With slow record sales, many critics are predicting that Taylor Hicks will be the first American Idol to fall short of selling one million albums. And that would make him the least successful Idol winner yet. Meanwhile, last year's fourth place Idol finisher, Chris Daughtry, has already sold 1.7 million copies of his debut album.
Tom Corson, executive vice president of J Records, is optimistic Taylor will turn things around, telling the Associated Press, "It's a work in progress, and, would we have liked to sell a little bit more? Yeah. But (the album is) still gold and on its way to platinum."
For his part, Taylor plans to hit the road and reach out to his potential buying audience. He said, "It's slow and steady that wins the race...You have to massage the record buying audience as much as you have to massage the live performing audience, you know?"
What happened to Taylor's fanatic "Soul Patrol" or the millions of Reality TV viewers who voted to make him last year's American Idol? You would think that singing to an audience of 30 million each week would translate into guaranteed record sales. I guess, you'd be wrong.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-02-2007 @ 4:09PM
Jim said...
Taylor sucks. It's a wonder he won American Idol over Katharine MacPhee.
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3-02-2007 @ 6:19PM
Celeste Draper said...
Well, actually, that is not surprising to me. Usually the 1st album is great....it was very diappointing to me. Taylor just does not offer enough variety for me and his soulful side is "way, by the wayside". I don't think he will sell the million......I would bet on it!
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3-03-2007 @ 1:54PM
Cindy said...
Taylor will reach the magic number. It will just take a little while. He's more of an entertainer than recording artist. His appeal great personality and he wsn't Kat.
The real idol winner ended up coming in 4th. Chris Daugherty will give Kelly Clarkson a run for her money.
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3-03-2007 @ 8:49AM
ImKukie said...
Taylor Hicks was loved for his "Ray Charlesy" bluesish style. He had that old school feel to him but when Idol produced his 1st album, they focused on a more modern style of music instead of what he was loved for best. Of course it's going to be a disappointment. That style of music isn't why America voted for Taylor. I believe if he went with what made him popular he'd have a renewed fan base & smashing record sales - But AI is more interested in maintaining the music genre they want to promote instead of what best fits the artist.
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3-03-2007 @ 5:46PM
Mary Ellen Jarrett said...
Taylor can't sing! It has been pitiful the times
I have seen him "live"; last week he was on Dr. Phil.
Chris Daughtry 's CD is great; shows off his talents
in writing and performing.
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3-03-2007 @ 7:31PM
PLM said...
I liked Taylor Hicks' album, but I think that Chris Daughtry's band Daughtry eclipsed him in the sales. Most people still think that Chris should have won it, but Chris didn't want some slick,polished pop sound on his album. His album's songs fits seamlessly with Nickelback's singles in the music lineups. But back to Taylor, he has a good blues/soul driven sound and voice--it's just not catching on with some people. I think some were put off by the sappy ballad Do I Make You Proud or the silly dancing he does on stage. I really hope he does a song with Bonnie Raitt, as she is the most current example of her blues-driven albums selling in the millions. It would be magic if it ever happens. Taylor needs to aggressively promote his album just as Chris Daughtry and his band have with theirs. He needs to make an all out assault if he wants to pass the million mark of his debut. But he's against a lot of heavy music competition and he needs to tackle it as much as possible.
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3-05-2007 @ 8:24AM
Kelly said...
The voting Audience really got this one wrong. Taylor Hicks is horrible. I saw him on Dr.Phil and he was way off pitch and it sounded like he was screaming the whole song as he struggled with the high notes. Chris Doughtry should have won.
That's the problem with these reality shows, the public has forgot that this is a singing competion and are voting the wrong performers off
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3-05-2007 @ 7:45PM
Christina said...
I thought Taylor couln't sing from the beginning and no amount of studio "remastering" can turn him into a real singer. Chris was without a doubt the best all-around talent. He had a distinctive look, fantastic voice and TALENT TALEN TALENT! Taylor got the sympathy vote because Simon's hatred of him made the public feel sorry for him and vote to keep him in every week and his gray hair got the old lady vote. Every year, however, someone gets to the top 3 and knocks off a much more talented singer due to that kind of thing (see Tamyra Gray & Diana Dagarmo during their seasons) and a less talented singer won. I think America only got it right with Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
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3-15-2007 @ 10:31AM
Hellraiser said...
I tend to agree with Simon (not always but most of the time). And I agree with him about Taylor. Taylor always came out to me as the drunk dad on weddings. Sorry, but I still don't get him! Maybe he should compete for some silly show like Wayne Newton's The Entertainer as it's a lot more like him. I'm sure his album doesn't sell because people (even his fans Soul Patrollers) are not interested in listening to him. He's not interesting at all when not seen (for me he's no good no way). Maybe if he released a DVD it would sell better.
Funniest quote from Simon: "Stick it on Taylor's face" - during this year's auditions when a contestant wanted to throw away her chewing gum
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3-20-2007 @ 10:59PM
Just Me in FL said...
Taylor's album is NOTHING like we were led to expect from him. The record company completely screwed up with their influence on him and the songs. I'm waiting for his first album AWAY from the AI PTB.
And I'm a fan and I did go to his first solo tour concert in FL and I'll tell you it was SPECTACULAR! The song arrangements were 1000% better than the way they were on the CD. Unlike the CD, there was nothing "Michael MacDonaldish" about the songs the way they were done in concert.
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3-21-2007 @ 12:43AM
kathy powers said...
I've never been quite sure why Taylor Hicks won the American Idol Show. He can sing but I don't know that I would even pay to see him at club. He can't dance (he thinks he cans and the audience cheers him on. No wonder his record hasn't reached a million. He is not good enough to be a American Idol. I think the buying audience proves that.
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4-13-2007 @ 10:06PM
sana said...
We sure are hearing alot about Taylor being such a failure when he's selling better than many well respected musicians in his genre. His live shows are going great as well. Taylor is not a pop star, he's a musician and songwriter. Considering the trash fed to the American public as music lately, I think Taylor is a much needed relief.
It seems the competition will never be over to those bitter, twisted people whose favorites did not win. Guess they have nothing better to do than spout negative nonsense.
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