Kim Petras has hit out at her record label claiming that they “refused” to release her forthcoming album ‘Detour’.
The German pop star took to X to post her frustrations in a series of posts explaining why she’d rather be an independent artist going forward and has called to be dropped by Republic Records.
“My album has been done for six months but my record label has refused to give me a release date or pay my collaborator’s for the work they’ve done,” she wrote, adding in a separate post: “I’m tired of having no control over my own life or career. I want to continue to self fund and self curate my own music. This is why I have formally requested to be dropped by @RepublicRecords.”
My album has been done for 6 months but my record label has refused to give me a release date or pay my collaborator’s for the work they’ve done
— kim petras (@kimpetras) January 20, 2026
I’m tired of having no control over my own life or career. I want to continue to self fund and self curate my own music. This is why I have formally requested to be dropped by @RepublicRecords
— kim petras (@kimpetras) January 20, 2026
Petras’ latest release ‘I Like Ur Look’ landed in October last year and her most recent full-length LP, ‘Problématique’ was released in 2023.
Posting on X, she claimed that it was not just the album that is being held up, but the singles, too, adding: “I also filmed and self funded a music video over two months ago for my next single that they also wouldn’t give me a release date for.”
Recommended
Petras continued: “I won a Grammy two years ago…….. the music is TEA. Still no support,” before adding: “If it’s not a TikTok trend or ’80s revival queerbaiting shit these labels have no interest in supporting.”
She concluded her posts by threatening to drop her new album. “My fans have waited long enough. I love u guys,” she said. “I’m dropping ‘Detour’ regardless.”
Oh ya I 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
— kim petras (@kimpetras) January 20, 2026
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.
— kim petras (@kimpetras) January 20, 2026
My fans have waited long enough. I love u guys.
— kim petras (@kimpetras) January 20, 2026
I’m dropping Detour regardless
— kim petras (@kimpetras) January 20, 2026
Republic Records have yet to comment on the claims publicly and NME has contacted a spokesperson for Petras for comment.
Following her posts, Kesha backed Petras saying: “I spent many years fighting for the rights to myself. Watching another woman realise 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.”
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.
— kesha (@KeshaRose) January 21, 2026
Kesha herself reached a settlement in her long running legal battle with ex-producer Dr. Luke in 2023 and later launched her own label, Kesha Records.
Elsewhere, Petras recently offered to send New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani her new album after he declared his love for her music.
She wrote at the time: “Zohran Mamdani I am willing to privately send you my new album if we can get the horse carriages banned from Central Park.”