Pop star Joss Stone is to launch a legal battle in a bid to leave her record label EMI.

The singer has hired a legal team to help free her of her current three-album deal with the troubled music company.

The British-based label was bought out last year (07) by capital group Terra Firma and has since seen the exit of a host of high-profile artists including Radiohead, the Rolling Stones and Sir Paul McCartney.

Stone is the latest star to voice displeasure at the stricken firm, insisting her decision to leave is based on EMI’s insistence on maintaining creative control over her future projects.

She says, "I’m not happy at all with EMI. I’ve spoken to my lawyers and am seeing what my options are. The industry is in a state and EMI are in a state, so I would rather work on other things."