It really hasn't been a good year for Nicole Scherzinger, the pop star who sold more than 50 million records with the Pussycat Dolls and who received a huge pay packet for her appearances on both the US and UK 'X Factor' judging panels. First, the singer's relationship with Formula 1 ace Lewis Hamilton came to an end, and now she has reportedly been dropped by RCA Records.

Nicole Scherzinger at The Huffington PostOff the record: Nicole has reportedly been dropped

The news, reported by The Sun, follows paltry sales of her second solo album, 'Big Fat Lie', which spent only two weeks in the UK top 100 after entering the chart at number 17 in October last year.

A source told the paper: "There is the feeling that Nicole didn't get the support she needed on the release to make it a success.

"Fans have been grumbling that they didn't think the right singles were released by the record label.

"A number of new songs from Nicole leaked online a few weeks ago and fans were angry that they weren't on her last album."

The first single from 'Big Fat Lie', 'Your Love', made a respectable UK chart debut at number six, but the follow-up, 'Run', limped in at number 46. The third single, 'On the Rocks', had a particularly apt title in hindsight, coming in at number 90.

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However, it's thought it won't be long until she is snapped up by another label. Nicole isn't the first singer to get the chop this year. Other former chart-toppers who recently waved goodbye to their recording contracts include 2013 'X Factor' UK winner Sam Bailey and British boy band Blue.

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