Remember Josiah Leming? While he didn’t make American Idol‘s Top 24 last year, the show got a lot of mileage out of his tearful tale of living in a car. Despite his lack of TV success, he wrangled a deal with Warner Bros. and plans to release an album in January. But not if American Idol can help it.
It’s well-known that contestants have to sign an exclusivity contract with Simon Fuller’s 19 Records, and that they can only make music elsewhere once he passes. But Leming is the first person to get a record deal who failed to make the Top 24, so you can understand why he didn’t bother to ask permission. Besides, as a rep told the New York Post, “He has personal reasons for getting his music out, threat or not.” His mom is dying!
Yes, Leming is arguing that his mother’s terminal cancer means he should be allowed to put out his music ASAP, and worry about the contractual details later. While Idol has threatened legal action, it’s unclear what they’ll do if the singer decides to call their bluff—though we can guess the word “settlement” might be involved.
