Bulgaria First Music Idol Sued by Producers

Virginia Records, representative of Universal Music Group for Bulgaria, announced they will take to court Bulgaria's first winner in the reality show Music Idol Nevena Tsoneva, who wants to dissolve their contract in advance.

“We are forced to take legal actions in the wake of unloyal and unfounded statements by Nevena Tsoneva,” the company said in a statement, circulated to the media, stressing the huge investments and efforts that have been put into her career.

“Should we remain silent in the face of theft of artists or allow the unilateral suspension of contracts to become an everyday practice, bad days are in store for the music business in Bulgaria,” commented Sanya Armutlieva, owner and CEO of Virginia Records.

Nevena Tsoneva has refused to disclose whether she is negotiating with new producers, but has hinted she is in for a brand new beginning, recording what she has described as “commercial music”.

Nevena signed a record deal with Virginia Records as a prize for winning the Music Idol contest. She released her first single "Za tebe pesen niamam" (“I have no song for you”) on September 28, 2007.

Nevena, 21, managed to beat all her talented opponents in the first season of Bulgaria's Music Idol contest, which ended in the beginning of June 2007.

She eliminated her rival Teodor Koychinov, gathering 65,2% of the audience's votes after the final concert, which consisted of three rounds.

"I am just nothing without you," said the winner to express her gratitude to her fans. Then she made a stunning performance of the Bulgarian folklore song, which travels in outer space as a message from Earth.