Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
Negotiations
….I felt like I had a pretty solid grasp of the way record deals worked because of my experience before the show. I had had label interest and had built relationships for years. I thought I had been really close to record deals int he past, but now that my deal is a lawyer’s once over and my signature away from being official, I realize how far I was from being actually signed. It’s interesting…I was closer than most people ever get, but so far away.
Basically, when I finally decided what I wanted to do with a label (and decided to go with a label instead of doing my own thing), I then decided which label I wanted to be a part of. Once I made that decision, my management went to said label and began more formal discussions (when you’re courting, you talk in general terms). At this point, the formal discussions talk about deal terms: production budget, personal advance, promotions budget, how many records, etc. Then, once the label gets an idea of what we’re looking for, they send over a deal……
Blake Lewis, America’s Favorite Beat Boxer, Releases Debut Single
….After “American Idol,” Lewis signed to 19 Recordings / ARISTA Records and started working on his debut album with a stellar line-up of producers and songwriters. Among the producers were Jonathan “JR” Rotem, who has worked with Rihanna (on her No. 1 single “SOS”) and Sean Kingston; Ryan “Alias” Tedder, who has worked with Timbaland; and S*A*M & Sluggo, who have worked with two of the year’s biggest new artists, Gym Class Heroes and Boys Like Girls.
Lewis’ debut album, Audio Day Dream (A.D.D), will be released on December 4. “Break Anotha” is the first single off the album.
Diabetes Communities Unite to Celebrate World Diabetes Day November 14
….American Idol finalist and recording artist Elliott Yamin, who has type 1 diabetes, will perform “Promise to Remember Me,” a song written for JDRF by Grammy-award winning composer Alan Silvestri and lyricist Steven Schwartz. He will be joined in song at the U.N.’s Rose Garden opening ceremony by children with diabetes. Restaurateur and television host B. Smith will emcee the Diabetes Education Rally and lead hundreds of World Diabetes Day supporters. This inspirational and educational event follows the 246-step march from the U.N. building to Guastavino’s restaurant under the 59th Street Bridge, with each step representing one million people with diabetes….
West Valley regional roundup
GLENDALE: Jordin Sparks, the Glendale teen who won American Idol, plans to release her first album Nov. 20. The album’s cover photo is circulating on fan Web sites.
Studios scripting unhappy ending to writers strike
…Of the commercial networks, Fox is in the best position to wait out a strike. Its “American Idol,” the king of all prime time, is on track to return in January.
But how much unscripted TV can you stomach? NBC can churn out more “Singing Bee” and “Deal or No Deal” and has the next installment of “The Apprentice,” with C-list celebrities as Trump’s last sycophants, in the can….
CMA’s Top Award an All-Male Affair
….A number of women have won the CMA’s highest honor over the years, including the Dixie Chicks, Twain, McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn.
Hill, who’s been nominated for entertainer once, in 2000 when the Chicks won, and Underwood were obvious choices this year.
Hill and McGraw co-headlined one of the top-grossing concert tours of the year. Her 2005 album “Fireflies” reconnected her with country radio in a big way, and she released a greatest hits collection last month that debuted at No. 3. She’s also been singing the opening theme to NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” this season.
Meanwhile, Underwood’s 2005 debut “Some Hearts” sold more than 6 million copies, a phenomenal number for any artists let alone a new one, and her follow up, “Carnival Ride,” was No. 1 last week on both the pop and country charts, selling more than 500,000 in its first week _ one of the year’s best debuts. Though the former “American Idol” champ is not headlining her own tour yet, she’s clearly one of the year’s most visible country performers….
Fans Still Line Up For Non-Scripted Shows
The tension at Television City, a Los Angeles complex that houses CBS headquarters and soundstages for “Dancing with the Stars” and “American Idol,” was palpable on Monday as about 120 striking writers marched next to people lining up to get tickets to the afternoon taping of “Dancing with the Stars,” whose writers are not covered under the Writers’ Guild of America.
“Those people are definitely not with us,” said Deborah Blum, a guild member who writes for programs that air on the History Channel and National Geographic.
The reality show fans stood quietly to the side in a single-file line. “I feel bad for the writers with no contract, but I’m a big fan of this show and I took the day off to try and get tickets,” said Angela Martinez, an office manager from Pasadena, Calif.
John Rich Chooses The Big Winner on CMT’s “Gone Country” Celebrity Reality TV Music Show
A few people have asked for my opinion regarding the winner of the “Gone Country” show on CMT.
As a reminder, the 6-episode series of Gone Country doesn’t even begin airing until January, 2008.
I have no way of knowing who the winner actually will be. (Only John Rich knows for sure.) But here are my predictions…
….With those things in mind — and using this one night alone as a guide — I would say the winner is most likely to be either… (drumroll, please)…
#1 Diana DeGarmo
#2 Bobby Brown
Without a doubt, Diana DeGarmo had best “true” Country sound. That, combined with a great voice, a natural level of comfort with the crowd, great eye contact, honest emotions, wide range of vocal notes, and great stage presence made her a very natural shoe-in for this competition.
Oh, and she certainly had the attention of the big-wigs in the balcony. It was quite obvious that they had been told she was “the one to watch” on this night. And they were overwhelmingly impressed by her performance. She was one of the few who received a standing ovation from the people that mattered most on this night (John Rich and his peeps)….
“Idol” gets it in gear
First winner of hit reality series keeps revved-up fans roaring
By any standard, Kelly Clarkson has had a rough year.
The original “American Idol” winner tussled publicly with RCA over her third album, “My December,” when the label balked at Clarkson writing her own songs.
The subsequent underpromotion played a role in downsizing Clarkson’s current tour from venues like the Pepsi Center - where the Denver show was originally booked - to the 1,870-seat Paramount Theatre.
No one seemed the wiser Monday night as Clarkson commanded the Paramount’s stage, her strong, subtly husky voice slicing through near-deafening screams to deliver chunks of melodic pop-rock.
Sure, the formulaic songs bled into one another as the show wore on. But Clarkson’s affability and her seven-piece band’s note-perfect performance engendered a vibe at once anthemic and intimate……..
Related Posts
Here’s what I am arguing: that WFY was considered a HIT, and was not “moderately successful” as you put it.
Here’s what I am NOT arguing: that airplay guarantees album sales and/or concert sales. (I never even mentioned this).
In Billboard’s calculation of the Hot 100, AIRPLAY is more weighted than sales. Yet you contend that sales is more important.
Not to mention that he’s already sold 758k copies of WFY.
And regarding Elliott being considered a one-hit wonder, you’d think (and HOPE) that people would be smarter than that and realize that his second single is steadily climbing up the charts.
Jesus Christ. Not everyone’s second single is going to debut at #1.
And the Billboard Hot 100 is of critical importance, why? Other than fans who obsess and brag over chart positions, who actually pays any attention to it?
758k downloads of “Wait for You” might be nice for the songwriters
[Jackson, Eriksen, and Hermansen] and the song publisher [Sony ATV?] but it’s hardly been a cash cow.
The statutory mechanical royalty rate for digital downloads in 2007 is $0.091 per song for songs less than 5 minutes in length, with the songwriters dividing $0.0455 of that.
So 758,000 x $0.0455 = $34,489 divided by 3 writers = $11,496 each.
Elliott’s probable take from digital downloads = $0.00 (unless he has a share of the publishing rights, which is not known).
Keep those hits coming…
We’re discussing the successfulness of a SONG and you fail to see the significance of the Hot 100? Are you kidding me?
And regarding how much money is made off of WFY….ummm…I don’t remember that being part of the discussion.
Fangirls are very annoying.
**scratches head and wonders how one escaped the utter implosion and collapse of the Yaminion website** They ate their own, and must have spit a few of the less appealing morsels out.
1. I’m a guy.
2. I LOVE how you went into an old news thread to complain about something you don’t even care about. THAT’S annoying.
This “discussion” began when I answered a question which was directed TO ME ALONE by Juliegr.
Although I am an Elliott fan, I do not find it necessary to inflate his accomplishments, which — while impressive considering where he was in his life before AI5 — are relatively modest in real world terms.
Since I am the one who initially described “Wait for You” as a moderate success, I am allowed to define exactly what I meant by that…and in my opinion, his album sales and digital sales are moderate, while his concert tour performance is moderate to poor.
So far, Elliott has been unable to sell out even very small venues: only 691 in Philadelphia (69% capacity); 318 in Detroit (39% capacity); 348 in Englewood, CO (35% capacity); 726 in San Diego (80% capacity); and 559 in Cincinnati (41% capacity). How much of his audience came from Idol fans versus those coveted non-Idol fans attracted by his radio airplay is unknown, but my guess is that most of them were on the E-Train in the spring of 2006.
Once again…the question was directed to me. I answered it. Coming into a thread and hijacking the conversation because you want to talk about radio airplay — which has been long tainted by payola in one form or another — is just as annoying to others as being called a fangirl presumably is to you.
Who said I was talking about you? It’s not as if I named names. Mind you, the fact you assumed it was you I was talking about says so much. Oh, and yeah, I knew you were male. I wouldn’t call you a guy though.
Clearly I do care about the conversation if I came into an old news thread to complain about it. I read all new posts in every thread until they’ve left the building so to speak.
A male with not so latent fangirly tendencies.
Yes, Nevada, you are entitled to your opinion.
For me, argument based on well-reasoned, fact-based opinion beats fangirly opinion, every time.
and…
Opinion based on well-reasoned, fact-based argument bests opinion based on fangirliness and tunnel visioned argument, every time.
Well, you already implied Elliott was a “one-hit wonder” and basically agreed with me (that WFY was a hit)….so….
Devil’s advocate must be a REALLY fun game :)
A moderate success.
You’ve already said it was a hit so there’s really no need to go back and forth.
To paraphrase the inimitable Hezzer (see post, Nov 8th, 2007 at 7:33 am ): Who said I was talking about Elliott’s WFY? It’s not as if I named names of songs. Mind you, the fact you assumed the posting of a One Hit Wonder list meant I was talking about Elliott’s WFY says so much.
Please prove to me that I have said this, review all my posts and SHOW me where I have ever said **read written** any such thing. You will not find one, because such statement does not exist.
Now, taking your statement (see post, at Nov 8th, 2007 at 1:06 am) as fact, that you ARE really guy **read, a male with not so latent fangirly tendencies**, you can now go back to playing with your penis pump….while listening to the Elliott’s moderate hit “Wait for You.”
ETA:
You can save your breath for your blow-up doll. I am done with this
silly fangirly drivel. Besides, my mother taught me to never get in a battle of wits with an unarmed man.
I prsumed something and you know the saying about that..I just do not like poeple being used for money(other than the cause) when they ,Elliott, are doing it for a cause. I have seen it wih others in the past I do not want it to happen to him..I jumped the gun no excuse.