Kim Petras attacks Republic Records and asks for her release: “I’m tired of having no control over my own life or career”
Kim Petras has announced that her current record label, Republic Records, has stalled the release of her next album, Detour. As such, she has asked to be dropped immediately from the label.
Petras took to X to share an update on her album, the first since her 2024 project Slut Pop Miami, and 2023 full-length Problématique: “I’m tired of having no control over my own life or career,” She began.
In the same post, she added, “I want to continue to self fund and self curate my own music. This is why I have formally requested to be dropped by Republic Records.”
Petras also wrote online, “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.”
Ruminating as to why the lack of support might be, Petras added, “I won a grammy 2 years ago…….. the music is TEA. Still no support . If it’s not a tiktok trend or 80s revival queerbaiting shit these labels have no interest in supporting.”
Petras won a Grammy for ‘Best Pop Duo/Group Performance’ in 2023, for her collaboration with singer-songwriter Sam Smith on the hit ‘Unholy’. Because of this, she became the first openly transgender woman to win a Grammy in a major category.
Across seven posts, she also revealed that the label has stalled the release of the album’s singles. Additionally, Petras “also filmed and self funded a music video over 2 months ago for my next single that they also wouldn’t give me a release date for.” The video included “9 looks 6 setups 13 pairs of shoes.”
In support, Kesha replied to her original post, sharing her own gendered experience of the industry: “I spent many years fighting for the rights to myself. Watching another woman realize that the ‘golden cage’ is still a cage isn’t a victory—it’s a tragedy we have to stop repeating. Freedom isn’t a privilege; it’s a birthright. I hear you, I’m sorry Kim.”
At the end of her slew of posts, Petras wrote, “My fans have waited long enough. I love u guys,” before adding, “I’m dropping Detour regardless.”
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