{alltv} Pia Toscano label-deal reports premature

So Pia Toscano had a record deal less than 24 hours after being voted off American Idol? Not so fast, says the label that reportedly signed her.

On Friday, UsMagazine.com quoted an anonymous source that said, "Pia is being signed to a deal with Interscope Records who are rushing her into the studio to record an album ASAP."

But an Interscope spokeperson told me today, "This Pia thing is all just a rumor."

Now, Universal Music Group, of which Interscope is part, has first rights of refusal on all Idol contestants, and that will continue for months after the show ends. So Pia certainly could wind up there. Also, as we saw with Chris Medina, Universal has shown a willingness to release music on eliminated contestants even while the main competition continues. So it's not entirely out of the question that, as UsMagazine.com's source said, "Interscope brass started calling every top songwriter and producer in town to get an album together and rush release it."

That might not be a bad idea. Whether Pia was or wasn't a front-runner in terms of votes, she has more fans right now than she has ever had, by virtue of being voted off much earlier than so many people expected. Even people who didn't vote for her because they preferred another singer often respected her and expected her to be their favorites' competition at the end of the line. It's not unreasonable to think they'd attempt to rectify the voting "unfairness" by dropping a buck or two on her at iTunes if she released a new single. At the very least, the curiosity factor would be high.

Plus, if Pia gets a new track out in the next couple weeks, the media's level of interest will be incredibly high. Idol Chatter saw about a thousand comments posted in the 24 hours after Pia's exit. You think I wouldn't try to capture some more of that action with a follow up?

The type of winner the American Idol process produces isn't the only kind of act that the general public accepts. Also, though millions watch Idol each week, about 10 times as many don't. If Jimmy Iovine -- along with that group of extremely successful producers who have already worked with Pia -- thinks he sees valuable potential in Pia that the Idol voters missed, then he's going to take the chance and sign her.

At the very least, Interscope has kept every other label from getting the opportunity to break her. Plus, she's already had more artist development than most other new signings have had. Still, according to Interscope, it's not a done deal yet.