Allen signals end of Empire

According to the 3AM Girls - yes, surprisingly, they've published an actual story rather than a piece about Jamelia's shoes - Lily Allen has run out of patience with Empire Management and is seeking new representation:

After a sensational 2006, with debut single Smile hitting the top spot, everyone thought it was only a matter of time before Lily secured her position as one of Britain's top female artists.

But problems have dogged her throughout the year. She scrapped her US tour in the spring because she was homesick and she's had to watch as Amy Winehouse's career has rocketed. And last month she ditched her bloke of two-and-a-half years, DJ Seb Chew.

All three of those things, of course, hardly being Empire's fault. And she's taking her personal manager, Adrian Jolly with her.

The Mirror suggests the problems with the visa and consequent failure to "break America" was the tipping point - although, once again, her visa being revoked was down to her own actions because of her caution for common assault, so it hardly seems fair to blame Empire for that one, either.