The “Queen Of Soul” Aretha Franklin Had A Career That Deserves Your Respect

She Started Her Own Record Company

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Back in 2004, after more than 40 years in the music industry, Aretha Franklin started her own record company, Aretha’s Records. This was a huge step for the iconic performer, as she would have 100% creative control over her albums after splinting the creative control over the years with other record companies.

The timing was especially interesting, as she was just coming off a Grammy win for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for “Wonderful.” Under her own label, she issued the album Aretha: A Woman Falling Out Of Love, but as of 2014 she was signed under RCA Records.