Tuesday April 29, 2008

Amy Winehouse is planning to take control of her $20m fortune and start her own record label.

The troubled singer, 24, has reportedly been discussing her plans with new beau Alex Haines, and intends to quit her current label, Island Records, after her next album.

A source said: “For the first time in her career, Amy is beginning to have her head turned by the cash she can make.

“It’s never been a huge deal in the past, but she is beginning to realize everyone else is making all the money out of her success.

“Her deal with Island ends after the next record. That’s why they are trying to get her to clean up first and make sure it’s a classic.

“Once she gets that out she wants to set up her own label. She plans to release her own material on it, as well as her mates like Tyler James and Remi Nicole.

“She’s been planning it with Alex, who has a bit of music know-how from working as her manager’s assistant.”

The plans are said to be part of a big push by the ‘Rehab’ singer to take control of her finances. Amy’s dad, Mitch, currently holds the purse strings to Amy’s vast fortune, and pays her a modest income for her to live on.

Amy’s husband, Blake, is also demanding a $6m divorce payout following reports she was cheating on him with Haines — her manager’s assistant — while he’s locked up in prison.