Mel B leaves Virgin Records

Mel B's solo chart performance has been uneven

Spice Girl Mel B has parted company with her record company Virgin.

She has said that she intends to "take a rest from recording and return later in the year with a new record label".

Her solo chart performances had not matched those of her group, nor some of her other bandmate's solo efforts.

It may be more appropriate for her to be at a record company with an urban A&R department

Mel B's PR company

Mel B will be concentrating on other ventures, including hosting ITV's forthcoming talent programme This Is My Moment.

In a statement, her PR company said: "Melanie, who is still signed to Virgin Records as a Spice Girl, has had an excellent relationship with Virgin Records but feels that it may be more appropriate for her to be at a record company with an urban A&R department.

"This is the route she is taking musically and she feels that specialist attention here will be of great benefit to her."

Mel B's last single, Lullaby, reached number 13 in the singles chart in June.

Hot, her album for Virgin, got to number 28 in the album charts back in October 2000.

Her highest-charting solo single - actually a duet with Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott - was I Want You Back, which hit number one in 1999.