Ciara knows a thing or two about leveling up. The Grammy-winning artist has decided to take the reins of her career by launching her music and entertainment company, Beauty Marks Entertainment.
Established in 2018, with viral hit “Level Up” as the pilot single, the label imprint is described as the place “where music intersects with film, fashion, technology & philanthropy.”
When discussing her objective for the company, she told Billboard, “It definitely encompasses all things for me as it relates to my work world — everything from music releases, the label side of it, to the management side of it. The idea of ownership is really important to me and that’s what this phase is about.”
As a former major label signee, who has had a number of album release setbacks and complications, the multi-talented entertainer now wants to be a position to make her own rules. “Being able to have that freedom and flexibility is so special,” Ciara explained. “There have been moments in the past when I’ve felt creatively handicapped just because I have to wait for the powers that be to make the decisions for me and then they take a long time. I’m just waiting and waiting and losing time and before you know it, six months pass by.”
She continued, “Things move so fast and you can’t hold onto records too long because the times change. And when you feel like you have something that’s creatively distinctive, you want to be able to get it out there at the right time.”
Along with “Level Up,” Ciara also released “Freak Me” and “Dose” in 2018. “Greatest Love,” her first release of 2019, is expected to bring a different feel than her previously released tracks. Scheduled to arrive on February 12, just in time for Valentine’s Day, the singer stated her upcoming single is all about love. “I just want people to feel that love, whether you’re single or if you have your partner in your life.”