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Kim Petras Requests Republic Records Contract Release

Published 21 January 2026

Kim Petras, the 33-year-old German-born pop singer, has formally requested that Republic Records release her from her contract, citing the label's refusal to schedule a release for her completed third studio album, Detour. In a series of posts on X on Tuesday, January 20, Petras expressed frustration over the delays and her desire to regain control of her career.

Petras stated that Detour has been finished for six months, yet the label has not provided a release date or compensated her collaborators for their contributions. "My album has been done for 6 months but my record label has refused to give me a release date or pay my collaborators for the work they've done," she wrote. She also revealed that she self-funded a music video for an upcoming single more than two months ago, describing it as featuring nine looks, six setups, and 13 pairs of shoes, but the label has similarly withheld approval for its release.

The singer, known for her collaboration with Sam Smith on the 2022 hit "Unholy," which earned her a Grammy Award for best pop duo or group performance in 2023, voiced broader dissatisfaction with the music industry. She highlighted her past achievements, noting, "I won...

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