Mariah Carey’s latest album may be her last with Island Def Jam after delays and a lack of promotion and support plagued the project, sources tell Page Six.
Carey, who last night performed with the New York Philharmonic at the MLB All-Star Charity Concert in Central Park benefiting Hurricane Sandy relief, was due to release her latest album, “The Art of Letting Go,” this month. But she announced in late June that she was delaying its release. “I got so immersed in the creative process that I just don’t feel I would be doing it justice to release it on 7/23,” she wrote on Twitter.
Music insiders tell us the album’s first single, “#Beautiful,” was not heavily promoted by IDJ, and Carey was disappointed by the label’s efforts. Later, IDJ released remixes of “#Beautiful,” including a “Spanglish” version called “#Hermosa” and one with Young Jeezy, to attract spins.
Some insiders blame the lack of attention to Carey on the fact that label execs were busy focusing on Kanye West’s album “Yeezus.” Page Six earlier reported that West’s last-minute production changes and legal issues were driving IDJ suits “crazy” as they worked overtime to get the album out.
Now some insiders are speculating the diva will leave IDJ after “The Art of Letting Go” is released. “No one’s really scrambling to renegotiate her contract or put her music out,” said a source.
But another insider insists there’s no power struggle between Carey and IDJ, describing the working relationship as “all love.”
Carey is recovering from a dislocated shoulder after she fell last week at Avenue during a video shoot for the Young Jeezy “#Beautiful” remix.
A rep for IDJ told us: “We love Mariah and her music and have fully supported her every step of the way here at Island Def Jam. ‘#Beautiful’ had an unprecedented promotional push and has already sold nearly 1 million singles.”
A rep for Carey added: “Mariah couldn’t be happier with the support from the label and is looking forward to finishing and releasing her record.”