Pop Icons Kesha and Grimes Rally Behind Kim Petras in High-Stakes Label Dispute
Following Kim Petras’ public demand to be released from her contract with Republic Records, several high-profile peers have stepped forward to champion her cause. Petras, who recently claimed the label has indefinitely stalled her upcoming project, is finding vocal support from fellow artists who have navigated their own turbulent histories with major record labels.
The “Unholy” singer took to social media on Tuesday, January 20, to express a profound lack of autonomy. “I am tired of having no control over my own life or career,” Petras stated, revealing that her desire to independently fund and curate her art has led her to formally request an exit from Republic Records.
Kesha, a figure synonymous with the fight for artistic emancipation, was among the first to offer a public show of solidarity. Reflecting on her own decade-long legal odyssey to reclaim her rights, Kesha noted that witnessing another woman realize the “golden cage” is still a cage is a tragedy that the industry must stop repeating. “Freedom isn’t a privilege; it’s a birthright,” Kesha wrote, offering her condolences and support to Petras.
Kesha’s advocacy comes from a place of hard-won experience. After reaching a settlement in 2023 with her former producer and label head, she successfully transitioned into independence. Under her own imprint, Kesha Records, she released her critically acclaimed sixth studio album, .(Period), last year.
According to Petras, her upcoming album, Detour, has been completed for six months, yet Republic Records has reportedly refused to set a release date. She further alleged that the label has failed to pay the collaborators who worked on the record. This friction marks a sharp pivot from 2023, when Petras was celebrating a Grammy win and honoring Republic as “label of the year” at industry events. Her most recent full-length effort, Problématique, followed her chart-topping success with Sam Smith.
Grimes also contributed a sprawling critique of the modern music industry, suggesting that almost every artist she knows has faced a “terrible label situation.” She argued that the current economic model is designed to exploit viral hits rather than nurture long-term artistry. “No amount of advice seems to be able to convince enough artists to stop signing to labels because you really do need to learn this firsthand,” Grimes remarked.
The “Flesh Without Blood” artist further observed that the current pop landscape favors “theatre kids” with a high tolerance for the grueling demands of platforms like TikTok. Grimes also took aim at venture capital firms acquiring music catalogs, claiming these economic incentives actively dissuade innovation. She encouraged fans to explore and support “new models of distribution” to help artists bypass traditional gatekeepers.
While Republic Records has yet to issue an official response to the allegations, Petras remains steadfast. Despite the professional hurdles, she assured her supporters that her creative output will not be silenced. “I’m dropping Detour regardless,” she declared, signaling her commitment to her music and her audience.
