Idol Headlines for 12/27/07

Hello everyone…. :bye_tb:
….Back from Christmas in Atlanta! I hope everyone had a safe and Happy Holiday!
I just read the article on Blake *getting screwed* on American Idol. I would love to tell Blake that I really appreciate his candor but he had better be careful. His ole pal Taylor Hicks sure had to learn *what not to say* in an interview. It could come back and bite ya….really hard! hmy_tb:
He seems so happy with everything….I sure hope that continues! Pix

Numbers this week are pretty thin on the ground. The only report I’ve seen so far has been BB.

7 Carrie Underwood “Carnival Ride” 216K (57%; lw 137K) Total ~1.63M (9)
44 Blake Lewis “Audio Day Dream” 55K (-4%; lw 57,900) Total ~211K (32)

For those following the Josh story, his sales were up for a fifth week (13%) and he moved 757K copies. That means he moved around 3.6M units since October. Mary J Blige debuted with 629K. Alicia moved 474K (up 62%), The Eagles 313K (up 30%), and Hannah Montana 260K (up 46%).

It was a pretty good week for sales. Only 3 albums in the top 50 sold fewer albums than the week before. There were 25.57 million albums sold, up 42% from the week before, but down 18% from the same week last year (31.26 million)

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003689227

The fact that TPTB wanted Jordin to win was confirmed when they chose that crappy song as the coronation song. I mean why not just crown her and get it over with already! It was so obvious. Blake hated the song, you could tell by the way he meandered through it with a smirk on his face. Totally unfair. I’m glad he’s speaking out now. Makes me feel better.

Just in case you’ve forgotten…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0GayA1ZU3M&feature=related

Odd that the songwriters are from Seattle. And you know what, on second listen, he really didn’t do that bad on it. Hmmmm.

TPTB may have wanted Jordin to win but does it matter that she did? Seems like she and Blake are getting similiar promo. I don’t think winning Idol means too much anymore. S5 ended that with the winner not selling a million and being outsold by that 4th place guy. It didn’t seem to me that Blake cared about winning Idol at all. I think the show has lost its way and this could be that jump the shark year. (Unless it was S6).

Time will tell… If the viewing public starts getting the idea that winning doesn’t really matter and they stop being as invested (by watchind and voting), it could spell bad things for AI.

S5 really gave the appearance that winning was inconsequential – seemed as if most efforts were put into Chris’s promo and Taylor and Kat were kind of left swinging in the wind. With S6, it appears to me that #1 and #2 are getting totally equal treatment… jmo

The fact that TPTB wanted Jordin to win was confirmed when they chose that crappy song as the coronation song. I mean why not just crown her and get it over with already! It was so obvious.

TPTB didn’t choose the song. The voters did.

Sure, TPTB picked the crappy 20 songs the voters had to choose from, but there were songs in the bunch that might have worked better for Blake.

And Coronation songs have always sucked and favoured belters like Jordin. It’s the entire nature of Coronation songs to be all about soaring glory notes. TPTB (with the very vocal exception of Simon) probably did want a Jordin win, but they aren’t to blame for the song in this case.

If Blake wants to complain about being screwed, blame the voters.

If Blake wants to complain about being screwed, blame the voters.

I totally forgot about the fact that the song was selected by the voters… But then again, I wasn’t paying close attention.

I wonder if there will be a songwriters contest this year? I hope not. It was a complete waste of time. The song it produced was just as bad as anything the producers picked, so why bother.

Of course, the voters chose that song. I wasn’t paying attention either. Even if winning doesn’t matter, S7 could still be fun if they have entertaining contestants. I’m just nervous they’ll go all out with pros who can get Top 40 hits for them. We’ll see how the ratings are. I just wonder how many more hours of bad auditions people can watch. Idol could really use a little duckling that becomes a swan during the season. The ones who already have careers recording music, singing back up for stars, kind of bore me.

BTW I just checked an voting for that contest ended on May 8th. At that point in the contest, there were still four contestants (that was final 4 performance night). Both Lakisha and Melinda could probably have blown Jordin out of the water with that song.

If TPTB rigged the voting for TIMN, they were taking a chance that “their favourite” wouldn’t win. At that point, they had no guarantee that Blake would make the final (or even Jordin would for that matter…TPTB favourites have not always made the finale).

And, if TPTB rigged the voting for TIMN, we can assume that they rig all the voting, so then it’s all pointless anyway.

I agree that TIMN sucks, but I don’t think its selection is an indication of Blake getting screwed by TPTB. Not being able to re-arrange it probably did hurt him. But, it didn’t help that he himself chose a key for the song that he obviously couldn’t sing the song in (and he admits to that in the linked MTV interview).

Kirsten, you’re right, of course. S6 was so forgettable that I actually forgot the songwriting contest. As for S7, I will probably record the audition episodes and watch them sans commercials. That way, they don’t count towards the ratings (I don’t think anyway), and I can speed through the carp and watch the good people. If they show any good people!

I think having all good people in the top 24 would be refreshing. I don’t need another Sanjaya or Antonella, that’s for sure. If everyone is good, the show is more dramatic because you really won’t be able to predict who will be eliminated. The playing field is leveled and it should be entertaining. Sure, it’s more fun when there are “ducklings” in the mix, but I think the show has moved past that, unfortunately, and we’ll have more of a NGAB feel this year – people who’ve been in the business but haven’t made it for one reason or another.

I don’t recall the other 19 songs, but I do recall that “This is My Now” was the worst of the lot.

I obviously didn’t vote enough times.

Poor Blake. Tsk, tsk, tsk. I can’t help but wonder how he would have faired if he’d auditioned for Season 5.

Does anybody have an update on what the other S6 folk are doing. We know Phil has a contract; Jordin & blake recording artists; Lakeisha on Broadway, but the others? anybody?

Daughtry album sales update from RCA at http://www.daughtryofficial.com/node/54119

In the US:
Album is up from #28 to #21 for the week ending 12/23/07!
107.2k sold! (up 80% this week)!
3.575 million scanned to date!

I’m delighted that the Daughtry CD sold over 100,000 during Week 57. What a nice birthday gift for Chris! :clap_tb:

Does anybody have an update on what the other S6 folk are doing. We know Phil has a contract; Jordin & blake recording artists; Lakeisha on Broadway, but the others? anybody?

I’ll be posting an update this week

The ones who already have careers recording music, singing back up for stars, kind of bore me.

This is how I feel too. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out. I know AI7 is starting soon but I’m more excited about Ace putting his cd out after the first of the year. Yep, I’m still trying to break out of AI5. I’m trying!

I hope AI does NOT have another songwriting contest – blech.

Album is up from #28 to #21 for the week ending 12/23/07!
107.2k sold! (up 80% this week)!
3.575 million scanned to date!

That’s effing incredible! 57th Week!? Better than Blake’s first week. LOL.. We can start the count down to 4,000,000 now..

Blake can blame the voters for the song, AND for wasting 4 hours calling for him when he didn’t even want to win.

If Blake wants to complain about being screwed, blame the voters.

This is true, but do we really know that our votes were really counted? Haha…. :tongue_wink_ee:

I don’t think it is a bad AI coronation song, it just doesn’t fit Blake’s vocal styling. I don’t think he did that bad with what he was given.

As far as promo for non-winners and winners go, in Season 5 Taylor DID get good promo at the beginning. His CD didn’t catch on with the general public though, and so TPTB were not going to continue to invest money into something the public had little interest in. This is how I saw it. I think people either don’t know the initial timeline of tv appearances for each of the idols, or forgot. They then continue to use “promo” as an excuse for success, or lack of. This is a business, and TPTB are not going to continue to pump money into something that will not return a profit. As far as I know, Taylor’s winning contract was fulfilled and IMO that is all the more AI is obligated to do. I’ve heard a lot of complaints about no video for Taylor, but for all we know that could have been Taylor’s decision. I do agree that a single should have been pushed earlier, but I don’t think it would have done much for the album sales anyway. The songs on Taylor’s CD don’t fit the big radio formats and a hit on Adult Contemporary radio, where Taylor’s songs could have gotten more exposure, don’t translate to sales most of the time–just look at Kimberly Locke. An artist needs success on other mainstream radio formats, and I think most Taylor fans would agree that Taylor isn’t mainstream pop, rock, or country. I have never thought that Taylor was the type to want to be a pop radio/tv star. I think he is more into touring and making a decent living out doing what he enjoys doing. He seems to be a very private person and isn’t looking to be a high profile celebrity with paparazzi following him around for the rest of his life. That is how I have always viewed him, anyway.

Season 6 is a whole ‘nother thing. Blake and Jordin have both had pretty poor idol debut sales. I don’t think Blake’s video has had much tv exposure, and the single isn’t doing very well on radio. It will be interesting to see if promo for Blake stops. I really like Blake and think his album has a lot of potential, but if the PTB don’t feel the same way I guess I can’t blame them if they don’t continue to put money into promo for him.
Jordin has done well on radio, her video has had a lot of exposure on VH1, and she has some great upcoming gigs. I think more money has been put into her promo, but so far it hasn’t translated into sales of her CD. Her single has done well digitally though. It will also be interesting to see if her radio/tv and digital sales success translates into even more promo, or if the poor CD sales overrides all that and promo $$ decreases. I don’t see Jordin as a big touring force in 2008, unless she begins to appeal to the tweens.

foxydonna, unless you have a Neilson box, I don’t think that you watching the show, live or not, will have any effect on the ratings. Although the technology is probably there to gauge ratings based on feedback from the cable companies, I’m pretty sure they still go by Neilson for ratings. (though I admit I could be totally off base)

Oh WOW on Daughtry’s album sales this week! That’s GREAT!

As far as promo for non-winners and winners go, in Season 5 Taylor DID get good promo at the beginning.

I admit complete and total ignorance on this. Since I was an Elliott fan, I really wasn’t paying that much attention to what Taylor was doing right after thw show ended. I was just hoping against hope that Elliott would put out a cd. Once the dust settled and I learned an Elliott cd was forthcoming, I started paying more attention and then it seemed that the majority of the promo was going to Chris. I guess you’re right Shabby. TPTB put their money on a sure thing – smart business move.

Dang I killed the blog…

Not sure if anyone posted it yet (sorry MJ if it’s already been posted) but I thought the Idols Power Ranking was interesting on AOL’s Popeater section. Not sure if Jordin is indeed the 5th most “powerful” Idol but these rankings are always good for debate.

I guess I’ll join in the amazement at Daughtry’s sales. An 80% increase is incredible.

Not sure if anyone posted it yet (sorry MJ if ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s already been posted) but I thought the Idols Power Ranking was interesting on AOLà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Popeater section. Not sure if Jordin is indeed the 5th most à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“powerfulà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Idol but these rankings are always good for debate.

I think it’s a little early to place either Jordan OR Blake in that ‘powerful’ Idol category frankly.

ETA: And certainly while I’m no fan of Katharine McPhee, to place Blake HIGHER than her – what the heck is up with THAT?! While her cd wasn’t successful, she did chart pretty well with her first single, plus she’s been squatting & blowing kisses on the red carpet and on every teen and men’s magazine since the end of AI5.

I tell ya what , though….. Jordin kicked arse at that Kennedy Center Award-u-r-so-great-and still-alive Show-thingy. She did Diana Ross’s song ! But then Rowlanda Adams(sp?) blew the house down. Oh…..and …. how the hell are ya’ all ?????

I think the problem with the song this season was that it was one song for both of them instead of individual picks that would suit each one more. Probably the intent was that the final 2 would both be big voice singers so it wouldn’t have mattered. I can’t think of one of the songs that I actually liked from any of the seasons and this one’s no different.

Wow for Chris’ numbers. :thumbup_tb:

TPTB (with the very vocal exception of Simon) probably did want a Jordin win

PROBABLY? I think they cemented that fact beginning with the early weekly reminder that Jordin was ONLY! 17!

The point that I got from the article was that Blake was not allowed to arrange the song however he might have wanted to, and THAT is why he felt screwed. Yeah it was a sucky song to begin with, and he acknowledged that, but the big point to me was the rearrangement issue. Which, by the way, is something that TPTB didn’t seem to have a problem with the whole rest of the season – at least not until it really mattered.

Maybe Blake got screwed by not being able to rearrange the song but I disagree that winning “really matters.” Other than probably some more $ spent on her video, what did Jordin get that Blake hasn’t. They get similar promo,top producers on the album, etc.

However, since Break Anotha looks like its flopping and Jordin looks like she’s got more Top 40 hits coming, the different treatment may start pretty soon. They’re pretty cold hearted in Idol world.

I tell ya what , thoughà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦.. Jordin kicked arse at that Kennedy Center Award-u-r-so-great-and still-alive Show-thingy.

Really? I didn’t think her song was very good at all. I guess I just compared it to the original.

Although Jordin is talented I find her singing to be boring. I guess one man’s trash is another’s treasure or whatever that saying is.

I hope Season 7 is even half as good for me as Season 5 but frankly I won’t hold my breath. I still watch videos of Season 5 and never seem to tire of them.

Blake said the song was crap and agreed that after he heard it he thought he was toast, especially since he wasn’t allowed to re-arrange it. However, unless he wrote the headline, I fail to see that he said he felt screwed by the show.

Anyway, I’m not one for conspiracy theories. I don’t really care who they wanted to win (if they indeed wanted Jordin). That really doesn’t matter once the show is over. I think Blake is getting good promo. He’s not getting great airplay. Is that the fault of the label or the fault of the song? He and Jordin are on two different labels. Is Jordin getting payola and Blake not? Who knows? No way to tell, really.

As for the idea of integrity of the show, that just makes me laugh. They’ve signed the runner-up since season one. I don’t see why any subsequent seasons are any different.

I really did expect Blake to do better initially on radio. However, for me, the last couple of weeks before the holidays are a wash. Our local pop stations play a hella lot of re-runs and other holiday filler. If radio play doesn’t pick up by mid-January (after the Fox NYE gig,Leno and Kimmel), I’ll be more worried.

TPTB always give the advantage to the person they want to win with the coronation song.

Season 1 that song was so obviously written for a female that Guarini had no shot.

Season 2 I actually thought was pretty fair- they had 2 different songs and I thought they both did well.

Season 3 definitely favored Fantasia- the style of the song was written specifically with her mind. The full gospel choir definitely got waaaaaaay more into than they did for Diana’s performance. And of course her singing the song very last and Diana singing it first were just a few ways that they made sure that song won the competition for Fantasia.

Season 4 definitely favored Carrie. The song suited her style more and since it wasn’t her best song- they put her performance of it in the middle leaving “Angels Brought Me Here” for the end. Thus, voters of course remembered that version of the song that made her get teary and she won easily.

Season 5 I think they wanted a male winner so badly- they couldn’t have them both sing the same song because when that happens the girl always wins. Note that this was the ONLY time that male vs. female had DIFFERENT coronation songs and it was the only time that the male has beaten a female in an opposite gender finale. Both of the songs really sucked- but there is no question that Taylor got much a better song that was much more suited to him.

Season 6 the song was obviously suited for Jordin. Granted it was chosen by the viewers but that type of song was clearly better for her.

So really what happened in season 6 is really just history repeating itself like it has done almost every season.

Both of the songs really sucked- but there is no question that Taylor got much a better song that was much more suited to him.

Some meaningless trivia.. Taylor’s coronation song started out belonging to Elliott. Taylor didn’t like his chosen coronation song so when Elliott got the boot, he asked to have his song. Somewhere in the AI archives lurks Elliott’s version of DIMYP. I must admit as a hardcore Elliott fan, I’d love to hear his take on it but I’m sure I never will.

XO, I think we get our Kat/Elliott duet in January. I’m looking forward to hearing how it sounds!

PROBABLY?

I stand by the probably. None of us truly know what TPTB wanted. It’s likely that they wanted a Jordin win, but I can’t read minds yet, so I say “probably”.

If there has to be a coronation song, I’m in favor of ONE song for both finalists (separate songs seems like bet-hedging on the part of the “powers”). I think it would need to be a song that is, you know, actually GOOD (i.e. a well-constructed song that stands on its own in verse/course/brige, etc. and doesn’t require a lot of melismatic runs, wailing, scatting, glory notes or other fillers), and the two finalists would need to be allowed some liberty in arranging their performances (no major changing of lyrics or melody, but give them enough freedom to shine or enough rope to hang themselves) then I think it’d be fair.

…verse/CHORUS (etc.), that is.