She’s Coming: Mariah Carey Teases New Album MC16

After months of subtle hints and anniversary throwbacks, Mariah Carey has officially teased her long-awaited return to music with the announcement of her sixteenth studio album — now dubbed by fans as MC16, and already fueling excitement around the Mariah Carey new album era.

In a sleek new teaser video posted across her social media platforms, Carey is seen pulling up in a luxury vehicle with the license plate “MC16”. Titled “What’s Your Type?”, the teaser opens with her 2005 hit “It’s Like That“ and transitions into a soft-spoken vocal moment from Mariah herself: “To show my appreciation for your support, thank you DJs…”, accompanied by what appears to be a pulsing dance beat that seems to sample “Eric B. Is President”. The brief yet impactful clip has reignited fan anticipation and ends with the words: “What’s your type?”

This marks the beginning of what many are calling a redemption era for Carey — and she’s bringing reinforcements.

New Era, New Label: Mariah Joins Gamma

While not officially confirmed by Carey herself, strong industry buzz — and That Grape Juice’s report — suggests that Mariah has partnered with Gamma, the fast-rising multimedia company launched by former Apple Music executive Larry Jackson in 2023.

Gamma has quickly built a reputation for its artist-first model, offering creative control and modern promotional muscle. The company already boasts a star-studded roster including:

Usher
Rick Ross
Snoop Dogg
Sexyy Red
French Montana

Mariah’s move to Gamma could be a strategic step toward gaining the mainstream momentum that was sorely missing in her last release cycle.

A Cautionary Tale

Mariah’s previous album, Caution (2018), was critically praised for its sleek production and emotional depth, with tracks like “The Distance“, “Portrait“, “8th Grade”, and “Giving Me Life“ standing out as fan favorites. However, despite the acclaim, Caution failed to reach even 1 million equivalent album units worldwide, a surprising shortfall given Carey’s legendary status.

Many fans blame this underperformance on a lack of promotion and radio support, which may now be addressed under her rumored new partnership with Gamma.

Collaborations on the Horizon?

Grammy-winning artist Anderson .Paak has confirmed that he’s been in the studio with Mariah Carey, teasing a new collaboration that could blend his retro-soul grooves with her vocal finesse.

With her BET Ultimate Icon Award appearance just around the corner on June 9, speculation is mounting that a performance or single release could be imminent. Adding to the buzz, Carey has also recently started following all members of girl group KATSEYE on Instagram — a newly formed group under HYBE and Geffen Records, introduced through the survival show The Debut: Dream Academy.

With a new label, fresh creative collaborators, and an energized fanbase, MC16 feels like more than just another album — it’s a statement. It’s a reaffirmation that Mariah Carey is not just a legacy artist, but a current force with something vital to say.

And if the teaser is anything to go by, she’s ready to say it — loudly, melodically, and on her terms.