'Idol' May Not Even Allow Pia Toscano to Release CD

By Rob Shuter Posted Apr 11th 2011 11:00AM

Just days after getting voted off 'American Idol' in shocking fashion, songstress Pia Toscano reportedly snapped up a record deal with Interscope Records, but sources tell me nothing has been signed as management looks into whether 19 Entertainment will allow her to release anything at all.

"When you compete on 'Idol,' you must sign one of the strictest contracts in the business," a former 'AI' contestant tells me. "Not only does 'Idol' own you for the entire show and live tour that follows, it also controls everything you can do professionally for a long period after that."

That means that 19 Entertainment has first crack at every artist.

Pia's rep told E! News over the weekend that all the talk about a done deal is "all rumor," but it's completely true that Interscope has big plans for the Queens native, if only they can get their hands on her.

As previously reported, Interscope is already calling every top songwriter and producer to get an album together and rush-release it before the end of the season, but none of this matters unless 'Idol' allows her to do it.

"No way do the producers want a contestant who was kicked off having a hit record when the winner hasn't even been announced yet," another 'Idol' insider tells me. "The first hit song has always been from the winner and this year will be no different."

If you start having singers who were voted off charting before the show has wrapped, then the entire process loses credibility, my source contends.

"This is about protecting the brand, not about protecting Pia," the insider says. "She can record as many songs as she wants, but 'Idol' will refuse to allow them to be released for now until the show is over."

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Tags: American Idol, Pia Toscano

Comments

(71)

Monday 11 April

By NAUGHTY BUT NICE ROB

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SHE DID SIGN THE CONTRACT!!!!! NO ONE MADE HER

By debra

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pia is already a star...will contract...but i think a release before idol is chosen is premiture...i will though buy her cd on release date..

By mem

They always write such horrible first songs for the winner and then the runner up ends up with a great career.

By Ravanne

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If it weren't for AI, we'd all be going "Pia who?". Why should she be allowed to benefit from the exposure AI has given her if 19E doesn't have a crack at deciding if they can make a profit by signing her? 19E and AI after all put her in the public eye and gave her a stage. They carried all the expenses of putting her on television, right down to her pantyhose. If she found the contract so terrible and binding, she shouldn't have signed it. True, she wouldn't have been on the show, but at least she wouldn't be a "slave" to AI.

Who knows... maybe she could have been discovered singing kareoke in Howard Beach.

By Tiff

Jealous haters are probably ugly obese hags!

By logan

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Those idiot Idol execs better give in to her popularity and let her get her CD out there before the end of the season, cuz if they keep restricting it and leave us hanging, I'm gonna sue the crap out of them.

By Greg

All she has to do is contact a lawyer and sue them like Kelly Clarkson did. And if in fact 19 has this as part of their contract of owning them after the contest and tour are over they need to be sued for that and be made to change it. Who the fk do they think they are anyway? How dare they think they can tell somebody what to do and not do after it's all over and done with.

By Dr Hekyll

credibility? are you serious?

WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING HOME THIS WEEK?

By Lori

Stephano is going home or Paul

Tuesday 12 April

By jan

Stefano should be voted off. He is horrible.

PIA was voted off American Idol by American voters. Not all of us were under 15 yrs old. I never voted for her because she has no personality,cannot act or entertain, and sings ballot,which is boring. The judges should of told her instead of telling her how great she was. I don't think it's fair to the rest of the contestants, the show is not over and the real AMERICAN IDOL has not been chosen yet. At least allow them their fair chance at it before blowing her up to be something she's not.

The word is spelled BALLAD not ballot. A ballot is something u cast during an election. God! didnt u take spelling in grade school? Read a book once in a while!

By Drew

oh no a typo heaven forbid!

also why to outrage? viewers are the ones who voted, so obviously more viewers thought she deserved das boot. get over the looks of her and move on to actual talent... or stop stressing over a retarded tv show.. either way.

By 5Stacey

I have to kind of laugh when people say Pia was boring and had not stage presence. If you think back to season(5), thats EXACTLY what everyone said about Carrie Underwood! Now look at Carrie! I think some people just have natural stage presence and som others have to grow into it. I think Pia will go far and only get better!!! Americas sucks for voting her off! And the judges wasted the save on the 'screamer'.

By Jan

America got it right with those 2 at the bottom. Pia has a great voice but she is a boring singer. And the outfit she chose to wear was not flattering. She has been a boring singer from the beginning. I miss Simon cause he would have told her that from the beginning. America got it right. Stefano should go next.

By wrangler003

She should NOT be allowed to do this. She is still owned by AI. She needs to get some personality before proceeding on with this "career" which will never happen for her, too boring and not a very good singer.

By pie13

I thought it was the little girls speed dialing too, that kept the worst on the show. But the culprit is that Vote For the Worst website. Along with the goofy teens they are a block-a force, and nothing can be done about it. Without VFTW it could possibly be a more interesting show. And now with the judges saying everything is beautiful etc, it is just farcical. JLO is sickening-at least Tyler is funny-sometimes.

By Charlie

Im done with Idol, will not watch another show, the rest of the group are kids with no lasting appeal except maybe to other kids.

By Maria

everybody has their own opinion, you cant please everybody, its in the eye of the beholder. all of them are good, have talents, great kids. good luck to the winner, God Bless everyone. lets be happy for them kids.

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