According to Shirley Halperin of Entertainment Weekly, David Archuleta has signed with “music powerhouse” Azoff Management.
David joins The Eagles, Christina Aguilera, Neil Diamond, and Morrissey on Azoff’s roster of clients. David’s father, Jeff Archuleta will be co-managing David’s music career with Azoff’s Jared Paul who also manages Nick Lachey and New Kids on the Block.
Diana DeGarmo, Bo Bice, and Katharine McPhee are fellow runners-up who, like Archie, did not sign on with 19M after Idol. Clay Aiken and Blake Lewis signed on, but neither of them are currently on 19M’s roster. Clay left 19 for the Firm in 2004, and Blake Lewis recently mentioned in interviews that he’s looking for new management.
Considering 19’s dubious track record with Idol runners-up, I’m not surprised David didn’t sign with them. Besides I don’t think 19M would have been interested in co-managing David with his father–or anyone else, for that matter.
While David’s music career won’t be managed by 19M, 19 Recordings will oversee the production of David’s debut album, due to drop on November 11 on the Jive label.
Bonus: David blogs on Alloy.com. He’s been writing, recording and wrapping up recording on his album.
dont know much about them. but they dont seem to have any current artists except christina…oh well maybe that means they will focus their attention on david. somebody said they used to (or still do?) have katharine mcphee? i know her album flopped but how did they do with her? anyone know?
this is a hell of a lot better choice than 19 though… thats for sure!
Interesting that this gets a headline at EW. Honestly, I think a loaf of bread could manage Archie and he would be successful.
I certanly hope that they take good care with David… he is talented kid, with the right guide, he could go very far…Good Luck to Him…
Certanly sometimes people at EW write things just to start fanbase wars…
David’s blog was so sweet.
I especially loved this part.
He cares so much for his fans.
Did he really write “oh my heck” in his blog???? I’ve never seen that before. LOL
I think this is excellent news. Azoff obviously has proven it can get the job done. I don’t really consider the fact that they manage(d) Kat McPhee as being any indication of incompetence whatsoever, especially given the fact that David has an extremely competent record label behind him. Kat had RCA, which let’s face it, has been pretty hit or miss in its ability to direct its artists. Also, as someone already mentioned, it’s not going to take rocket science to manage Archie’s career because there’s already a lot of marketability there.
Quite frankly, I’m not at all surprised 19 passed on Archie. It would have been a huge conflict of interest managing both the winner and runner-up (as evidenced by the issues the Ruben/Clay/19 relationship had)–especially when the two arguably had nearly identical levels of popularity on the show and an intense (albeit primarily media-perpetuated) rivalry still exists. I think 19 clearly has learned its lesson there. I think this way is best for all parties involved.
i actually am surprised they passed on him. i mean they wanted blake last year but passed on archie this year? thats kinda weird…
or maybe archie passed on them. can he do that? or does 19m have first rights?
but if they really did pass on him…maybe just maybe they actually WANT him to be successful and realize there would be a conflict of interest there so they set him free? nah, they’re not that nice lol.
Excellent news! One of the best labels, now one of the best management.
I guess he cannot cut ties with 19 completely. There is still 19R but they don’t exactly do anything. It’s great that he surround himself with the best in the industry.
19 is a lot more open this year. They set Michael and Jason free early, too. Maybe they realize their own incompetence in helping the idols? lol
I don’t know about music industry. I cannot tell anything about that management company. However, as a DA fan, I feel good. It seems Azoff is a big and good management company. I guess they recognized that David is a talented singer and very marketable. I hope David can focus on music and make a great album. Go David!!
Good luck to David!!!!
I think it’s an excellent choice for David. I, too, am glad that he’s not with 19M, however that happened. Not much good has come from 19M and their mis-handling of runner-ups. I think they’re much better at concentrating on one new person a year rather than attempting to walk the line between boosting up the winner and trying to make money off the runner-up as well. That hasn’t worked in the past.
GREAT article that best describes Azoff Mgmt: (written a few short months ago)
http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/thelefsetzletter/5320/azoffs-power
“Funnily enough, as we contemplate the marginalization of Clive Davis, the era he presided over has already died. Clive was about record company power. That’s been the mantra of the last 15 years, if not two decades. The record company controls the act. Tells it what to record and if it will release. The record company is the tyrant, your nemesis. But now, through the efforts of Irving Azoff, the act is king once again. May not feel so, you don’t see Mo Ostin presiding over Warner Brothers, but that’s the way it is.
Irving is the best protector of talent in the rock era. He even eclipses Colonel Tom Parker. Parker made a lot of decisions based on self-interest, like not allowing Elvis to tour Europe for fear his own illegal alien status would be revealed. Irving likes money, he likes to win, but he does this by going to the mat for the artist. What Henley wants, he gets. And not only Henley, but Christina Aguilera. Even Jewel. You take a meeting with Irving, and he closes you. And he’s no patsy, if he thinks you’re your own worst enemy, that you’re not taking your business seriously, he fires you! Like J. Lo.”
David is a HARD and DEDICATED worker and I think this match with Azoff Mgmt was made in heaven. We’ll be seeing TONS of Archuleta in the months.. years to come. He just has to stay true to himself, which we all know will not be difficult.
I guess another sticking point with 19 was Jeff Archuleta’s involvement. Perhaps they just weren’t interested in anything but absolute control over Archie’s career. I don’t mean that as a slam on Jeff in any way because I believe it’s a good thing to have him involved while David is still trying to find his own way, but I can see how that might not have sat well with 19.
Regardless of what went down with 19, based on the article toma posted, it sounds like Jeff and David made a very wise decision.
LOL David, oh my heck? where did he get that from.
I don’t understand the conflict of interest theory. They have managed winners and runner-ups in the past and it was not a conflict of interest (from 19M’s perspective). I can see why David and his Dad may not want 19M because they might think 19M would be more involved with the winner, but from 19M’s perspective, they just want to make money. In my opinion, if they wanted Archie and thought he was going to bring them big money, they would not have passed on him. It’s always about the money! So they either 1) Didn’t think Archie would make them money, or 2) Didn’t want to deal with Jeff. Just my opinions, though. Either way, I think Archie will be fine.
@toma, thats a really interesting article… thanks for posting…
Wow seems like Azoff is really powerful, I hope they treat David well…
Mac - My rationale behind the conflict of interest has to do with the protection of its AI brand. It’s been demonstrated time and time again that 19’s track record with runner-ups has been lackluster at best. IMO, I think that has been, in part, because of an effort to ensure that the runner-up doesn’t outshine the winner. I know that’s one of the reasons why Clay became so frustrated with 19. I agree with you that 19 wants to make money, but perhaps they realized that in their past strategy to groom the winner while also trying to make money on the runner-up as a sidenote, they just weren’t seeing enough of a return to make it worth their while.
So yes, I think both your points are valid. Given the past disappointments 19 has had with runner-ups, they probably didn’t think Archie would be any different. Then again, I think 19 themselves are the ones to blame for that predicament based on what I described above. And yes, as I mentioned in a subsequent post, I wouldn’t be surprised if 19 didn’t want to have to deal with Jeff, but I don’t think that had to do with Jeff himself as much as 19 not wanting to give up its absolute control over David’s career.
Great news! I wish him all the success in the world and I hope to hear him on the radio for a long, long time to come.
19 desperately needs to focus on making Cook a success. I suspect that the TV show American Idol is the ultimate reason 19 is not taking Archie on. I can only imagine how much money the show itself makes. If they don’t manage to get Cook into the stratosphere on the music scene, AI the show is in danger of becoming just another reality show wiith no meaning, ala America’s Top Model.
Yes he did! hilarious
I’m going to disagree with option #1. While superficial analysis by certain members of the internet press pegged Archie as a balladeer without marketability, 19M knew better. If 19M didn’t see dollar signs, then it’s not a very good music management company. What I’m saying is–they knew Archie was immensely marketable. Most music industry people who commented on the season new Archie was marketable. Nigel commented before the finale that Archie was very marketable. Archie’s ability to make them money wouldn’t have been the issue (and, really, they wouldn’t have signed him to 19R if it were).
I agree with Aladdin88 that 19M probably wanted complete control over Archie, and they weren’t going to settle for half-control. I don’t think it has anything to do with Jeff personally, or his ability to make smart choices. I think it has to do with 19M not wanting to share, and not wanting to have a voice in the room that is there solely for David and not for the bottom line.
David himself may have told us this was the case in the Nashville radio interview, when asked if it was weird having his dad be a dad and business partner.
Mac, and the others commenting re the conflict of interest —
I think the real conflict has much less to do with trying to balance Cook and Archie (or any other winner and runner-up) under the same management. Yes, there could be some circumstances where 19M might funnel some deals to Cook that could otherwise have gone to Archie and vice versa, but I think that’s the case with any management company. It always has to match a new business opportunity to one artist even if that takes that opportunity away from another artist under its management. That’s the nature of the business.
But the real conflict, as I see it, is in having an artist signed to 19R (the record label) while also being represented by 19M (the managment company). How could 19M negotiate hard against 19R when they are both owned by the same corporate parent? Yes, they are technically separate legal entities, but come on, the money goes to the same place in the end. An artist’s management is supposed to work in the best interests of the artist, but I don’t see how 19M could do that when dealing with 19R. Yes, in most situations, their interests would probably be aligned and there would be no conflict, but if you are Archie (and Jeff), why sign up for a relationship that may become compromised? Better to have a completely independent management company to be on his side (although no one will be more on David’s side than Jeff).
And correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t that 19M-19R conflict the reason that Clay got out of his contract with 19M?
David is only 17. He is quite innocent and not very assertive personality-wise. He is not going to be savvy enough to deal with the business side of things. So I’m very glad that Jeff will be there looking out for him. He will have his best interest at heart. This co-management deal with Azoff and Dad is a smart move.
Or option 3) David/Jeff didn’t want to deal with 19M.
Despite the rumours, being on Idol is not equivalent to becoming an indentured slave. And that’s not due to the benevolence of 19Alphabet. A kind of suspect that they would be all up for a little indentured slavery. No, sadly for 19Alphabet, indentured slavery has been outlawed in the US. So, quite simply, they cannot make you sign with 19M. I don’t even think they can make you take the winning prize (the recording contract). At least one winner of SYTYCD turned down the prize (a job dancing in Celine’s Vegas show…can’t say I really blame him), so I imagine you can say no to the recording contract.
I believe that it is also illegal to have the same management and record firm. That’s why 19Alphabet sets up so many sub-companies. It would be a conflict of interest for 19R to negotiate with itself. That said, being with 19M pretty much assures you a shot at singing on the show which can sometimes, but not always, move units.
Billboard Digital Top 50 is out:
12 16 ARCHULETA*DAVID CRUSH 66677 -7 71631 633306
Kirsten,
But can’t they make it very difficult for you if you don’t? As with Clay? With Taylor they didn’t seem to care about him and wanted nothing to do with him, so he signed with the Firm. Clay wanted different management, but he had to hire a lawyer to get out. I don’t recall Taylor having to hire a lawyer. The difference being whether 19M voluntarily “passes” on someone? Again, if they thought someone was going to make them money, I would think that they would fight to keep that person under their management. Sure, contestants can always refuse things, but seems like there are consequences (i.e., being sued or having to get a lawyer to get out of a contract).
^^Maybe things have changed since Clay… anyway the more I read abou Azoff and Jared Paul and… I can´t help for getting excited, it seems like they really take good care of their people… Go Archie!!!!
I think 19 would be incredibly stupid to think that Archie wouldn’t have made them plenty of money, so I really don’t think that’s the reason behind the decision. Then again, Kristen has a very good point, too. Maybe David asked to be released and 19 obliged. Why would 19 force an artist who obviously didn’t want to sign with them? Sure they would be motivated by money, but they would also risk facing yet another lawsuit situation ala Kelly and Clay. I’m leaning more and more towards the control issue as the underlying reason. Regardless, I think this option is the best. Both Davids will be just fine with their respective management.
I think it is a great choice for Archie to go with someone besides 19E. However I feel like Jeff shouldn’t be his co-manager because it can get a bit sketchy if they disagree with something. On the other hand it can work since a lot of younger singers do have their parents as their managers. I would just be tired of seeing my dad in the studio and everywhere with me, ya know? But Archie is a different breed and I am sure he will be ok with it. I do hope that Archie will get to speak up and put his ideas on the table at all times. He is going to be 18 soon but yeah he is still very young and need guidance. Good luck to him and his management team. I hope they work wonders for him.
Clay had already signed with 19M and had been managed by them for about a year. He needed a lawyer to break his contract. So, his situation isn’t the same as a contestant who merely passes on signing with 19M.
I think Archie signing with Azoff Mgmt is a great move.
Still on the fence about JA co-managing, though….
Don Henley is one of the most briiliant combinations of artists and businessmen in pop music history, and his long relationship with Azoff is recommendation enough for me. But I agree with Ozarka and want Jeff Archuleta to be an integral part of David’s team until he is 21. Sharks abound and no one has David’s best interest at heart like Jeff does. Congratulations David and Jeff on this decision!
Oh, OK MJ. Thanks. I didn’t know that.
Considering the late date, I tend to think that David/Jeff simply waited out 19M’s period of first refusal and then went shopping for management on their own. Basically, they said no to 19, not the other way around. I don’t blame them — it’s always seemed weird to me that Idols are expected to have their interests represented by someone who has a partnership with the record label…
ITA, Skylark. I think this is a savvy decision, and I don’t think it was one made lightly by David/Jeff. I really feel good about the prospect of Azoff taking care of David, but I feel even better knowing that Jeff is there to make sure they do. He’s only 17, after all, and life has to be overwhelming for him right now, to say the least. It’s mindboggling to think about all he’s experienced in less than a year. He handles himself beautifully, but he IS still a kid, and he needs someone looking out for his best interest for a while - at least until he’s 21. Go Archie! Couldn’t happen to a nicer kid.
BTW, the blogs/vlogs just make me smile. Seriously - what a great way to start a day. “Oh my heck”? LOL - just love him.
Hm. Me too. While some of the media reports about Jeff’s behavior were certainly exaggerated, I never 100% bought his media rehabilitation after Idol was over either. I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle…
^^ I don´t think in Jeff about being over control freak father, but I think he is really pasionate about David and a little over protected…well time will tell, right now I´m glad he is with David, I don´t want him going Hollywood on me yet,or worst ending like another male version of Britney Spears…
I have to agree with you on that one, mj. There had to be SOMETHING behind the whole “banning” of Jeff from rehearsals or whatever, or it wouldn’t have happened. Exaggerated media reports for sure, but….I’m just not buyin’ their arguments that these stories were 100% fabricated.
That said, I still think the benefits of having him co-manage David will outweigh the potential problems. As a parent, I cannot imagine not having any involvement and/or input in my 17-year-old’s decision making. I think David still needs him, and I think it’s a good move on their part.
I always refer back to this article.
Reports back from the tour were nothing but good where Papa was concerned. But, that was a waaaaay relaxed atmosphere.
There’s no doubt that Archie needs some guidance. He’s only 17 after all. But, I think this will be a whole different ball game for JA, what with Archie playing with the big dogs now.
I’m going to try and not make any judgments now (that’s hard!) and just sit back…and watch.
Me too, Gwen. I think it’s a good thing for Archie, but….time will tell, won’t it?
Jeff should remain the father in this. I don’t believe he’s as innocent as his fans make him out to be either. Many of his actions and words seem very planned and he’s driven and ambitious too. He’s manipulative. It may be he’s just being a good publicist or manager (their job is to manipulate and promote a certain image), but his carefully planned revamped image doesn’t reflect all that is going on behind the scenes imo.
Hopefully, they ended things peacefully with Simon Fuller because he’s a pit bull too and could cause trouble. Clearly, two pit bulls can’t co-manage together. I think it would be hard for 2 ambitious strong willed individuals to co-manage. Simon was good to Jason and Michael, so hopefully these 2 men came to a mature realization that it wouldn’t work.
Archie’s new manager’s top clients are Nich Lachey and New Kids on the Block? I don’t see this as the huge plus as you do. Clearly, he was needing some new clients. At least he should have time to manage whereas Simon Fuller does have his hands full with Daughtry, Jordin, Carrie and Cook. Archie is doing very well at the moment so it’s not like he need a lot of help. The biggest prize to me is Jive. They always do such a great job.
Michael was released early but Jason wasn’t. We fans were counting down to “Freedom Day” for Jason and he was too.
Congrats to Archie. I hope that his management team works out well for him. I think that it is a good idea for Jeff to co-manage Archie now since he is so young. He’s young even for 17. I think that he needs someone who has his best interest at heart around him as he enters this new chapter in his life. I don’t think that Archie is naive but he’s not ready for the sharks. Jeff is somewhat familiar since he’s a musician.
Claudette you left out The Eagles and Xtina, that changes the perception a little bit doesn’t it?
I have no idea about Jeff and what happened on idol. I do know that alot of the stuff discussed on this board was debunked by some of the very people who would know. I recall talk on this very board that Jeff might have been banned because of ‘mind games’ he was playing on the contestants. I recall questions about how disruptive Jeff might be on the tour bus and maybe Lupe Archuletta should accompany him instead. What happened with that Jeff? The guys pretty much said snicker snee to all of that, and the tour was resounding fun for everyone. Archie had a blast and was not confined in any way by his father. He signed, he hugged, he conquered, and yes Jeff did let him drink water, lol.
I think that the parent as manager has it’s pros and cons. Case in point Usher, his mom managed him from day one until his career hit it’s apex. Then he fired her, and his career hasn’t been quite as peachy. I believe he has rethought that little arrangement. Then there is Jessica Simpson, while maybe a bit of a side joke now, she has sustained a career on not that much talent, managed by her skeevy dad. It works for them, and the Lohans too.
I also would have some reluctance to allowing my child to contract with anyone who I think does not have his best interest as heart, only the bottom line, who else but a father would be able to go to the mat the way Jeff did even while being reviled in the press, for alot of stuff that was simply not true. Maybe he was overbearing, or maybe over protective. I am a mom so I am sure I would too fall somewhere in the middle.
Considering how management changes at the drop of a hat, I think for now this is better for David. If he doesn’t think so in the future, that can be changed.
ETA; I certainly hope that Jeff is manipulative. He is going to have to be in order to maintain even a bit of control over David’s career. If he turns out to be the success I think he is going to be, it will be a struggle to make sure he isn’t undercut. He better have a bit of shark in him.
Well said and I agree with you 100%. As sue already pointed out earlier, there are a lot of teenagers who would probably hate having their parent managing their music careers but David is a “different breed.” He’s mentioned that he goes through the typical father/son issues that most teenagers do, but he’s also quick to acknowledge that his dad knows better than anyone else what he’s trying to accomplish with his music and can often articulate it better than he can.
I also think that yet another part of Jeff’s involvement is to help David avoid being placed in situations where he feels his values are being compromised. I don’t get the impression that David would personally choose to go down this path of his own free will, but I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the effort to put forward a more sexed-up image in a few years, his label or management tries to push him to do something that might go against his morals. It will be good to for David to have someone there to help provide some pushback. It’s more important to me as a fan that David to be allowed to pursue his music career on his own terms, regardless of whether they may not be considered the most profit-maximizing.
LOL I have to laugh at that one… well for now we can only hope that Jeff/Paul take the right decisions….Good luck to Archie…
Funny thing is that during tour, Jeff was around but wasn’t being mobbed (obviously) like David, so fans would seek him out to talk to him. They got a lot of information out of Jeff. The fans did not like “the suit” he wore during the tour and talked to Jeff about it. David did not like the suit either, but he didn’t want to offend the stylist (it didn’t compromise his morals). When fans talked to Jeff urging him to tell David to get his wardrobe changed, Jeff said something about he tried to talk to David, but David has a mind of his own like most teens and would have nothing to do with it. That was actually very encouraging.
Also Brooke was being interviewed about David and Jeff staying at her house while they are in LA recording and she said she has seen David becoming more bold about making decisions. That is exactly what you want your kids to do. You want them to let you help and guide them until they get stronger and more and more capable and competent so they can go it on their own. I think Jeff is a great father and he and David have a wonderful, healthy relationship. I am not worried about David. He is right on track.
That’s a very good point. I do remember that conversation about the Wayne Newton suit being posted during the tour. Also, it’s interesting that the EW article link was posted earlier about how Jeff was calling the shots during rehearsals during Neil Diamond week on AI (as if that was an indication that he was somehow making all of the decisions for David) because after the show was over, David told Larry King in his first interview that he didn’t always follow Jeff’s advice and sometimes did his own thing while he was on the show. That tells me that while David looks like he might be a pushover, appearances can be deceiving.
Aladdin’s thoughts on Jeff helping David ensure his values are not compromised are on the money. I believe this is the #1 reason they choose to stick together and find a management team that will work with his situation. If I recall correctly, this is a kid that went through the AI song lists crossing out songs with immoral lyrics as he made his weekly choice for the show.
David is very devoted to his Mormon faith and beliefs, and will probably not take the path most teenage singers do in the business. Think George Osmond, who managed the Osmond Brother’s careers for many years, steering them in directions that fit with their beliefs.
The challenge will be producing a current, classy product and keeping to David’s standards.
By the way, “oh my heck” is a phrase that I have heard many times in Utah.
^^ I guess that you can get the boy out of UTAH, but you can´t get UTAH out of the boy…