Label drops Idol LeeSONY BMG has dumped one-time Australian Idol contestant Lee Harding after weeks during which the singer's phone calls and emails to the recording giant went unanswered.
The Frankston funkster's limbo over the label's commitment to his second album ended last week with a letter advising it would not take up the option to release a follow-up to his gold-selling debut, What's Wrong with This Picture.
"He felt let down," a source close to Harding said yesterday.
"They eventually told him they had artists lined up for this year and he wasn't one of them.
"It's a bit hard."
Harding and his band are putting the final touches to 10 tracks on his latest album, Welcome to Rock City.
It heralds a move away from punk to a more commercial rock sound and a new look for the singer, who's also been working as an apprentice hairdresser.
The album is likely to be released independently in November.
Sony BMG signed Harding in December 2005 at the height of his Idol success. His debut single, Wasabi, was eighth in the top 50 singles last year.
Sony BMG did not returns calls from Confidential yesterday.
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