record deal

British music fans suffered a blow this week when venerable U.K. record store HMV announced it was teetering on the brink of liquidation -- but while the company makes a last-ditch effort to stay in business, it's worth taking a moment to pay tribute to the way it used its clout to help jump-start one of the most important careers in rock history.

As it turns out, getting eliminated from 'American Idol' may be the best thing that ever happened to Pia Toscano. Sources tell US Weekly that the 22-year-old beauty, who was shockingly booted from 'Idol' last Thursday, has scored a record deal with Interscope Records, which is chaired by 'Idol' mentor Jimmy Iovine. The label is reportedly "rushing her into the studio to record an album ASAP,&