American Idol

Billboard Update for Issue 01/12/08

Idol Sales News: Week Ending 10/27/07

Billboard Update for Issue 10/20/07 and Idol Record News

Published by mj October 14th, 2007 in American Idol, Charts, Elliott Yamin, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis. 7 Comments

Idol Record News

You can hear 40 second song-snippets of all the songs on Carrie Underwood’s upcoming album “Carnival Ride” here. However, if you are patient and can sit through songs by other artists, Slacker.com is streaming full songs on their Carrie Radio station. Type “Carrie Underwood” in the search box, then play. I’m listening to a song called “Crazy Dreams” right now…Also *ahem* these songs can all be found as downloads on the internet…somewhere… Or, so I hear. PS I like “Twisted”.
Blake Lewis has a website with a phone number. Call, and you get a recorded message from Blake. After, you can leave your own message. Fans can hear the single at this phone number as soon as it’s ready. I got a message back on my cell phone, so I’m assuming they’ll be sending out messages as soon as the single is available. No, I did not leave a message. Heh.
Not record news, but worth mentioning: Melinda Doolittle will be taping a PBS Christmas special in November at her Alma Mater, Belmont University. The program will air on December 20th on the Nashville PBS station, and December 24th across the country. Yay, Melinda!

This week’s Idol Billboard Update

Highlights:

After the JUMP!

Continue reading ‘Billboard Update for Issue 10/20/07 and Idol Record News’

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Daughtry, Fantasia and Carrie Underwood Nominated for AMAs

Published by mj October 9th, 2007 in American Idol, News, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood and Fantasia. 16 Comments

Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia and the soundtrack for “Dreamgirls” (featuring Jennifer Hudson) were nominated for awards for the 35th annual American Music Awards on Tuesday.

Jimmy Kimmel will host the 2007 American Music Awards, to be broadcast on ABC Nov. 18.

Daughtry is confirmed to perform.

Daughtry and Carrie Underwood were nominated for multiple awards:

Album: “Daughtry” (Daughtry), “Minutes To Midnight” (Linkin Park), “FutureSex/LoveSounds” (Justin Timberlake)
Adult Contemporary Artist: Daughtry, Norah Jones, John Mayer
Breakthrough New artist: Daughtry, Plain White T’s, Robin Thicke
Country Female Artist: Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood
Country Album: “Let It Go” (Tim McGraw), “Me And My Gang” (Rascal Flatts), “Some Hearts” (Carrie Underwood)

Note that Daughtry is nominated in the AC category with John Mayer and Norah Jones, rather than in the Alternative category with Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance and the White Stripes…

Fantasia was nominated for Rap/Hip Hop Female Artist, along with Beyonce and Rihanna (I think Rihanna has got this one sewn up, considering this summer’s massive hit, “Umbrella”) and the album “Dreamgirls” featuring Jennifer Hudson was nominated Best Soundtrack. “Hairspray” and “High School Musical 2″ were nominated in the Soundtrack category. I’d lay money on the kids taking this one. )

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Billboard Update - 09/01/07

Published by mj August 26th, 2007 in American Idol, Charts, Taylor Hicks, Carrie Underwood, Kimberley Locke, Fantasia, Chris Richardson, Paris Bennett and Constantine Maroulis. 14 Comments

Here’s this week’s and last week’s Idols Billboard Chart for you all.

Highlights:

Constantine Maroulis debuted on the Billboard Chart at #75 last week, and then dropped to #198 this week. Unless his musical appearance on the big Bold and the Beautiful Boldface Challenge has some effect on sales this week. So far, he’s sold 12,973 units so far.
Daughtry’s new single “Over You” debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 last week at #94. It moves up to #75 this week, and is #39 on the Pop 100 and #25 on the Pop 100 Airplay.
This week, Kimberley Locke debuts a new song on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. “Band of Gold” enters the chart at #22.
Taylor Hicks’ “Heaven Knows” reaches its highest chart position on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart this week at #19.
Fantasia has a new single, “Only One U” and it debuted on the Hot Adult R&B Tracks and Airplay chat last week at #76 and #75 respectively. It debuted on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay at #35. This week it moves up the charts at #58, #58 and #30.
Carrie Underwood’s new single “So Small” from her upcoming album debuts on the Billboard Hot 100 this week at #98. She moves from #17 to #15 on the Hot Country Songs chart. She also debuts this week on the Canadian Hot 100 at #14.
“Forever Cool” the latest CD in the celebrity-duets-with-a-dead-guy genre–that would be Dean Martin–debuts at #39 on the Billboard 200 this week. Paris Bennett “duets” with Dean on one cut, “Baby-O” and you can listen to it here. She sounds fantastic, but I can’t get passed the whole singing-with-a-dead-guy thing…

I spent today updating my Idol Appearances page. If you know of an Idol appearance and would like to add it, email me at mjsbigblog@gmail.com. Thanks.

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Season 7 Auditions: San Diego, CA

More on American Idol Season 7 Auditions

Published by mj August 10th, 2007 in American Idol, Kimberly Caldwell, Fantasia and S7 Auditions. 8 Comments

“Don’t get your wristbands wet!” warn idol officials as the Omaha, Nebraska auditions begin today. Fifteen thousand auditioners lined up at the Quest Center in soggy weather looking for their chance to be the next American Idol, or at least make it to the 2nd round in front of the producers. And did you know that Idol uses PR and communications majors from local colleges to work the event? I did not. Also, there are people who will not miss their audition, no matter what.

In fact, even if an auditioner is about to give birth, they’ll still wait in line, and continue to audition while in labor. After she sang, Antoria Gillon, 20, of Dallas was whisked away via ambulance to the hospital to give birth to a healthy boy. Win-win situation–Antoria has a beautiful new baby, and an excellent backstory that will definitely earn her screen time come January.

I’m hearing stories about heat related problems during the Dallas auditions–that they were even worse than the media let on. Apparently, auditioners were dropping left and right from heat exposure and dehydration…

More notes:

Dallas audtioner Brittany Davis made it past the first two rounds, and will sing in front of Randy, Simon and Paula on September 19. Here is a timeline of the Dallas auditions. Texan, and host of TV Guide’s Idol Chat, Kimberly Caldwell, was spotted at Texas Stadium. Baylie Brown, the 16 year old country singer from Krum TX who was dismissed early on from the Hollywood rounds, auditioned again in Dallas. I’d bet money that the second time will be the charm. Also auditioning, Fantasia Barrino’s brother, Ricco Barrino. He passed through to the second round.

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Billboard Update (08/11/07)

Published by mj August 4th, 2007 in American Idol, Record News, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Fantasia and Kelly Clarkson. 8 Comments

Check out this week’s Billboard Update:

The Highlights:

Billboard debuts a new formula this week for compiling the Hot 100 singles chart. The new formula includes songs and videos streamed by Yahoo! and AOL. Streaming will account for 5 % of Billboard’s hit calculation initially, with 55% going to airplay and 40% to sales. Billboard is expected to add additional online services, like Rhapsody, at a later date.
Idol album sales continue to decline this week, except for Elliott Yamin, who stays steady from last week (0%) and Kellie Pickler whose “Small Town Girl” climbs from #141 to #99 for a 42% increase.
Speaking of Elliott Yamin, his sweet sleeper hit, “Wait For You” debuts on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart at #40. “Wait For You” climbs from #20 to #14 on the Hot 100 and from #21 to #15 on the Hot 100 Airplay. It also climbs from #9 to #7 on the Pop 100, #7 to #6 on the Pop 100 Airplay, #25 to #20 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, #34 to #27 on the Hot Adult Top 40, #20 to #16 on the Hot Digital Tracks chart and #22 to #20 on The Hot Digital songs. The single has sold 464,174 so far…
Idols at #1: “Now 25″ featuring tunes from Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry and Elliott Yamin keeps its #1 position this week on the Billboard 200. Fantasia’s “When I See You” maintains its #1 on the Hot R&B Singles and Airplay charts, and Chris Daughtry’s “Home” remains #1 on the Hot Adult Top 40 chart.
Daughtry’s new single, “Over You” debuts on the Pop 100 at #85.
Carrie Underwood is working on her new album, slated for an October 23rd release. Check out her new single “So Small” on AOL. She’s got a writing credit on this one. This swelling country ballad is headed for hitsville, I have no doubt…

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Billboard Update 08/04/07

Published by mj July 28th, 2007 in American Idol, Charts, Record News, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Bucky Covington, Taylor Hicks, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia and Mandisa. 8 Comments

Here it is–this week’s Billboard Update

It’s official. Bucky Covington takes the lead as 2007’s best-selling debut country artist. Yay Bucky…
She’s charting at #6 and #8 on the Hot Christian Adult Contemporary and Hot Christian Songs charts (Only the World). And charting at #3 on the Hot Singles Sales Chart. That’s Mandisa, whose debut album “True Beauty” will be released on Tuesday. Check out her my space to hear some samples and buy her singles…
“Now 25″, the latest Top 40 compilation album, debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200. Carrie Underwood (Before He Cheats), Daughtry (Home), Kelly Clarkson (Never Again) and Elliott Yamin (Wait For You) all have cuts on the album. It’s an Idol Bonanza! Yee haw…
Bucky Covington and Kelly Pickler both move up the charts this week. The other Idols either stayed about the same, or fell down the charts a bit. Not counting compilations, there are no Idol albums in the Billboard 200 Top 10 this week…
Chris Daughtry (Home) and Fantasia (When I See U) hold on to #1 positions on the Hot Adult Top 40 and Hot R&B Singles/Airplay charts, respectively.
Taylor Hicks (Heaven Knows) climbs from #23 to #22, its highest chart position so far.

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Continue reading ‘EW Rates the Idols and other ramblings’

EW Rates the Idols and other ramblings

Published by mj July 20th, 2007 in American Idol, Record News, Elliott Yamin, Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry, Taylor Hicks, Kellie Pickler, Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis and Constantine Maroulis. 33 Comments

Things have been very quiet in American Idol land. The contestants are on tour, but as Ken Barnes from the USA Today Idol Chatter blog has noted, the buzz on this years contestants has been nearly non-existent.

Last year at this time, you blog peeps were chattering about Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler–all had announced record deals with Sony/BMG by this time last summer.

Between Katharine McPhee’s admission she was an active bulimic prior to her Idol audition, and her 3 week absence from the beginning of the tour due to throat problems–this blog at least–was never at a loss for subjects to discuss.

And of course, there was the Unofficial Taylor Hicks Travelling Shadow tour, featuring his old band Little Memphis Blues Orchestra and any of the other Idols who wanted to join in on the fun… It took place in clubs in key cities after the Pop Tarts cheese-fest wrapped up for the night.

This year, so far, no signings have been announced. All the Idols have shown up for the tour, and outside of reports of Blake Lewis being mean to old ladies, (not this one though, heh) this year’s gang is gossip-free.

Not longing for the good old days exactly, but I would like SOMETHING to happen. News about Jordin and Blake’s contracts with 19 would be nice for starters…

In the meantime, here are some interesting articles from Entertainment Weekly. About former Idols, of course.

EW rates the Idols and muses on their post-Idol careers. Also, I have a little news about Bo Bice. Good stuff. After the jump…

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Idol Bits and Pieces

Published by mj July 15th, 2007 in American Idol, Record News, Ace Young, Kimberly Caldwell, Jon Peter Lewis, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Fantasia, Chris Sligh, Chris Richardson, Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, Phil Stacey, Sanjaya Malakar, Blake Lewis, Carmen Rasmusen and AI Tour 2007. 6 Comments

Season 6 update:

Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler both attended the Idols Nashville concert last Sunday. You can watch lengthy interviews with hometown girl, Melinda Doolittle, Phil Stacey, Sanjaya Malakar, Chris Sligh and Jordin Sparks at WRKN’s Music City TV Blog.

Phil Stacey, Chris Richardson and Chris Sligh will all be moving to Nashville in the next couple of months. Phil Stacey plans to pursue a career in country music. He’ll be leaving the Navy once the tour is over (he had put in a request for an extra year of service, but with his changed circumstances will begin processing out when the tour is over). Chris Sligh will go the indie/rock route. Melinda Doolittle, would love to make an album where ”old school meets the new school, with a little funk, soul and jazz.” Melinda says she’s not “positive” if she’ll be staying with “the 19 folks.”

Sanjaya Malakar plans to move to LA, and get a tattoo. He says his album will be “R&B-based, with world infusion and jazz and rock energy.” Jordin Sparks, in the meantime, is a little cagey about her future plans, though she’d love to work with some Nashville writers. She’s previously worked with the Nashville-based Christian artist, Michael W. Smith (she hung out with him in Nashville before the show). Jordin has completed one song for her upcoming album, while Mr Ambitious, Blake Lewis has completed six.

More Idol News (after the jump) Continue reading ‘Idol Bits and Pieces’

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Idol Bits and Pieces - Theme for the Top 10 - Songs the Year They Were Born

Idol Bits and Pieces

Bits and Pieces

Idol Bits and Pieces

Billboard Update 07/21/07

Published by mj July 14th, 2007 in American Idol, Charts, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Bucky Covington, Kellie Pickler, Fantasia, Mandisa, Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis. 20 Comments

Here it is. This week’s Idol’s Billboard Update. Sorry–last weekend’s trip to Florida to see the Idol’s Live Tour meant that I did not get a chance to post an update (although you will find last week’s chart in the chart archives.

Highlights:

Last week’s big news was Kelly Clarkson’s “My December” debuting at #2 on the Billboard 200, behind Miley Cyrus at #1. This week, Kelly is #3, with a whopping 61% drop in sales from the previous week. Yikes. Still love her record, though. But then, it’s not like my collection is full of chartbusters, exactly… “My December” has sold close to 405,000 copies so far. Interestingly, the so-called non-hit, “Never Again” has sold over 710,000 copies.
I was driving home from work today, and heard Elliott Yamin’s “Wait For You” on the radio for the first time here in Boston. If I’m being perfectly honest, I got a little goose-pimply. Elliott is still the little engine that could. His single “Wait for You,” entered the charts, stalled a bit, and is now climbing slowly but steadily up the charts. Right now, It sits at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #8 on the Pop 100. It’s debuted on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart at #30. Go Elliott!
I missed this one when it happened: Chris Daughtry’s “Home” debuted on the Christian charts 3 weeks ago. This week it sits at #23 and #20 on the Hot Christian Adult Contemporary and Hot Christian Songs charts respectively.
Still at #1: Daughtry’s “Home” on the Hot Adult Top 40, Fantasia’s “When I See U” on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop charts, and Mandisa’s “Only the World” on the Hot Singles Sales (taking the spot Blake Lewis or Jordin Sparks would have right about now if TPTB had released CD souvenir singles of their winning Idol songs.)
Three Idols sit in the Top 20 of the Hot Country Songs chart: Bucky Covington’s “A Different World” at #11, Kelly Clarkson’s duet with Reba McEntire, “Because of You” at #12 and Kellie Pickler’s “I Wonder” at #15.

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Billboard Update 07/07/07

Published by mj June 29th, 2007 in American Idol, Charts, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Kimberley Locke, Fantasia and Mandisa. 9 Comments

This week’s Idol Billboard Update right here. Play along.

The Highlights:

The highest charting Idol on the Billboard 200 this week is Daughtry at #17. All the Idols on the Billboard 200 took a hit this week. Daughtry’s sales numbers decreased 33% from last week.
Fantasia is the first Idol to reach #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. “When I See U” is the 128th #1 for the American Idol franchise.
Elliott Yamin’s “Wait For You” from his self-titled debut is a bonafide hit, and it continues to climb the charts this week: From #28 to #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, #45 to #33 on the Hot 100 Airplay, from #16 to #14 on the Pop 100, it stays steady at #12 on the Pop 100 Airplay, from #40 to #39 on the Hot Adult Top 40, from #24 to #21 on the Hot Digital Tracks and from #29 to #24 on the Hot Digital Songs. WHEW.
Mandisa’s single, “Only The World, keeps it’s #1 position on the Singles Sales chart for the 3rd week in a row.
Daughtry’s “Home” keeps its #1 position for the 4th week on the Hot Adult Top 40 chart.
Kimberley Locke’s “Change” climbs to the #6 spot on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. Unfortunately, the album “Based on a True Story” has sold only 12,000 units.

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Billboard Update 06/30/07

Published by mj June 24th, 2007 in American Idol, Charts, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry, Bucky Covington, Taylor Hicks, Fantasia, Mandisa, Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis. 1 Comment

Here’s this week’s, Billboard Idol Update, now with cute little symbols indicating gold and platinum status! Yay! A triangle equals platinum, the number after it signifies how many times over the record has gone platinum (1,000,000 shipped/sales). Little orange circles next to a record signifies gold status (500,000 shipped/sales).

Speaking of which: Congratulations to Chris Daughtry for earning triple-platinum status for his debut album, DAUGHTRY. Fantasia’s sophomore effort Fantasia recently earned gold status and Clive Davis’s fav Idol, Kelly Clarkson (not) has earned sextuple platinum status for her album Breakaway.
Idols are still managing to stay out of the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 this week. The highest charting album is Daughtry, at #13. However, album sales went up for all the Idols on the BB 200 this week, except Fantasia (-7%). Bucky Covington’s debut album sales went up 17% this week.
However, there is good news for Fantasia. Her single, “When I See You” continues to climb the charts. It is currently #2 on the Hot R&B Singles and Airplay charts.
Elliott Yamin’s “Wait For You” is also steadily climbing the charts. It’s gone from #34 to #28 on the Billboard Hot 100, #52 to #45 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, #20 to #16 on the Pop 100, #13 to #12 on the Pop 100 Airplay, and debuts on the Hot Adult Top 40 chart at #40.
Taylor Hicks’ new single “Heaven Knows” debuts on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart at #27.
Chris Daughtry’s “Home” remains at #1 this week on the Hot Adult Top 40 chart.
Mandisa’s “Only The World” continues in the #1 spot this week on the Hot Singles Sales chart. If TPTB had released souvenir singles, as they have in the past, for Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis, we might have had either one at the top of this chart this week.
…but since they decided to release their singles exclusive to iTunes and the American Idol download site, (sales at americanidol.com are not being submitted to Soundscan, so they don’t get included in the the BB charts) Jordin Sparks’ and Blake Lewis’ singles are quickly moving down–and off–the charts.

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Season 6 Contestant Update Pt. 1

Published by mj June 20th, 2007 in American Idol, Ace Young, Elliott Yamin, Katharine McPhee, Kimberly Caldwell, Fantasia, Kevin Covais, Chris Richardson, Melinda Doolittle, LaKisha Jones, Jordin Sparks, Phil Stacey, Blake Lewis, Lisa Tucker, Paris Bennett and Constantine Maroulis. 10 Comments

The Season 6 Top 10 begin the big Pop Tart tour in Fort Lauderdale, FL on July 6. At this very moment, they are in Los Angeles rehearsing for the tour. Here’s an update on how they’ve been keeping busy in the weeks since the finale. Part 1 starts with the Top 5 (after the jump).

Jordin Sparks - Jordin did the typical Idol media rounds after the finale, but since then, all has been quiet on the Jordin front, including any news about her record deal. Last season, Taylor Hicks’ signing with J Records was announced within a week of the finale, before the end of May. Rumor has it her parents are managing her, but that is, strictly a rumor at this point. She performed at the Walmart shareholders meeting on June 1. She recently sang the National Anthem before Game 2 of the NBA finals. She, Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle will be featured in NBC’s 4th of July special airing on the evening of the 4th. There are rumors that she’ll perform the National Anthem when the Super Bowl heads to Arizona in January 08. Want to know more about Jordin and her family? Here’s an illuminating article from the conservative christian website Worldnet.

Blake Lewis - No news of record signings for Blake either (Katharine McPhee’s deal was announced on June 7 last year). However, in this radio interview with KISS 106 in Seattle, Blake says that he will be managed by Simon Fuller and the peeps at 19 Management. Blake also did the typical media rounds. His most recent TV appearance was The View. (Jordin Sparks appeared on the same day in an earlier segment). He also took a little R&R in Las Vegas, where he unfortunately caught the attention the gossip columnists. Blake has been chosen by People magazine as one of the Hottest Bachelors 2007. The issue is on newsstands now. Of course, for all things Blake, check out Team Plaid.

Melinda Doolittle - Since leaving the competition in third place, Melinda sang the National Anthem for Game 5 of the NBA playoffs and did a press tour in NYC that included seeing Fantasia in “The Color Purple” with Jordin Sparks. Whether she’s picked up by 19R/M remains to be seen.

Lakisha Jones - Lakisha finally got her homecoming after the Idol finale wrapped up at the end of May. She was celebrated in both Houston, Texas where she lived for 6 years and her hometown in Michigan. You can read all about it at Mlive.com’s Idol Chatter Blog. Some of the festivities included an official Lakisha Jones Day in the State of Michigan on June 11, a performance at the State Capitol in Lansing, a rally in Flint, Michigan and a homecoming performance at the church she attended in Houston.

Chris Richardson - Did you know that although Chris and Phil Stacey were eliminated together during what was technically the Top 5, Chris was the contestant who officially came in 5th, while Phil came in 6th. That’s according to this interview with Larry King. Besides hanging out (and annoying little old ladies, presumably) in Las Vegas with Blake Lewis, Chris was also seen recently at the Elliott Yamin concert at the Roxy in LA along with Blake Lewis, Ace Young and Constantine Maroulis. He appeared with Ace, Paris Bennett, Lisa Tucker, Kevin Covais, Sabrina Sloan, Kimberly Caldwell and Will Makar at Summerfest 2007 on June 2 in Brea, CA. Check out his performances on You Tube here, here and with the entire Idol gang here.

Part 2 coming soon!

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