Another Idol Loses Contract–Katharine McPhee and RCA Part Ways

Idols are dropping left and right here! Now, it’s Katharine McPhee, according to the EW Hollywood Insider, who has lost her record contract–

Another Idol label deal bites the dust. Hollywood Insider has learned that Katharine McPhee is the latest former contestant to part ways with her record company. Like season 2 winner Ruben Studdard and season 5 champ Taylor Hicks, who were signed to J and Arista Records, respectively, a rep for RCA Records confirms that McPhee is no longer on the label’s roster, adding that, “Katharine is going to record her next album on her own.” McPhee’s self-titled debut charted at a promising No. 2 in February 2007, but it never reached gold status. Sources close to McPhee complain the label didn’t support the album — but Idol Phatigue seems to have conquered McPheever. Still, she shouldn’t lose all hope: The singer, who is managed by Guy Oseary, makes her first feature-film appearance (opposite Anna Faris) in I Know What Boys Like later this year, and we hear she’s already in talks with another label.

Just to make sure, EW double-checked–Clay Aiken and Fantasia are still on their record label’s rosters.

I can’t say I’m surprised. Rumors about Katharine and Taylor had been swirling for months. It’s tough times for the record industry, and it appears that Sony/BMG is cleaning house…


Related Posts

Blake Lewis Dropped from Arista
Chart Watch
Idol Sales News - Week Ending 07/29/07
Katharine McPhee Co-producing Play for NYC Fringe Festival
Katharine McPhee — Working with David Foster?

19 Responses to “Another Idol Loses Contract--Katharine McPhee and RCA Part Ways”


  1. 1 Little Boy Blue Jan 9th, 2008 at 5:17 pm

    I really have nothing to add. But Taylor’s thread below has more than 70 posts.

    I don’t want people to think that Kat has no supporters, so I’m posting something.

  2. 2 mj Jan 9th, 2008 at 5:24 pm

    Don’t worry. The google alert hasn’t popped up in people’s mailboxes yet.

  3. 3 highhopes Jan 9th, 2008 at 6:52 pm

    I don’t think too many Katharine fans frequent this site anymore.

  4. 4 Nanny Mcphee Jan 9th, 2008 at 6:59 pm

    ^ They don’t. I wish Kat the best, I know she already has things planned for the future. No matter what happens I will ALWAYS be a Katharine Mcphee fan.

  5. 5 Kat Jan 9th, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    No matter what happens I will ALWAYS be a Katharine Mcphee fan.

    Always? What if she slaughters an infant and drinks its blood on live television? :-)

    Just kidding! Kidding! All in good fun…

  6. 6 Kat Jan 9th, 2008 at 7:10 pm

    Hmm, since it won’t let me edit my comment…

    …wanted to add that despite my personal distate of Ms. McPhee, I wish her and her fans the best. I will continue to snark on her when the mood strikes of course, and continued fame can bring nothing but a new slew of silly, inane, and ignorant comments from everyone’s favorite McIdol. Still, though, she has fans who are devoted to her and truly enjoy her voice and personality, and they deserve to hear more music from her.

  7. 7 Nanny Mcphee Jan 9th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

    ^ If she turns into a Britney, I’m out :tongue1_tb:, but this is not bad news for her, not in my opinion anyway. I hated RCA. I think there are only good things to come for Katharine. I really do.

  8. 8 Chicago-sally Jan 9th, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    She’s going to be a star in the movies — just wait and see. But everyone has to remember — she was kicking around Hollywood for YEARS auditioning and never got face time. She got face time with AI, she’s on tv specials and late night shows….making movies….that’s a great accomplishment don’t you think?

  9. 9 JOJOSIE Jan 9th, 2008 at 8:54 pm

    I think she has a great voice and maybe with David Foster to coach her she’ll learn how to bring more connection to the songs. Her good looks are a large plus. She’s also got family in the entertainment business and that will keep her name out there. These young folks have all benefited from Idol and only time will tell what’s next for them. I’m not going to loose any sleep over any of them yet.

  10. 10 xoxoyc Jan 9th, 2008 at 10:08 pm

    I think RCA was the wrong label for someone like Katharine anyway. And really the only runner up that RCA has kept past the initial year is Clay Aiken so I’m not really surprised that this happened.

    Her manager is very good and I’m pretty confident that there will be another album from her sometime in the future. I just hope it is a good album that showcases her musical stylings and abilities much better. She really is a great singer and she doesn’t need all that overproduction.

  11. 11 Chicago-sally Jan 9th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

    What happened to Sabrina & Sundance? Hmmm…

  12. 12 AlwaysElliott Jan 9th, 2008 at 10:41 pm

    Not sure if you were snarking or not…..but Sabrina Sloane was on Boston Legal’s Christmas episode as one of the singers at the firm’s holiday party and was dancing with William Shatner’s character at the end of the show. :) Call that a good Idol eye for catching that one - she made the credits as something like “girl singer #1″ :)

  13. 13 AlwaysElliott Jan 9th, 2008 at 10:42 pm

    Oh….and just to snark for a mini-second. YAY for Elliott’s success! I guess #3 is holding onto his label better than #1 and 2 that year….

  14. 14 JOJOSIE Jan 9th, 2008 at 11:44 pm

    That maybe because Elliott supposadly owns half of his label. He’d have to fire himself.

  15. 15 marco5ny Jan 10th, 2008 at 12:11 am

    Every runner up on Idol got a Clive contract. Except for Clay, every single one was dropped after about a year with only one album being produced. Is Blake doing well enough to break the trend?

  16. 16 gemlake Jan 10th, 2008 at 3:17 am

    No, Blake will almost certainly be dropped by the end of the year. Break Anotha is flopping hard.

  17. 17 Bobbi Jan 10th, 2008 at 6:31 am

    Not sure if you were snarking or not…..but Sabrina Sloane was on Boston Legal’s Christmas episode as one of the singers at the firm’s holiday party and was dancing with William Shatner’s character at the end of the show. :) Call that a good Idol eye for catching that one - she made the credits as something like “girl singer #1″ :)

    I saw that too! What fun catching her there!

  18. 18 shasta Jan 10th, 2008 at 10:29 am

    Yay for Elliott!!

    Ooops sorry, this about Kat. I…guess I’m sorta sad that…well just a little happy…I mean sad that….Kat….

    Oh hell, who I am kidding, I couldn’t care less about Kat, her fans or her ‘career’. Maybe I would if both she and her fans didn’t suck but as is stands, I don’t care, and am actually quite happy. Maybe this means we won’t have to hear her sing or see her ‘perform’ again. She should sooooo stick to acting. Maybe this means her ’singing career’ will go away.

    I can only pray.

  19. 19 highhopes Jan 10th, 2008 at 12:10 pm

    Dearest Shasta, you made me spew tea on my keyboard. :lol_wp: