|PIC1|Popular rock band Switchfoot have announced that they are to part ways with Columbia Records to pursue independent music.

"I've got some exciting news: after several years of trying to make things work over at Columbia we have officially severed our ties with Sony to pursue making music independently," the band announced on their website.

"We are thankful for the incredible success that our partnership has produced over the years, yet within this ever changing business there can arise differences in vision and goals. These differences have now come to a point where we feel like parting ways would be best for us, and best for Sony."

Four of lead singer Jon Foreman's solo EPs will release soon.

This summer, Switchfoot headlined the sold-out "Rock the Boat" concert sponsored
by new motion picture Evan Almighty and held in support of Christian housing ministry Habitat for Humanity.

Switchfoot's latest album . has been critically acclaimed worldwide, with the Associated Press calling it "an outstanding record in every sense".

Their previous album The Beautiful Letdown went double-platinum in 2004.