Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
‘Idol’ wishes for Live! tour
It’s been months since Sanjaya Malakar made headlines, but the mercurially coifed “American Idol” finalist and his season six companions are on the road for the American Idols Live! tour, stopping in Worcester tomorrow.
The top 10 finalists, including winner Jordin Sparks, look to rekindle some vocal magic. The time between the season finale and the tour has been kind to some - Blake Lewis and LaKisha Jones have albums on the way - and not as forgiving to others. Chris Sligh who? Here’s what we hope to see, or not, from the Idols:
Doctor Who TV’s best choice
….Simon Cowell proved his Mr Nasty credentials with the win for the X Factor.
He said in a video message: “I’m currently in America torturing contestants on American Idol. I would like to commiserate with Andrew Lloyd Webber (nominated for Any Dream Will Do) who didn’t win again. Andrew, it’s not in the winning it’s the taking part.”….
24 seconds with Chris Daughtry
He may have finished fourth during the highly publicized fifth season of American Idol, but Chris Daughtry is doing just fine, having had his self-titled band’s debut album already sell a million copies. During his first-ever Canadian headline gig at the Commodore last month, Joe Leary spent 24 Seconds with Daughtry…..
Which singer wannabee has that special X-Factor?
…An interesting twist is that the judges also compete against each other. The acts are put into categories – Boys 14-24, Girls 14-24, 25s and Over, and Groups. Each judge is assigned an act and tries to train it for success in the live heats, when public votes step in. Which judge has the winning eye? Present odds rank Simon Cowell first at 11/8, then Louis Walsh at 12/5, Sharon Osborne at 10/3 and Dannii Minogue trailing at 7/2. Well, after all, Simon did create Pop Idol, Britain’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent and American Idol.
What are the contestants like? There’s certainly enough enthusiasm around, with around 150,000 acts signing up to chase the dream of the cool £1 million recording contract. If they win, like Shayne Ward and Leona Lewis, their first single is likely to shoot to Number One. But most will probably end up amusing us all for a few minutes and making prats out of themselves. Take the current bunch….
‘High School Musical 2′ Another Gold Mine for Disney
“High School Musical 2″ is a hit even bigger than the first, and the Disney marketing machine shows no signs of slowing.
…Last week’s debut of Disney’s tween sequel was the highest-rated basic cable telecast of all time, with 17.2 million viewers tuning in. More kids watched it than saw any hour of “American Idol.” Nielsen reported two out of three kids age 6-11 and tweens age 9-14 watching television were tuned to “High School Musical 2.” The share was even higher among girls 6-11 (four out of five of those watching TV)…
Meridian gets rocked
Four bands crank out Southern Rock for thousands of fans
…A surprise visit by American Idol runner-up, Bo Bice, who at the invitation of Hartley Peavey made the event, just further took the mash of people in front of the stage to a higher level with his cover of “Sweet Home Alabama,” in which the crowd joined in…
Bice makes special appearance
He may have only gotten a few nibbles while fishing Monday in the upper Bonita Lake but when he took the stage that night at the Rock at the Lake, American Idol runner-up Bo Bice landed a boatload of fans……..
Rock ‘N’ Roll: Sex, Drugs and an Early Exit
….One in 10 children in the United Kingdom wants to be a pop star, the study authors said, and many take part in series such as the British show the “X Factor” and the U.S. hit “American Idol,” which reinforce the attractiveness of a singing career….
Country star Underwood enjoys fast-moving “Ride”
NASHVILLE (Billboard) - In a pale blue BCBG Max Azria designer dress and impressively high heels, Carrie Underwood is the picture-perfect hostess as she graciously chats with the throng of well-wishers gathered at the Country Music Hall of Fame to celebrate the multiplatinum success of her debut album, “Some Hearts.” Some artists might remain cloistered in a velvet-roped side room during such events. But Underwood — who in May 2005 became the fourth-season winner of “American Idol” — seems happy to mingle with the crowd, thanking radio personnel, retailers, journalists and anyone else who has played a role in her fairy-tale rise to superstardom. As the 24-year-old pride of Checotah, Okla., poses for pictures and shakes hands, her mother, Carole — a retired schoolteacher who still lives in Checotah with Underwood’s retired paper-mill worker dad, Steve — beams proudly.
Tolland teen takes blue ribbon in pie-eating contest
….Also wrapping up the 4-day event was a performance by babyfaced country music singer and former American Idol contestant Josh Gracin. Gracin plodded through a strong set which mixed hits like his recent single “I wanna live” and a raucous cover of Loverboy’s “Working for the weekend.”
Reality in rehab
A trip to a treatment center turns into a TV role for Tampa’s Jessica Sierra, who made a splash on American Idol in 2005
Former American Idol contestant Jessica Sierra skipped a court hearing Wednesday because she is in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program in California, her attorney said.
But not just any rehab program.
A VH1 spokesman confirmed that the Tampa native is part of a celebrity rehab reality show likely to air early next year….
DAUGHTRY hits Homecoming
Triple-platinum rockers to headline Coleman Coliseum show
When students complained last year about the lack of currently popular, higher profile artists playing the Homecoming concert, University Programs listened, and the organization’s new leadership vowed to do better with this year’s concert.
In an effort to satisfy students hoping to see a big name on campus in October, UP has secured the triple-platinum rock band DAUGHTRY to play a paid-admission Homecoming concert in Coleman Coliseum Friday, Oct. 5. It will be the first paid-admission Homecoming concert since Alan Jackson played in Coleman in 1998……..
Related Posts
UGH. Way to get clean and sober. On TV. NOT.
We are finally getting some boxscores for the Idol tour:
Date: City: Seats sold of Seats Available: Revenue (tickets)
July 6: Sunrise, Fla : 7,738 of 10,938 : $476,428
July 7: Tampa, Fla : 7,761 of 9,876 : $475,416
July 8: Jacksonville, Fla : 7,089 of 9,450 : $429,908
July 10: Greenville, S.C: 6,714 of 11,767 : $410,576
July 11: Nashville, Tenn: 5,720 of 9,560 : $363,742
July 12: Birmingham, Ala: 3,775 of 9,703 : $243,398
July 13: North Little Rock, Ark : 5,324 of 9,659 : $333,171
July 15: Houston, Texas : 5,529 of 10,659 : $345,683
July 16: San Antonio, Texas : 4,370 of 10,836 : $281,533
July 18: Glendale, Arizona: 9,701 of 10,412: $598,130
July 19: San Diego, Calif : 5,756 of 8,839 : $369,306
July 20: Fresno, Calif : 4,604 of 9,313 : $289,648
July 23: Los Angeles, Calif: 8,263 of 12,074 : $455,119
July 22: Anaheim, Cali: 7,922 of 10,920 : $488,294
July 24: San Jose, Cali: 8,874 of 10,272: $532,145
July 25: Sacremento, Cali: 8,239 of 10,883 : $497,165
July 27: Tacoma, Wash: 8,024 of 9,589 : $488,145
July 28: Portland, Ore: 5,439 of 10,339 : $327,222
July 30: Nampa, Idaho: 3,577 of 8,013 : $217,035
July 31: Salt Lake City, Utah : 5,042 of 11,532 : $291,785
Aug 3: Omaha, Neb: 5,237 of 12,812 : $321,870
Aug 4: St. Paul, Minn.: 9,843 of 14,691 : $549,488
Aug 5: Milwaukee, Wis: 5,998 of 9,445 : $363,899
Aug 8: Moline, Ill : 4,566 of 9,776 : $280,862
Aug 9: St. Louis, Mo: 5,889 of 9,167 : $353,508
Aug 11: Columbus, Ohio : 7,436 of 10,212 : $444,707
Aug 12: Auburn Hills, Mich: 9,245 of 11,358: $550,930
Aug 13: Cleveland, Ohio: 5,611 of 10,026 : $343,377
Aug 14: Toronto, Ont: 6,727 of 11,205: $419,750
Chris D’s grandma made me laugh. I can just see her enjoying the limelight when he was on the show, going on the radio and giving interviews.
A few stats based on that ticket information:
Season 6: Half-way Report (29 out of 59 concerts (or is it 60?))
Total Gross: $11.5 million
Average Attendance: 6,552
Total Attendance: 190,013
Number of Tickets Available: 303, 326
% Capacity: 62.6%
Average Gross: $398,008
Average Ticket Price: $60.75
Number of Shows: 29 (reported so far)
Number of Sell-outs: 0
Lowest Attendance (tickets): 3,577 - Nampa, Idaho
Highest Attendance (tickets): 9,843 - St. Paul, Minn
Lowset Attendance (percentage): 38.9% - Birmingham, Ala
Highest Attendance (percentage): 93.2% - Glendale, Arizona
Kirsten
I calculated 64% sell out correct me if I am wrong How does this compare to last year? Wasn’t it almost 100% Like 95 or 96%?
I wonder if this is indicative if a slow in AI’s popularity or just a blip in the road?
And just in case you are wondering…historical concert stats (collected from Ken Barnes and Nevada):
AI-1
Total Gross: $8.1 million
Average Ticket Price: $31.38
Average Attendance: 8,589
Total Attendance: 257,680
Average Gross: $269,520
Number of Shows: 30
Number of Sell-outs: 5
Lowest Attendance: Nashville/Rutherford - 50%
% Capacity: 82.2%
AI-2
Total Gross: $15.6 million
Average Ticket Price: $38.26
Average Attendance: 10,446
Total Attendance: 407,404
Average Gross: $399,661
Number of Shows: 41
Number of Sell-outs: 17
Lowest Attendance: Dallas - 55%, Houston - 52%, Oklahoma - 48%, Boise - 42%
% Capacity: 89.33%
AI-3
Total Gross: $11.3 million
Average Ticket Price: $45.34
Average Attendance: 5,337
Total Attendance: 250,862
Average Gross: $242,009
Number of Shows: 49
Number of Sell-outs: 1 (Honolulu)
Second Highest Attendance: Long Island: 82.1%
Lowest Attendance: Indianapolis - 27.4%
AI-4
Total Gross: $16.9 million
Average Ticket Price: $44.47
Average Attendance: 9,026
Total Attendance: 379,071
Average Gross: $401,403
Number of Shows: 42
Number of Sell-outs: 11
Lowest Attendance: San Antonio - 62.5%
AI-5
Total Gross: $35.2 million
Average Ticket Price: $54.50
Average Attendance: 10,945
Total Attendance: 645,782
Average Gross: $596,610
Number of Shows: 59
Number of Sell-outs: 19
Lowest Attendance: Austin - 80%
% Capacity: 96%
Must have misadded the total capacity- oh well actually more dismal than my numbers. But maybe it is still so much money it doesn’t matter.
Hey Kirsten. Those stats are newsworthy. If you get a minute, post them on the front page. :)
I’m not surprised by the poor numbers although I guess they’ll do better than Season 3. The general lack of interest in this group is reflected in these numbers.
Hmm. I would like figures from Tacoma and Chicago (Rosemont), since I attended those shows.
When it’s all said and done, it looks like AI6 will gross more than any other season but Season 5 if that trend continues.
I guess Birmingham was mad they didn’t have a native son this year.
ETA, I see Tacoma now. Sorry.
pj,
Here are the figures for Rosemont, IL Aug, 7
10,034 of 12,527 (80%)
Done.
I’ve added that missing concert from Rosemont (I just didn’t see it the first time and it turns out it was the biggest. Thanks Anne for noticing that they were there). So, all the summary stats have been updated.
If you think another concert should be in there (from July 6-Aug 14, let me know and I’ll double check for that).
Good God, that tour seems to have been going on forever. When does it end?
Speaking of tours…
Kelly Clarkson revives her tour
Kelly Clarkson, who scrapped an earlier tour this summer due to slow sales, is heading back on the road this fall.
The Grammy-winning singer announced Tuesday she would kick off a theater tour Oct. 14 at New York City’s Beacon Theater, winding down in Nashville on Dec. 4 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
AP via Yahoo! News
Good for Kelly - I hope her tour is successful.
Lisa, thanks for the article about Bo Bice. He sounds happy and that is nice to hear. I look forward to his new music.
And about those AI tour numbers, verrry interesting…No sellouts for season 6 which includes Glendale, AZ?
Just to mention that I saw Hicksaholic’s review elsewhere about TH’s concert on Sunday. Fabulous…I was there, too. So much fun and he was in such great voice (better than the last time I saw him) and was finally wearing a pair of blue jeans that fit his new svelte body. Just thought you all would like to know that….
Concert review: Daughtry uses energy, stage presence to rock Centre
It’s difficult to see how Chris Daughtry comes from the same “American Idol” empire that produced Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Jordin Sparks when you watch him perform.
His mainstream rock sound does not blend with the pop and country artists “Idol” has been known for to produce over the past six years.
Daughtry, a Season Five contestant on the popular Fox reality show, brought his band to The Centre on Monday night for a sold out show in front of 2500 fans ranging in age from teens to people in their 40s…….
Courier Press
deleted so lisab doesn’t issue a repeat warning!
Thanks for the articles on Bo Bice!! I am so glad his CD is still on track to come out Oct. 23rd. I like his new songs!
A review of the concerts at the fair
Daughtry - The Southern rocker who entered American consciousness via “American Idol” lived up to his pop culture icon status, enthralling followers with a high-octane set culled from his debut record.
From the first power chord of the evening, Chris Daughtry had the rabid - and mostly female - audience in the palm of his hand. Looking much like a svelte Vin Diesel, the million-selling artist came out blazing and kept the rock train rolling all night long……..
Chieftain
Kelly Clarkson Announces U.S. Fall Tour Dates
Kelly Clarkson is putting her tour back on track.
After scrapping the summer version due to poor ticket sales, Clarkson will instead hit North American arenas with special guest Jon McLaughlin, beginning Oct. 10 in New York, PEOPLE has learned. Shows are set through Dec. 3 in Nashville.
It’s been a tumultuous couple months for Clarkson, 25, who recently fired her manager and shelved her summer tour after a public clash with Clive Davis over the direction of her latest album, My December, the first disc she co-produced and wrote entirely.
Fans who have tickets for the canceled dates are eligible for a special Ticketmaster code for the new shows; details are available on Clarkson’s Web site.
Here’s the lineup for Clarkson’s My December tour:
People.com
Thanks Kirsten.
In Birmingham they could probably hear the crickets outside.
There were a lot of venues that sold below 50% capacity or just above it. I wonder if the kids even knew just how empty some of those places were. Maybe with the bright lights and excited crowds it may not have seemed so empty to them when they were on stage.
Whether completely full or 39% full, the show must go on. That’s a lesson they needed to learn for their future solo gigs.
Touring Acts Coming to Madison - September and October 2007
…October 6: You can be sure when Elliott Yamin comes to the Majestic Theatre the streets will be packed with hundreds of screaming girls. The third place finisher on the fifth season of American Idol helps kick off the first official opening week for the storied theatre…
Dane 101
LOL Caro I only go after repeat offenders.
:)
No…no, actually, it fits in perfectly ;-)
Just coming out of lurkdom to say I attended Taylor’s concert on Sunday night in Orange Beach, Alabama and it was such a treat! This is now my 4th concert for Taylor
….yes that is a little difficult to admit…. but I have had the best time watching Taylor win, tour and change in such a good way!
I enjoyed his Cd when it came out but now the songs are sooo much better! He has a way of changing up songs to the point where you are not too sure just what he is singing. They jam forever, this incredible band of his, and all seem to have the best time with the music and each other. I would never presume to know what Taylor is feeling but it would be so hard to believe that he is not one very happy man. I think he is doing what he loves and in his unique way…..failure is not a word I could use to sum up his ride so far!
I hear he is getting ready to be scarce for awhile as he goes to write his new Cd. I hope his new album will reflect the style so many have enjoyed during his summer tours.
I know he has only a few more tour dates left but if you get a chance to attend, I think you will enjoy! He is one very infectious entertainer! I for one will be a fan for a very long time!
Happy September everybody! Pix
Great article on Carrie…it’s the one in the latest issue of Billboard mag and Carrie also has the cover! Looking forward to her sophmore album…
Taylor has added another concert in November:
Taylor Hicks comes to Pearl River Resort in November
November 2, 2007
Taylor Hicks brings his soul/pop sound to Pearl River Resort for one night only, Friday, Nov. 2 at 9 p.m.
The Birmingham native has risen to the top of the charts with his self titled debut album.
Tickets are on sale now for this show and guests must be 21 or older.
Kirsten, I think you missed the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. I live in Iowa but didn’t attend but I believe is was early in August. If they’d been in Iowa last year there’s no way I wouldn’t have gone. I loved season 5 but find season 6 just so-so.
He has?
I think that the Iowa State Fair concert was on August 19th which is just outside the window that was reported. Hopefully, it will be in the next set. I’ll keep an eye out for it. Thanks for the reminder because with so many numbers, it’s easy to miss a couple of them.
http://www.iowastatefair.com/newsroom/press_release.php?id=33
Pft. I’d love to see Jon McLaughlin. Kelly, not so much.
Just because one hails from below the Mason-Dixon line does not make the music one sings “southern rock.”
Ha! Just reallyreallyclose close to the top of one chart for one week in December ‘06. You know how those PR people like to embellish…