving the bar from the threat of demolition, as first revealed in Bizarre in March last year.
Property developers had hoped to turn it into housing.
I’m told the new gaff even has a retractable glass roof over the beer garden should the warm weather take a turn.
James, who has a nightclub in the back yard of his Ibiza villa, threw a launch party for his celebrity mates including Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson, on Wednesday night.
James follows in the footsteps of film director Guy Ritchie, who ran Mayfair pub The Punch Bowl, which became a favourite of the rich and famous for five years before he sold up in 2013.
Time for Blunty’s best pal Ed Sheeran to schedule his first lock-in.
MOST READ IN BIZARRE
Bizbit
BRYAN ADAMS has insisted he never had a romance with Princess Diana, after ex-butler Paul Burrell claimed he used to sneak the singer into Kensington Palace. Bryan said: “Great friends. She was just . . . we were good friends.”
Danny Jones at the O2 Academy, Islington, London
I SENT Bizarre reporter Howell Davies to review McFly star Danny Jones’s debut solo gig.
AS he steps on stage at his first solo show, which sold out in just five minutes, the screams are just as loud as they were for the group that gave Danny seven UK No1s.
And his own material shows just as much promise, from Ed Sheeran-esque tune Big Love to emotional ballad Is This Still Love.
There is plenty of fun to be had in his playful, rockier sound – and his charisma shines through more than it ever could in a band of four.
He even brought contestants from the upcoming series of The Voice Kids, on which he is a coach, to witness his masterclass on how to keep a crowd in the palm of your hand.
There was a singalong with Muddy Water and final song Talk In The Morning got the crowd so excited that one superfan even proposed to his girlfriend in the front row.
But while Danny beamed with happiness, former bandmates Tom Fletcher, Harry Judd and Dougie Poynter looked genuinely devastated to see him perform McFly’s Shine A Light without them.
If this doesn’t spur a reunion, Danny’s solo career has just as much promise.
Bizbit
TAYLOR SWIFT has knocked £76,000 off the asking price of her edgy bungalow in Beverly Hills, just a month after listing it for sale. The singer, who is house-hunting in the UK, is now asking for £2.15m for the property.
Still in de-Niall
THINGS are clearly heating up between Niall Horan and Hailee Steinfeld.
He flew to Newcastle on Monday to see the singer before she supported Katy Perry at the Metro Radio Arena.
Her recent collaborator, MNEK, shared an Instagram video of the pair messing around backstage – before hastily deleting it.
Niall was first linked to the Pitch Perfect 2 actress in November last year.
But asked about their romance on Saturday, he said: “Private life – I’ll keep that one to myself.”
Looks like that might be easier said than done.
Instaglam
DUA LIPA doesn’t lack confidence, captioning this shot a ‘right swipe on Tinder.’ Consider on-0ff boyfriend Isaac Carew warned.
Musical Cher needs a lot of work
LAST year Cher announced a musical based on her life, but it’s not been plain sailing. After watching a preview, she said: “Some parts are really fabulous. We’re going to work on the other parts. There were no parts where I wanted to gouge my eyes out. It needs work. I’m not supposed to say that but I don’t care.”
Rebel with a new cause
AFTER a short break from movies, Rebel Wilson has acquired the film rights to upcoming comic book series Crowded – which she is expected to produce and star in. The book, whose first issue is due for release in August, is set in the near future and is based around a crowdfunding app that funds assassinations.
You Kahn’t get rid of me
QUEEN of funk Chaka Khan has announced her first album in 11 years and debuted new song Like Sugar. She has teamed up with Major Lazer founder Switch for the single, which is the first to be taken from her upcoming release Diary Records. Her last studio album, Funk This, was released in 2007.
Kasabian a bit bitter
KASABIAN headlined the Isle of Wight Festival at the weekend – but reckon they only got the slot due to a lack of good new bands. Asked why new groups aren’t topping the bills, frontman Tom Meighan said: “They ain’t good enough. I don’t think they’ve got many big songs, you know what I mean?”