Report: RCA to suspend any future releases of R. Kelly’s music
Courtesy of UltraVioletR. Kelly‘s label home, RCA Records, has reportedly hit “pause” on releasing new music from the singer, TMZ has learned.
According to the report, the company has faced significant pressure to drop the 12 Play artist following the airing of Lifetime’s explosive documentary Surviving R. Kelly, which focuses on Kelly’s alleged sexual and psychological abuse of multiple women.
Kelly has reportedly continued to record new music to fulfill his contract with the label, which supposedly calls for two more albums. But TMZ cites sources claiming that RCA is refusing to pay for the recording or release the new music — at least until Kelly’s criminal investigations are resolved.
The report also alludes to the possibility of an amicable separation between Sony/RCA and Kelly, who is allegedly upset that the label is not backing him. It’s not known whether Kelly’s record deal has a “morals clause,” which would allow the label to drop him due to the allegations without being sued.
As previously reported, a petition emerged last week calling for Kelly to be dropped from RCA’s roster. The effort was made in partnership with the women’s rights advocacy group UltraViolet, who also paid to fly a banner over RCA Headquarters urging the label to part ways with the R&B crooner.