Take That have signed a new record deal with EMI for their first studio album in six years.
The group – starring Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald – released their most recent LP, ‘Wonderland’, in 2017, with the re-worked greatest hits collection, ‘Odyssey’, arriving in 2018.
While both were issued on Polydor, the trio have jumped ship for their ninth record, which is expected to launch later this year.
Speaking about the new label deal, Take That said: “It’s very clear that [EMI co-presidents Rebecca Allen and Jo Charrington] and all the team at EMI share our love and passion for music, and our ambition, and we are very excited about working together.” (via Music Week)
Their manager, Chris Dempsey, went on to reveal the album will follow in the final quarter of 2023 “in addition to some more catalogue moments”.
“We have big touring plans for 2024,” he added.
The group have been in the studio over the past few months working on tracks for the record, with Howard Donald teasing the new material in a chat with BBC Radio 2.
“We went out to Savannah to actually record an album,” he shared. “We all did all our own stuff and we wrote together. We’re pretty much in there, now. We’re not far from being finished.”
On the sound of the LP, he added: “We’re very excited because it’s kind of a new direction for us as well. There’s some cracking songs, well, I’ve got to say that. It’s sounding absolutely brilliant.”
Take That recently returned to the stage for King Charles’ Coronation Concert, during which they delivered a spectacular, three-song set.
After the show, which included the live debut of the new dance version of their 2008 chart-topper Greatest Day with Calum Scott and DJ Robin Schulz, they promised there is “much more to come”.
In an Instagram post, they wrote: “It was incredible to perform live together again for the first time in 4 years and there is so much more to come. We’re back for good.”
Talk of new material comes ahead of Take That’s musical film ‘Greatest Days’, which hits cinemas this summer.
‘Greatest Days’ follows five best friends who have the night of their lives seeing their favourite boy band in concert. Twenty-five years later their lives have changed in many different ways as they reunite for one more epic show by their beloved band, to relight their friendship and discover that maybe their greatest days are ahead of them.
In addition to featuring the band’s music, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald are executive producers for the film.
Elysian Film Group has confirmed the film will debut across the UK and Ireland on June 16, with Take That set to perform at a premiere event in London.
Take That headline BST Hyde Park on Saturday, July 1. For more information and tickets visit www.bst-hydepark.com
