You probably know the face. Maybe it’s from the Disney Channel days where she played the shy, piano-playing Ally Dawson, or perhaps you caught her more recently in a Netflix rom-com like The Royal Treatment. But honestly, the version of Laura Marano most people see on their screens is only a tiny fraction of what’s actually going on behind the scenes.
She’s a mogul now. Sorta.
We talk a lot about "Disney kids" and the paths they take. Some go the full-on rebel route, while others just kind of fade into the background. Laura Marano did something a bit weirder and way more difficult: she stayed in the game but completely changed the rules. She isn't just an actress for hire anymore; she’s a label owner, a producer, and an independent musician who literally funded her own career because the traditional system was getting in her way.
The Big Label Breakup Most People Missed
Back in 2015, things looked like they were going exactly as planned. Marano signed with Big Machine Records—the same label that launched Taylor Swift. It felt like a guaranteed win. She released "Boombox," it got millions of views, and the path to pop stardom was paved.
Then, it all just... stopped.
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Labels are complicated. People leave, management changes, and suddenly the artist you were excited about is stuck in "development hell." In 2017, she moved over to Warner Bros. Records, but that didn't stick either. Most people would’ve just waited or given up. Instead, Laura Marano took her music and her money and walked away.
She started Flip Phone Records.
It’s a funny name, but the business move was serious. By going independent, she had to pay for her own music videos, her own marketing, and her own studio time. It’s a massive risk. But if you listen to her ME, YOU, and Us EP trilogy, you can hear why she did it. The songs are more "bedroom pop" and vulnerable than the polished, manufactured stuff you’d expect from a former Disney star. She’s been very open about how hard it is to balance being a "label executive" one day and a "creative artist" the next.
That "Netflix Queen" Reputation
While the music was becoming her passion project, Netflix became her steady gig. But there’s a nuance here that gets skipped in the headlines. She wasn't just showing up for hair and makeup on The Royal Treatment. She was a producer on it.
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Producing is a grind. It’s about logistics, budgets, and making sure the catering shows up on time. For Marano, it was a way to ensure she had a say in the roles she was playing. She’s built this niche of "interactive" and "royal" rom-coms—like the recent Choose Love where viewers literally pick her character's boyfriend—that have consistently hit the #1 spot globally.
It's easy to dismiss rom-coms as "fluff," but from a business perspective, she’s dominating a specific market that keeps her relevant while she builds her music empire.
Why 2026 is Actually a Turning Point
As we move through 2026, the "Disney" label is finally starting to peel off. She has several projects in the pipeline that feel like a departure from the "quirky girl" archetype.
- Above and Below: A project that’s been in the works for a minute, showing a more dramatic side.
- Last Train to Fortune: A gritty role that feels worlds away from the bright lights of a sitcom.
- New Music: After her 2023 album I May Be An Actress, but I Can’t Fake How I Feel, fans are expecting a new era of Flip Phone Records releases.
Honestly, the most impressive thing about Laura Marano isn't the fame—it's the persistence. She’s been working since she was five years old. She was the young Debra Morgan in Dexter. She was in Superbad. She’s been in the industry for over twenty years and somehow hasn't become a cautionary tale.
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The Activism Nobody Really Claps For
We see celebrities post a black square or a hashtag and call it activism. Marano’s been a UNICEF ambassador since 2013. She’s worked with the Thirst Project and Equality Now for years. It isn't just "PR" for her; it’s a core part of her identity that she’s maintained since she was a teenager.
She often uses her music to fund these causes, like when she did virtual tours during the pandemic to support the ACLU. It’s a level of consistency that’s rare in Hollywood.
What You Can Learn From the Marano Model
If you’re looking at her career and wondering why she isn't "bigger," you’re asking the wrong question. She’s freer.
- Own Your Narrative: When the big labels didn't work, she built her own. If a door is locked, stop knocking and build your own house.
- Diversify Everything: She acts to fund the music. She produces to control the acting. It’s a self-sustaining ecosystem.
- Stay Human: Her fans (the "MaranoSauruses") are fiercely loyal because she actually talks to them. She doesn't act like a distant star; she acts like a person who’s just really busy.
The next time you see her on a Netflix thumbnail, remember she probably helped produce that movie so she could afford to release a song that might never get played on the radio—but means everything to her. That’s the real Laura Marano.
What to watch next: Check out Choose Love on Netflix if you want to see the interactive tech in action, or dive into her 2023 album for a look at her life after the "mouse house."