Lorde Hits 1 Billion 'Royals' Views Just as the UMG Contract the 12-Year-Old Signed Finally Ends

Lorde’s breakout 2013 single "Royals" officially surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube on March 18, 2026. The milestone arrived just as the New Zealand artist confirmed she is now an independent artist, following the expiration of the recording contract she originally signed with Universal Music Group at age 12.

In voice memos sent to fans, Lorde confirmed her long-standing deal with UMG ended in December 2025. She described the transition as a release from an agreement made before she understood what she was "signing away," framing the current era as a "clean slate" defined by "openness and possibility."

While "Royals" took nearly 13 years to reach the Billion Views Club, the timing of the achievement underscores the long-tail value of a catalog hit that outlasted the very contract that birthed it. Lorde’s exit marks a rare case of a global pop star regaining total sovereignty over their infrastructure after nearly two decades under a major label development deal.