Kelly Rowland No Longer Managed By Matthew Knowles
Join me in this Jerry Springer-like chant:
Kelly!
Kelly!
Kelly!
Jawn Murray, MediaTakeOut, AP are all reporting that Kelly Rowland has exited the building headed by Beyonce's dad Matthew Knowles.
I've long wondered if Destiny's Child members Kelly or Michelle would ever seek
someone other than Matthew Knowles to oversee their solo careers? Gossip
columnists and bloggers have suggested that if Kelly or Michelle ever severed
their management ties with Poppa Knowles that it would be considered career
suicide.
That appeared to be the case for original Destiny's Child members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson who were dismissed from the group when they insisted upon having more input in their young careers.
Fortunately, the Rowland and Knowles split appears to be drama free. I contacted both of their representatives for a copy of their official statements. Kelly's publicist Simone Smalls sent me the comments from both, definitely a sign that the parties want to make it clear that they are not feuding.
"After a very positive meeting between Kelly Rowland and myself, we have amicably agreed to end our professional relationship," Knowles said in the statement. "My company, Music World, will continue to manage Destiny's Child as a group. As an artist, Kelly has incredible talent and I only wish her the best. We will always be family first and foremost, and as a dad I only have love for Kelly."
Rowland expressed her gratitude to Knowles. "Matthew Knowles
has been a positive influence in my career," Kelly said. "I have had great
success under his guidance--both as a member of Destiny's Child and with my solo
projects. Although we have decided to part ways professionally, the Knowles
family and the entire Music World Entertainment team will always be my family."
I know it had to be a tough decision for Kelly to walk away from Matthew Knowles' management company. We know that everyone in the business takes his telephone calls and meetings. It will be hard for her to replace that level of influence.
However, pursuing other management options will be good. When Matthew makes a call on Kelly's behalf you can guarantee that every music, film or TV producer, potential sponsor, advertising agent, editor, or radio program director has Beyonce on their brains. While having the platform to be pitched to these powerhouses poses an incredible amount of exposure for Kelly, I am sure it has both helped and hindered the number of opportunities she has secured.
This will be a great opportunity for Kelly to step out of Beyonce's shadows in order to come into her own.
Kelly has the talent, look and experience to succeed as a
solo artist and I would love to see that happen for her. She has really only
had one US hit independent of her work with Destiny's Child. In 2002, her
collab with Nelly, "Dilemma," reached #1 on Billboard's
Hot 100 chart.
Her two solo albums, Simply Deep and Ms. Kelly, didn't reach their potential.
I wish her the best and say congratulations.
I know it had to be a scary decision. But it was necessary.


I wish her luck & pray for her a reunion with DC in the years to come, because her solo career has been dead for a minute now.
No man is an Island, she will succeed, as her destiny is not tied to a particular manager in this case Knowles.
Go on girl, its well