Idol News: Pia Toscano Officially Signs With Interscope, "This Time" Will Be Her Debut Single

A couple of days after her early - and infuriating - elimination in this year's American Idol, I posted a news about Pia Toscano scoring a record deal with Jimmy Iovine's flagship label, Interscope. No one denied or confirmed the news.

Now, it's official! Pia Toscano is signed with Iovine's label and her first single This Time will debut on July 12, 2011. Plus, she gets to sing it ON TOUR! According to The Hollywood Reporter:

American Idol’s Pia Toscano has officially signed a recording contract with Interscope Records, THR has confirmed. She will release her debut single, “This Time,” on July 12 and perform the song as part of her set during this summer’s American Idol Live! Tour.

The track comes courtesy of Esther Dean, who has written several hit singles for Rihanna, including S&M, Rude Boy and What’s My Name, and is currently featured on Nicki Minaj’s  smash Superbass. Dean wrote and co-produced This Time, an acoustic guitar and beat-driven track.

An acoustic and beat-driven track for Pia as her first single? Very interesting. Obviously, this is good news and I really can't wait to hear her single. I'm also interested to see how this strategy plays out. I mean, to release a song out and in front of fans this early and perform it ON TOUR isn't exactly unprecedented, but a rare thing to happen.