Not every American Idol winner or runner-up has the massive success of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. In just the last three weeks, Sony BMG has dropped three AI contestants/winners from its record label.The latest to be dropped is season five runner-up Katharine McPhee. She released an album in 2006 that has only sold about 365,000 copies, according to MTV news.
Also dropped from Sony record labels are winners Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard. Hicks' self-titled album is the first from an Idol winner that did not sell 1 million copies. As for Studdard, his 2006 album sold only 230,000 copies. Yikes.
Last season's Idol was pretty bland with Blake and Jordin in the top two spots. Idol returns January 15th, hopefully with some new and exciting talent.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-12-2008 @ 3:48PM
Tristan said...
How many has Jordin Sparks been able to sell!?
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1-12-2008 @ 4:02PM
Galley said...
Taylor Hicks is a joke; its no wonder he didn't sell many albums. Ruben Studdard never impressed me, either.
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1-12-2008 @ 6:09PM
pattispage said...
The only reason mcphee hasn't got more followers is her 43yr old daddy/fiance. Let's look back from American Idol and you'll see that she was building fans an momentum until she started mentioning her 43 yr old boyfriend Nick Cokas. Touting herself as a role model for young girls didn't go over well with her daddy/fiance following her around everywhere she toured.She does have a great voice and she could probably have been a fan favorite had it not been for her craze for this jerk who has been a failure as an actor and producer. Next for her is the marriage and that will just about end any hopes for her being a success unless she winds up in playboy or nude roles in films. You'll most likely hear pregnancy news as soon as she is married to her 43 yr old daddy/fiance pervert.Good Luck Katharine Cokas and don't forget to stock up on viagra.
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1-13-2008 @ 11:45PM
Phish said...
it sounds to me like your husband left you for a much younger woman!
how old and ugly have you become?
1-13-2008 @ 12:23AM
BigTed said...
It's no coincidence that the most successful former "Idol," Kelly Clarkson, has largely distanced herself from the show (or that Carrie Underwood performs does a country act that isn't really connected to "Idol"). While "Idol" gives performers a huge start to their careers that they probably couldn't get any other way, all the other influence it has on their careers afterwards (the sappy ballads, the lousy albums, the dopey tour, etc.) makes them seem like cheesy has-beens from the moment the show is over.
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1-13-2008 @ 2:18AM
Lenny said...
When the headline reads, "American Idol Dropped From Airwaves" that will be a good day.
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1-13-2008 @ 7:13AM
trollhair said...
Can't agree with you on dropping it American Idol altogether. The auditions and rejects are sooo funny. That is what the show is all about. The lousy singers and the comments and facial expressions from the judges.
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1-13-2008 @ 11:16AM
Oreo said...
Kelly Clarkson isn't doing that well either, her fame is finally dieing because everyone is now seeing the real, bitch side of her.
No one cares about Katharine McPhee's singing, they rather watch her in porn than listen to her sing. Hmm... American Idol the porno featuring Katharine McPhee. That would sell millions!
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1-13-2008 @ 12:08PM
Captain Obvious said...
Simon was right about Carrie Underwood, that's for sure. She will be a star long after everyone else has been dropped by their labels, developed drug habits, gone to rehab, and appeared on their own E! reality show.
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1-13-2008 @ 12:09PM
pattispage said...
You mccokas fans need to come to reality! Well Step 1 has happend with her being dropped by her label.I'll just sit back now and watch what happens when she has her wedding to her daddy/pervert.That will be step 2 in the destruction of a promising career.Step 3 will be the pregnancy news is known and then its all over, so get "OVER IT".From some of her remarks in the past she might be diagnosed with a mental issue over her wanting older men? Anyway McCokas fans We'll see in time if someone wants to invest in her career when they see the same thing that most of the public sees.
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1-13-2008 @ 1:56PM
sitruc said...
This isn't surprising. It can even be argued that it is easier to be successful if you don't win. If the singer doesn't win, they are less likely to be stuck trying to gather as broad an audience as possible with a generic sound outside of their preferred genre. One of the flaws of the show is people sing to win and don't sing what they really like how they want much of the time. Contestants may build a fan base with their sound, but that doesn't translate into sales since ballads and pop songs from the past aren't going to make up their entire album. Instead of allowing the contestant to find their niche on the show and then make the most of that, they are forced to be as generic as possible and some of the producers aren't smart enough to realize the problem with that.
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1-13-2008 @ 3:25PM
AJ said...
Carrie Underwood is so popular because she sings country. Country hicks come out of nowhere and purchase albums because they can't figure out how to illegally download music.
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1-13-2008 @ 4:20PM
LC said...
So the only reason they won't do something illegal because they can't figure it out? Quite the leap there fella.
It couldn't possible be because Underwood may possibly be putting out better songs than the other Idol pop. Nah. What was I thinking bringing logic into this.
1-13-2008 @ 6:42PM
Nathan Lott said...
Taylor Hicks should go independent with a blues or roots music label because that stuff was good. This pop schlock he had to do wasn't his style.
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1-13-2008 @ 7:15PM
Barfly said...
Katharine is in negotiations with another major label, her next album will be produced by David Foster, so she's gonna land on her feet. RCA looks bad on this one, because they totally mismanaged her, made stupid decisions, and then Kat, who only put out a tremendous album for them, has her option declined. If her album didn't sell to their expectations, they have nobody but themselves to blame, and many people, even some in the industry, realize it. That label has turned into a trainwreck. Time for the board of directors to decline CLIVE'S option, and shake up the entire label.
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1-14-2008 @ 8:07AM
Dave said...
Like Simon always says, song choice is critical. Kat's album didn't sell because the songs on it are crap. She's a beautiful girl with a beautiful voice but she's signing 'songs' that don't show off her talent.
Taylor's album is teriffic. If you haven't heard it you are missing out on some good music. It's nothing like the crap he had to sing on Idol. It's good songs with a good band and his soulful vocals are great.
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2-08-2008 @ 7:04PM
Bernie Sherman said...
Taylor Hicks,great stage performer;Vegas baby!!! Katherine tremendous voice;sang with the blind romance singer. They need to put out a recording together;fantastic!!!! 43 yrs.old boyfriend good for her.This is an insanely youth oriented society. All you young punks are just jealous!!!! Get it up any way you can. You don't need a hard one to have a women love you..Listen to what they say and treat them as equals is the answer. Youth is wasted on the young. Hang around long enough and you will develop some wisdom.
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2-09-2008 @ 1:47PM
JDC said...
Seems Like second season Kimberley Locke is doing consistently well. Very Diverse but on the airwaves alot!
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