unsigned

今月21日に、歌手のレディーガガさんの初の自伝的アルバム“Joanne”が発売されました。

A stripped, emotional Lady Gaga comes to life on 'Joanne'

NEW YORK (AP) -- It's 1:30 a.m. and Lady Gaga is on the brink of tears.
The pop star's new album has been out for 90 minutes and she just celebrated by wrapping up two performances: first inside the New York City bar she used to sing as an unsigned teenager, and then on top of the venue for all of her feverish fans screaming loudly outside.
A lot has happened to get to this moment: She dealt with the constant reminder of 2013's "ARTPOP" not matching the success of her previous albums; she parted ways with her manager; and she announced she and her fiance, actor Taylor Kinney, were taking a break.
But since "ARTPOP," she picked up her sixth Grammy for her jazz album with Tony Bennett; performed at the Oscars -- twice -- and earned a nomination for an original song; won a Golden Globe this year for her role in "American Horror Story"; and drew raves for her national anthem performance at this year's Super Bowl.

http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20161026/p2g/00m/0et/030000c

今回取り上げるのはunsignedです。

signと言えば、単に「著名する」といった意味を思い浮かべがちですが「（スポーツ選手やミュージシャンと）契約する」という定義もあります。ですので、un-がつくことで「契約を結んでいない」状態を表します。

LDOCEでも“an unsigned sports player or musician has not yet signed a contract to play for a sports team or record music for a company”とありました。

ファンが集まったニューヨークのバーは「（レディーガガが）まだ無名の、どこの会社とも契約を結んでいない下積み時代にパフォーマンスをしていた」場所であることが分かります。(flyingbird)