Bebe Rexha 'New Religion' Hits No. 1 After Going Independent

Bebe Rexha just scored her first No. 1 as an independent artist, and the moment hit different. Her single "New Religion," a collaboration with UK dance act Faithless, reached the top of the Billboard Dance/Airplay and US Dance Radio charts. She celebrated by sharing an emotional video she filmed back in January 2025, on the same day Warner Records dropped her after a 12-year run.

The contrast between that tearful private moment and where she stands now tells the whole story. In her Instagram caption, Rexha wrote that this No. 1 means more to her than any other achievement because she earned it on her own terms. She described the last seven years as a silent battle and admitted she genuinely thought her career was over when the label parted ways with her.

What Bebe Rexha's Move to EMPIRE Means for Independent Artists

After leaving Warner, Rexha signed a new deal with EMPIRE, the Bay Area-based independent label and distributor known for working with artists who want creative control and real ownership. She credited EMPIRE directly in her post, calling them her backbone and describing the whole chapter as a rebirth.

This is the kind of story independent artists need to hear. A four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter who wrote for Eminem, Rihanna, and Selena Gomez before building her own solo career, Rexha is not a newcomer finding her footing. She is a proven hitmaker who chose to bet on herself when a major label walked away, and it paid off. Going independent did not end her career. It restarted it.

The path she took, signing with a label like EMPIRE rather than chasing another major deal, reflects a shift that more artists are making. Distribution infrastructure, creative flexibility, and artist-friendly deal structures have made it genuinely viable to build a career outside the traditional major label system. Rexha is not the exception anymore. She is an example.

What's Coming: 'Dirty Blonde' Album Out June 12

The No. 1 is just the setup. Rexha's new album, Dirty Blonde, drops June 12. She has already released a run of singles alongside "New Religion," including "I Like You Better Than Me," "Cike Cike," and "Hysteria." If the dance chart performance is any indication, the rollout has momentum.

For independent artists watching this unfold, the takeaway is straightforward. Losing a label deal is not a death sentence. The infrastructure to distribute, promote, and chart without a major is real and it works. What matters is finding the right partners, protecting your creative lane, and continuing to put out music. Rexha did all three.

If you're building your own independent path and want to get your music in front of the right people, [submit your work](/submit) to the Something Dope network. And if you want to stay current on deals, chart moves, and artist wins like this one, [pass the aux](/pass-the-aux) and stay locked in.