i've become a bit more excited since my last post here jsjdjd honestly i'm just anxious cause last year when i was talking to her after the Dopamine party she seemed SO excited & i remember her mom mentioning some things that never came to fruition so.. ya know.

but i hope this is a beautiful (and fulfilling) next chapter for her truly

22 minutes ago, sleepevaded said:

they don't have a good record of promoting/supporting their artists properly until they randomly have a breakout hit soo yeah but the good thing is they let their artists release whenever/whatever they want! i'll take it as a win

Yeah, they don't do a lot of promo but they'll let the artists release whatever and tour. Like their artists drop singles and non-singles all the time

Edited December 17, 2025Dec 17 by Flare

So, does anyone know what the problem was between Normani and RCA? I always thought the problem was her discarding numerous videos, but after Dani's tweet (kordeilogy), I'm having doubts.

I really hope things can move in her favor now; success doesn't matter to me, but I want her to be more present as an artist in 2026. If RCA was really the problem, this should be easy now.

11 minutes ago, motive dive said:

So, does anyone know what the problem was between Normani and RCA? I always thought the problem was her discarding numerous videos, but after Dani's tweet (kordeilogy), I'm having doubts.

I really hope things can move in her favor now; success doesn't matter to me, but I want her to be more present as an artist in 2026. If RCA was really the problem, this should be easy now.

Too complex to really unpack in full, plus we don't fully know.

That said...

Drawing on most available knowledge, it's a story fundamentally defined by: overthinking, changing guards at a corporate level, overspending, and the modern-day label issue of not lifting a finger unless something goes viral first.

Diving in a bit...

• Mani and RCA seemed locked in and on the same page with Motivation. It seemed the wheels were in motion for an album pretty quickly after. Instead, Mani pushed this "perfectionist" spiel, seemingly wanted a different, "cooler" direction, and flubbed the timeline of it all. IMO, this is the ORIGINAL SIN and most likely what soured the relationship.
  

• Continued recording, while trying to harness a new sound = $$$$$$...from her project budget. More on that in a sec.
  

• Finally settle on that sound, and we have Wild Side. Great song, she admits there was friction with the label about the cost of the video. Maxed budget for the visual and put her own money up. All to execute her "vision" as she wanted it. Understandable creatively, but strategically just sounds like more pissing off the label.
  

• Wild Side delivers a respectable #14 peak, but with a prime-Cardi B feature (also at a cost), it's highly unlikely any of it recouped $$$. Hence why...
  

• There was likely no budget to push the song at radio (#payola) nor fund performances etc. Thus, hanging more question marks above the cost the video. I like it, but I'd have taken something way simpler/cheaper visual if it meant budget could be allocated to the things that would actually make it stick as a hit. (Mani's strongest trait is her ability as a performer. So, with a stripped back visual, she would shine just the same.
  

• Far receives... nothing from RCA. Video filmed, yet it doesn't drop. Anyone's guess if this is due to no further budget, not believing or wanting the song or what. But...yeah...nothing. A Normani vs RCA narrative emerges in Stan land.

• Label head Tunji, who signed her to his own RCA subsidiary Keep Cool, announced his move to Def Jam (at label rival UMG). Keep Cool is effectively dissolved. All In the thick of Wild Side / Fair and what is supposed to be the debut album era. A mess. She shifts to RCA's roster under who knows what contractual terms.
  

• Dopamine finally drops with...nothing. Again, reaffirming that there's clearly a sour relationship issue with RCA. Either there's a standoff over something like the budget or they outrightly don;t care after years of "perfectionism", endless recording, and abandoned plans.

I may sound pro-label. And I'm really not. I just think, when recapping, it's clear to see where each side would, could, and should be frustrated with the other.

I will say, though, I've always taken issue with how hands-off Mani seemingly is with advocating for her art. There's an air of old skool to her that gives the vibe that she'll only move as much as a label budget/push/premium frameworking labels would allow for. I get the

Labels are fickle af. This we know. Meaning SHE is well aware of this, too. Sometimes you have to heat your own hype. The smart play would be to use social media, whether that's serving a look or dancing to snippets of her music, to get people hype. Should something catch on, the label would spring to action like they were always behind her. We've seen it happen with Doja (after "Mooo!"), Sabrina (who had a mini-flop run on Island post Disney years and only turned the tide with Espresso) and so many other acts. In 2025/2026, it's about being D.I.Y.

Let's see what this new chapter brings.

Edited December 17, 2025Dec 17 by Cbreezy

2026 might just be our year

8 minutes ago, diagnosense said:

2026 might just be our year

Exciting! Was just coming here to post!

Love that we're getting a new album in 2026 and in a new label #Mani2026

random , but i would love to see a collab (especially in mv form) with mani and tate or adela (i would love to see where they would go sonically speaking). the video would literally break the internet, imagine the choreo and acrobatics. i would even like a tinashe collab (not counting new to you lol).

Edited December 25, 2025Dec 25 by NormaniQueen

I'm really into bubblegum stuff…

but does this song sound like something Mani would do? It almost reminds me of her Eli - Glitter (2025)

Merry Christmas Mani fans

I hope Mani gives us the gift of Round 2 of music in the coming year

On 12/21/2025 at 5:05 PM, HenryHope said:

I'm really into bubblegum stuff…

but does this song sound like something Mani would do? It almost reminds me of her Eli - Glitter (2025)

maybe, i could also hear her singing itouch by eli.

Absolutely no bubble gum pop that's a big chop

7 hours ago, Hey200200 said:

Absolutely no bubble gum pop that's a big chop

exactly. r&b has been flourishing the most it's ever in a while, normani can flourish just fine. or give us a good medium which was dopamine. i'm perfectly fine w that.

5 hours ago, Arianna Kylie said:

exactly. r&b has been flourishing the most it's ever in a while, normani can flourish just fine. or give us a good medium which was dopamine. i'm perfectly fine w that.

I'm fine with pop but let's do that old school Janet Jackson pop like all yours/someone to call my lover are Christina Aguilera what girl wants/genie in a bottle or Mya case of the ex or Brittney I'm a slave for you/toxic that type of pop would suit Normani so amazing not that Tyler swift shake it off bubble gum pop nothing against that song I use to like it

On 12/29/2025 at 1:28 AM, Hey200200 said:

I'm fine with pop but let's do that old school Janet Jackson pop like all yours/someone to call my lover are Christina Aguilera what girl wants/genie in a bottle or Mya case of the ex or Brittney I'm a slave for you/toxic that type of pop would suit Normani so amazing not that Tyler swift shake it off bubble gum pop nothing against that song I use to like it

I would love her to go for Slave 4 U sound, she'd kill that, lets hope N2 is super successful

Okay it's 2026. Who got the new Normani tea?

I don't know but it's seems there has been a shift. It went from Solo Normani being the focal point of 2026. Now it's 5H; maybe the girls have found a new label and are in talks to maybe release a new single? I don't know how I feel about this as we barely have gotten anything from her for Dopamine and now we have to support the group (which I have no problem doing).

However, if the song isn't good I'm not streaming it. We've had so many missed opportunities to end up back at square one. If the music sound isn't grabbing my attention I'm not obligated to listen. I want her to not get side tracked and just release her project.

Also, there has been some talk of her staying at Sony and moving to sister label Columbia. You know where Beyoncé, Adele, and now Miley are. I don't know if that's the best move but I believe her and Lydia's negotiation skills.

Edited January 5Jan 5 by justifymythreads

On 1/3/2026 at 7:35 PM, Flare said:

Okay it's 2026. Who got the new Normani tea?

same as last year's tea... She's coming, she working on stuff, be patient, trust the process, things are moving behind the scenes...

rinse and repeat

(in the off chance she actually does something substantial this year, retroactively disregard my justified skepticism)

Seeing the likes of Tinashe, Tyla, Raye, Ravyn Lenae and Zara Larsson all smash really makes you think, Normani could've had it all...

21 hours ago, wildsidenormani said:

Seeing the likes of Tinashe, Tyla, Raye, Ravyn Lenae and Zara Larsson all smash really makes you think, Normani could've had it all...

Multiple sneaks in here.

Anyways Normani still has a chance because multiple of those people are khias who took 1000 tries to get a hit. Normani just needs that new label deal. That's really the only way to start the process. It's good labels want a Zara, Tyla type right now because Normani can jump into those shoes for some label who wants to fill that gap.

The bonus is that label doesn't have to spend much money on breaking her in as a 100% new artists because people know her already. They just need some hits and a cute (low cost) video. Like the Midnight Sun video cost $500 max to make NO SHADE.

Edited January 7Jan 7 by Flare

i wonder who she's signed to now… and how are y'all feeling about (another) alleged 5h reunion????

Lydia's friend who was the former CEO of Motown Records is the new President of Music at Hybe America. Normani was on a panel with her and Lydia this summer. I wonder if she'll have a partnership with Hybe like Tyla just announced.

Edited January 9Jan 9 by diagnosense

i think the label she signs to will be telling of how things will go for her. but i dont think it's hard to pick things back up for normani as long as its good AND THERE'S A VISUAL. people literally want to see that woman dance.

i have no problem with fifth harmony reuniting as long as normani still releases solo stuff. hell if thats whats gonna get a tour as im sure normani would have a solo set as would the other girls? im fine w it.

On 1/9/2026 at 9:05 AM, diagnosense said:

Lydia's friend who was the former CEO of Motown Records is the new President of Music at Hybe America. Normani was on a panel with her and Lydia this summer. I wonder if she'll have a partnership with Hybe like Tyla just announced.

What is Tyla's deal with Hybe? Let's start spilling the tea. Katseye is Hybe right? They get promoted heavily and globally. That could be great!

1 hour ago, Arianna Kylie said:

i think the label she signs to will be telling of how things will go for her. but i dont think it's hard to pick things back up for normani as long as its good AND THERE'S A VISUAL. people literally want to see that woman dance.

i have no problem with fifth harmony reuniting as long as normani still releases solo stuff. hell if thats whats gonna get a tour as im sure normani would have a solo set as would the other girls? im fine w it.

So I think we are getting solo Normani 100%. If it was just a Fifth Harmony thing, Will (Ally's husband and 5H's manager basically now, ex-Tour manager) is going to lead on that. Lydia would be doing nothing but making sure Normani looks good and gets paid right lol.

The fact Lydia's following list on socials is making movements is nice to see. So she's doing something clearly networking wise for Normani (we hope).

7 hours ago, Flare said:

What is Tyla's deal with Hybe? Let's start spilling the tea. Katseye is Hybe right? They get promoted heavily and globally. That could be great!

She's partnering with them through a joint venture with her management for global promotion. Katseye is with Hybe too.