Built-in followings are hard to come by, so it’s no wonder Zhavia Ward, the standout finalist from Fox show “The Four: Battle for Stardom,” got herself a recording contract. What is surprising, however, is that it’s not with Republic Records.

The Universal Music Group label had first dibs on any singer who competed on the show, which aired in January, according to insiders. The season 1 winner, Evvie McKinney, received a record deal with Republic (home to The Weeknd and Ariana Grande) and a partnership with iHeartRadio, whose “On the Verge” program provides swift national exposure to millions of listeners.

But Ward, who went by simply Zhavia on the show, has signed to Records, a joint venture with Sony Music, through its Columbia label . Multiple sources tell Variety that Republic, which is run by founders Monte and Avery Lipman, passed on Ward, while Columbia Records chairman/CEO Ron Perry was waiting in the wings.