You know that feeling when you hear “Case of the Ex” come on and suddenly you’re transported back to the early 2000s? Yeah, that’s the Mya effect right there. However, in case you have been asking the same question about one of the most gifted artists in R&B music and where she has been cloistering, you are not the only person. Truth about Mya could shock you more than the fact that you ex really moved on.
Come on now – the music world has this awkward tendency of pushing artists off of the face of the earth quicker than your desire to work out in January. But Mya isn’t just another cautionary tale of fame gone wrong. She’s actually been out here playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers.
The Rise and Mainstream “Disappearance” of Mya
Remember when Mya was literally everywhere? Between 1998 and circa 2003 it was impossible to avoid her hits. Who could forget “It’s All About Me,” “Ghetto Supastar,” and not to mention, “Lady Marmalade” featuring Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Lil Kim, the song basically was the anthem to anyone who had a bedazzled flip phone.
By 2008, Mya has sold more than 7 million albums in countries around the world, and she was voted No. 97 in Billboard list of Hot 100 Artists of the 2000s. She was killing it, winning Grammys and literally living the dream that every aspiring artist pines in their diary.
Then however something curious occurred. By 2007, Mya appeared to have disappeared out of the mainstream radio and those slick magazine covers. People started asking “what happened to Mya?” like she’d been abducted by aliens or something. The truth? She didn’t disappear – she just got smart about her career.
Why Mya Left the Major Label Game
This is when it becomes hot. Other entertainers were struggling to get crumbs at the mainstream labels, and Mya told them, “No, I like it this way” and left that dismissal circus. She walked out of the major labels industry and established her own indie label called Planet 9.
But, surely you are thinking, another musician has gone independent because he/she could not keep up with the big dogs. Wrong. Mya became independent as she did not want to feel like she owned nothing and had to give way to other decisions. It is a revolutionary concept, isn t it?
In the words of one of the fans: “I’m not surprised that Mya’s still got it going on as I have kept up with her career since she left her major label and started her own label. She never gives up and releases new songs, videos, and albums”. The girl did not even cease working – she simply ceased playing along the rules of other people.
Mya’s Smart Strategy: Independent Success
While everyone was mourning Mya’s supposed “decline,” she was over here building an empire. Since she has stopped being under companies, she has produced various albums and EPs and had control over every point of her creation. It is as though she made a decision to become the CEO of herself and not work in a company as an employee.
Mya composes 99.9 percent of her albums and she can only take a song to the stage when it seems to relate to her perception. This kind of artisan morality is above as common as a spot in the mall park during the Christmas shopping time.
The artist has also diversified her talents beyond just music. She has acted and even danced as well as having and currently runs her own non profit organization called The Mya Arts & Tech Foundation in 2005, this organization aids the disadvantaged youth through the use of both arts and technology programs.
Where is Mya Now in 2025?
Plot twist – Mya is absolutely thriving in 2025. On May 9, 2025, she made a new release single entitled Face to Face in collaboration with Virgin Music Group and, on June 12, 2025, sung her song Case of the Ex at the 2025 BET Awards as part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the show 106 & Park.
But, that is not all. In March 2025, Billboard listed Mya on their Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century list. That’s not exactly what you’d call a “decline,” is it?
Mya’s 2025 Tour and Live Performances
In case you have imagined Mya sitting back at home knitting scarves, you are mistaken. In fact, Mya is already hitting the road in 2 countries and has 5 concerts ahead, touring dates to Chicago and Indianapolis.
Her recent shows have the most stunning of reviews. There are fans commenting that it is a 10 on dancing, singing, stage presence, energy and looks and they say that she is aging like fine wine! One person at the concert said that when she opened up with Case of the Ex, they may as well been unable to hear her as “the crowd was singing along in exponentially decibels”.
The Truth About Artist “Disappearances”
Here’s the tea that nobody wants to admit: Mya didn’t disappear – the industry’s definition of success did. We’ve been conditioned to think that if an artist isn’t on every radio station and magazine cover 24/7, they’ve somehow failed. And this is just as absurd as saying that a restaurant was unsuccessful because it is not a McDonalds.
Consider how other artists made similar moves. Prince is also well known as the artist that fought his record company and renamed himself as a symbol. Chance the Rapper is the artist who won Grammys through being an independent artist. Frank Ocean abandoned his major label to release the records of his music on his own. These musicians did not die away – they simply were not willing to take part in a fixed match.
Mya is a kind of revolution to the industry that burns and devours talents. She worked out the formula of living long and not being deprived in artistic vision or mental integrity. Mya has been married to herself since 2013 describing the action as, “It was all about self-care, self-love and getting myself back after a toxic relationship”.
What We Can Learn from Mya’s Journey
The Mya story isn’t about decline – it’s about evolution. Other musicians who were active during her time are either trying to make a comeback like in the old days or they have totally quit the music industry but Mya has been consistent by sticking to what she knows best, which is music and business.
She has shown that no big name machine is needed in order to make it big in the business. All you need is the talent, the business and the guts of betting on you. She (as she states) is only competing with herself in order to become her best every year and not what others around her are doing.
The Future Looks Bright for Mya
So, to answer the burning question of “where is Mya now” – she’s exactly where she wants to be. Making music on her own conditions, touring to the people that truly enjoy her work, and developing a long-term career without relying on the blames of record label executives or radio programmers.
The example of Mya in 2025 demonstrates that life can be gained after mainstream success and in some cases, it is better than your previous life. She is not merely surviving in music world; she is demonstrating to other music artists how to carry on efficiently without depending on others.
when somebody tells you, what happened to Mya, the answer you should give them is that she did something radically, radically she took charge of her life. And honestly? It must be the most intelligent business decision an artist can take in the contemporary music world.
The great artist Mya didn’t disappear – she just got wise enough to disappear from a system that wasn’t serving her. And that, my friends, is the difference between being famous and being legendary.
