Lot’s of chatter on the blog today, about why Jordin Sparks debut album opened with the lowest Soundscan numbers of any winning Idol to date. She’ll chart this week at #10 on the Billboard 200, selling a total of 119,000 albums. For more numbers, check out Kirsten’s Idol Sales post.
1. Did a lackluster season begat a lackluster Idol?
2. Did the producers spend so much time last year pimping guest hosts and their charity event, instead of the contestants, that their winning Idol never had a chance to make an impression on the viewing audience?
3. Does Jordin’s record just flat out suck? Well, I finally got a chance to listen to her debut on Rhapsody, and I found most of it pretty bland…
I think it’s a combination of all three, with extry special emphasis on 2. and 3.
How did Jordin stack up against her fellow Idol winners? Deets, after the jump…
Kelly Clarkson - “Thankful” - 297,400
Ruben Studdard - “Soulful” - 416,569
Fantasia - “Free Yourself” - 239,389
Carrie Underwood “Some Hearts” - 315,000
Taylor Hicks - “Taylor Hicks” - 298,000
There’s a bit of a silver lining here, for Jordin. Her single, “Tattoo” is doing well. It’s #8 this week on Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart, selling 77,247 (that’s a 55% increase from last week) for a total of 372,198. It’s getting radio play, and has been inching its way up all the charts since it was released last month.
Unfortunately, in Jordin’s case, having a hit song has not translated into a hit album. At least not yet.
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I chose option 1. A lackluster season produced a lackluster winner. I doubt Blake, Phil or Chris Sligh will set any records with their first week’s sales either. They were a dull bunch from the beginning. The back stories that would have generated the fan bases weren’t there and I think no one from S6 had any exceptional star quality. I don’t know if the judges got lazy or the pickings were slim with all the star talent being picked off for S5. It’s like wine, some vintages are just better than others.
The fact that there seem to be so many retreads coming back for Hollywood week doesn’t reassure me either. Unless I’m wrong, no one from S5 was a retread from a past season.
After seeing the tour, I became convinced there was more than met the eye with the Season 6 bunch, and that they were short changed by their masters…
I disagree about it being a lackluster season although certainly there was too much emphasis on the guests. I think it’s hard to tell yet who will or won’t be a star. Last year at this time people were still talking about Taylor’s upcoming album and would never have thought that Chris would be the big seller from that group (ok, that’s not exactly true because Chris fans did). I had no idea that he’d be able to reach so many non-Idol fans. Who’s to say that someone from season 6 won’t have a chance to do that even if on a smaller scale?
I haven’t listened to more than Jordin’s single because I’ve never had any interest in her even on the show. Blake is probably the only one who’s cd I’ll buy just like Chris was the one last season.
Bland season for me as well this yr, I never really had a favorite and always had “someone” to care and vote for each yr. My feeling that Jordin was caught up in lack of interest in general with this season. There also seems to be a bit of burn out happening in general with American idol, imo, I hear more people talking about “dancing with the Stars” or that other dancing show with Nigel as a judge (dont’ watch, so can’t even remember the name, lol)
than American idol this yr.
Producers made a royal mess of the season nearly from the start, sad, really, and a show that was based on “stories” of the unknown and talented real life contestants became some overblown arrogant way to showcase existing artists and promote their cds (and with major labels behind them to boot). Sad for the contestants this yr, who I might have supported had I known who they were-
Two Words: Sanjaya Malakar
Season six was bland as it was a bit of a joke.
Don’t blame Sanjaya for Jordin’s sucky sales. Blame 19E, her label and Jordin herself.
Right from the start of semi-finals, I smelled a repeat of Season 3. TPTB stacked it with big-voice divas and boy band wannabes. It just turned out S6 is just as bad as S3 in everything - ratings, tour revenues, and CD sales. It’s just the wrong talent pool, there was nothing much they could do after that. I’ll cut TPTB some slack.. Generally, things go in circles. Odds just caught AI this year.
If we go with the whole circles theory, then:
Season 7 = a moderately exciting season with one multi-platinum-selling breakout star who is able to have a sustainable career (or at least put out a successful 2nd CD).
Season 8 = VERY exciting season with at least one breakout star who may or may not be able to have a sustainable career.
Season 9 = only for the Idol faithful.
They weren’t EXPLOITED, as in seasons past. They were there, but the producers didn’t choose to explore and develop them. If you wanted to know anything about this year’s contestants, you had to dig for yourself.
Yes, it goes in cycle.. and AI is still searching that elusive mainstream white male pop star, a la Justin Timberlake. Justin Guarini didn’t cut it, nor will Blake. So the search continues…
i hope Jordin doesnt end up having a Rhianna career sales wise….hit sinlges , medicore album sales :(
You know it’s just a matter of time…
Idol album bombs
Poor girl..is she only 17!? OMG…
Chris D I knew would of made a big splash even before Clive said he wanted him which might of affected his votes a little.So did the papers as well of his fitting in the top 40.
Jordan maybe it was the non-exposure..I know I have heard about the contestants allot of excuses of how they have done but what if it is as simple as …the cd …..
Well I remember a time not too long ago on this blog when everyone was SO SURE Clive had passed on Blake…and we all know how that turned out. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Personally, I’m glad they didn’t exploit backstories on Season 6. I couldn’t stand Kellie Pickler because of the way she was portrayed. I still don’t find anything cute, funny, or charming about her to this day. I don’t know, I guess I don’t need them to “connect” with a contestant. I’m in it for the performances, not the soap opera, but I guess I’m in the minority on that. However I do agree that it would’ve been nicer to see more of the contestants’ personalities on the results shows instead of random musical guests.
Jordin just needs better material IMO. I honestly think she’ll make her best music in 4-5 years. “Tattoo”:Jordin :: “Miss Independent”:Kelly
I dont normally say to much in here. But I do have some theories what went wrong this year.
First let me say I have watched AI from the beginning from start to finish. This is the first year I feel like buying anyone’s CD. It wasnt because of AI though I had to do research on my own.
Now what I think went wrong.
1. In the beginning is when it began when they were going to the cities they really Knocked Seattle saying that Seattle had the worse tryouts. Well when it came down to the final 24 there was more Seattle singers in it then other cities. This gave a negative opinion to begin with. Along with the worse audition they were in my honest opinion in bad taste. They also gave a negative impression.
2. As I said in start there was very little about the contestants this year was more about the guest performers and Idols gives back. The contestants were almost a second thought. They allowed other things to overshadow the contestant. I dont know about you but to casual viewers that would give a negative impression and make them less interested.
3. I dont know what the producer’s were thinking if they were burnt out or what. But it was quite evident who they wanted to win and I am not just talking about Jordin they wanted a diva to win that was obvious. I was left with the impression it really didnt matter who we voted for this year.
4. On Jordin she is 17 you know or have you heard. I have said that from day one she needs more developement in the genre she wants to be in. I like her but feel that she wont appeal to anyone much till she has more experience.
5. Things are changing in the music industry so what use to be easy to do isnt now and that is sell cd’s unless your established.
6. I dont know about the rest of the states but I have to plan my money out more then ever before. My money just doesnt go as far as it used. So I am not willing to buy a cd that will not appeal to be to just support the idol. Where I might have in the past. I will just download a single to support 99 cents is alot cheaper then 10 dollars.
These are just some of my thoughts on why things went wrong this season.
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What’s troublesome to me about the backstories is that are unevenly applied to suit the TPTB’s agenda. They allow us to get to know some contestants, while not others. Advantage, much?
I actually feel bad for Jordin. The album really isn’t that bad. It fits her well and there are some really good tracks. The only explanation is lack of interest which carried over from the season. Live, this group was very entertaining and I really liked Jordin a lot. I’m sure she’s taking this very hard. No celebration from this corner of Idoldom.
deleted already stated above by foxy
AI just seemed more contrived this past season. Also, the contestants seemed more self-aware and concerned about making the top 10 for the tour than they did for the win.
I think I just grew tired of the show itself. I am one of the people who became more interested in all the Dancing shows…something more refreshing about them.
I’ll be waiting for Simon to blame Jordins sales on Taylor somehow, someway. (rolleyes)
Personally, I liked the album. I actually bought it. I feel this album has legs and hit singles. Normally I don’t buy an album until I’ve heard 3 or 4 tracks that I really like. (I do this with everyone except AI) So I feel that non-AI people will wait to buy the album until they have heard 3 or 4 songs from it, i.e. fergie’s album. I have a feeling she will outsell Taylor (he will continue being the “lowest selling” idol) and Blake will not even get close to gold. I hate this waiting game because only time will tell.
While Jordin’s sales are certainly disappointing for an AI winner they don’t necessarily spell the end of her career or her album.
Several singers have had less than stellar opening week numbers and gone on to have very good careers (Josh Groban and Shania Twain are two that come to mind).
What Jordin needs is actual marketing (they can’t just rely on the AI label to sell her album), and a couple of more songs that are actually SUPPORTED to radio by the label.
If those things happen this album could have legs.
Jordin is a nice girl with a pretty voice and it’s no reflection on her personally that she was ill-served. So what happened to Jordin?
In my opinion (granted it’s only been one week, but):
1) She’s got a pretty but generic voice that needs to mature as compared with some of her competitors. She doesn’t have a distinctive sound or look or musical identity. Her album is more of the same and I wonder if there’s not a little too much market saturation for Idol-formula pop albums.
2) Despite there being better singers (i.e. Melinda) and performers (Blake) she was pimped as the second coming of Kelly Clarkson, Mariah and Martina McBride when it was plain that she is not.
3) The “vote for her she’s only SEVENTEEN” mantra got old fast. That’s kind of like saying “she may not be the best but she’s young! (*not like that guy who won last season*), wholesome! (*not like Britney*), nonthreating! (*like the kids from the Disney Channel*), easy going (*maleable*), and she can do melismatic runs like a proper diva! (*and that = “good” singing in Idolland*). [/snark]
4) Conversely, the blatant underselling of Melinda, Lakisha and Blake, among others, to boost her chances was annoying and painfully obvious.
5) *All* of the contestants were treated as afterthoughts. There was little or no attention paid to their personal stories, whereas there was an inordinate amount of attention paid to the IGB event and guest performers who had no other association with AI.
If the PTB can’t be bothered to care about the contestants, why should the audience?
and on a personal note:
6) The way they (the PTB, Simon and Clive Davis) treated Taylor (and Kelly Clarkson) still pisses me off. I understand why they want to promote Daughtry and Carrie but treating their winners with respect shows respect for the audience that invested in them.
Anyway, I hope Jordin is okay. The Media can be brutal.
The most important reason why Jordin album not sell very good in her first week even in holiday season is her based Idol fans are not as much as any other winners Idols fans.
So for nxt few weeks, she really had to rely on her singles to gain as much non idol fans as she can and sold her album just like Daughtry did.
If not, it will spell disaster.
But judging from this year album sales, if Jordin can get at least a total 500.000 copies is not bad at all as a new comer in music industry.
Cause this year lots of top singers also did not sell very good.
Example: Avril and Maroon 5 only sold more than 1 million copies. Even 50 cent have not reach 1 million copies yet.
So for Jordin just hang on and did the best she can.
And maybe if Jordin can get in Oprah show can boost her album sales :D
I will say again, while this season produced a number of very, very likable Idols, it did not produce any excitement. If you took even a sampling from this blog, there were a number of people who were watching, but remained blah about the season and the contestants. None of that changed much as the weeks dragged on.
I think this year’s crop did not produce a dedicated fan base who were anxious to buy their CD offerings. Nor did they show up at the Idol touring concert.
I have bought albums from contestants in S. 1, 2, 4, and 5. I cared very little for Season 3 and even less for Season 6.
Just sayin’ ….
I don’t think Jordin’s “overpimping” at the expense of other contestants really had that much to do with it.
How many times was Daughtry pimped last year over Taylor? Yet, Daughtry went out 4th and Taylor still won. And Chris went on to sell MORE records than Taylor- so it seems as if perhaps the pimping worked for him but backfired on Jordin? That doesn’t seem right…..
They tried to jam Chris down our throats last year just like they did Jordin this year, and Carrie and Bo the year before that. (And I say that as a Carrie fan).
So for me I’m not convinced that the show’s manipulation had much if anything at all to do with the weak sales.
I know I read it somewhere here but not sure where — how many of Jordin’s CD’s were shipped?
Paula the most recent update from HDD was 625,000.
Thanks.
I really don’t think Jordin was overpimped. I think there was no clear standout/favorite on S6 besides Melinda, and although she was lovable, I don’t think she was marketable. LaKisha peaked too early. Jordin emerged late in the competition; in fact, Simon made it clear he wanted Melinda to win. Blake is interesting, but he wouldn’t have made it into the Top 5 on Season 5.
Jordin is a level-headed girl; she’ll be fine.
Sheesh, the window of opportunity before you are proclaimed “a failure” gets shorter and shorter. What other debut artist in history has been proclaimed a failure after ONE WEEK????
Jordin’s album is good. I went in expecting to listen to it once and I’m now on my 5th or 6th listen. Don’t buy into the media hype that just because an album didn’t sell well that it isn’t a good album, musically speaking. Been there, done that with Taylor.
I purchased Jordin’s album and I love it. I was a fan of hers and yes, I voted for her victory. She actually has a very good album, with some incredible tracks and while some of them may sound a little similar, there are others that are extremely well done. Now coming to mind “Shy Boy”, “No Air” maybe for the younger crowd, but “Permanent Monday”, “Virginia is for lovers”, “God Loves Ugly” to just name a few are very pleasant listening pieces. Then there is “Save Me” kind of like Tracy Chapman style, I think, sounding beautiful, and imo totally different from anything else that has been released lately. If you are not convinced, you can preview her music on her myspace for free before you purchase it and you will have to admit, even if just to yourself secretly, that she is a incredible artist…
I don’t think her label has promoted her album enough. Like I read before, if you wanted to know anything about Jordin, you had to dig for the info yourself. AI has never posted anything about the album’s release on their page, yet they had a poster promoting carrie’s album for weeks before its release and now they are doing the same for blake. So I think blaming AI for pimping her on the show is not true.
Then also I think it is very strange that she didn’t sell anymore than she did, because several sources reported that Walmart was sold out early. It was even stated online that they were sold out for a couple of hours…weird
I truly hope for her that her album does well, because it is definitely worth it for sure.