Jason Castro Signs with Word Records

By On 03/02/2012 · 25 Comments · In American Idol, Jason Castro

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Season 7 Idol alum, Jason Castro, has signed with Word records. His debut album was released on Atlantic in 2010, but when Christian radio and retailers expressed an interest in Jason’s music, Word came on board to re-package his album for the Christian market. Who Am I hit stores in November of 2010

Now it’s been decided Word will lead the way on Jason’s sophomore release.

“We’ve been working together for a long time,” says Jason “After awhile, we all came to the conclusion that, for this next record, it might be good for Word to lead the way.”

“It all fell into place in a really natural way,” he says. “And I’m not try to just go and become a ‘Christian artist.’ That’s never been my goal. So this next album, I think it’ll be a continuation of what we started on the first album, just a much truer version.”

Jason plans to enter the studio in April or May to record the new album. He hopes to release in September. “I’ve been doing a lot of writing over the last few months.”

Via USAToday

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000493693258 Teresa Renee Parvin

    Awesome Jason! Too bad a lot of your fans will go apeshit over this news and not be interested in your music any longer.

  • Anonymous

    As they do with every other alum, his AI fans who don’t like his music have already moved on.  It’s not like his secular single, EP or album sold well.  It’s more important that Jason release the type of music that he’s comfortable with, and not try to please anyone else.

  • Anonymous

    I’m excited for his next album!  I hope it’s a much stronger album that his first one.

  • http://twitter.com/raya4 raya

    I don’t think his fans would go ape at this point in the game.  In the first, many knew this was in the works for several months and secondly, most of those fickle type fans would be gone already.  Plus if my understanding is correct, he’s still connected with Atlantic in some form.  It’s just Word is taking the lead on the album.  He’s also said repeatedly that he doesn’t want to limit himself to just doing Christian music, so I don’t think there is anything for anyone to be upset about really.  He got some traction on Christian radio previously, so it’s not surprise they would continue in that direction.

  • Anonymous

    I think Jason Castro only sold about 50,000 albums or so to his AI fans, and that was a few years ago.  How many do you think he would sell to that same fan base for a sophomore release, which usually sells less than the debut?  I think he has a better shot at success at doing what he loves to do and aiming for a new fan base at this point, honestly.

  • Niall

    If he gains traction in the Christian music market ge could easily garner Dove nominations and gain a big following. Too bad he didn’t embrace this direction straight off of AI. He’s lost time, fans, and momentum. He was never going to be mainstream. Hopefully Colton Dixon, another kid custom made for CCR, has taken note.

  • Anonymous

    I’m happy for Jason.  He is married with a child and this may give him a little more financial security.  

  • http://twitter.com/Loretta31 Loretta

    I still love Jason and his tone, emoting and message.

    His first cd IMO was over produced and that took away from Jason.  It is his rawness that is the draw.  For me anyway.

  • Anonymous

    He’s too cute for the Christian market.
    Hehe.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SYFK77IYLRQIVATQ2MJKSW2J7Y Pam

    At least some of Jason’s fans knew he was a Christian during his time on AI and if they didn’t, they certainly know it by now.  Most of his fans probably realized from the beginning that Jason was a Christian and won’t be too affected by this either way.  I’m thrilled for Jason that Word has signed him.  I agree with Niall that this was probably the direction he should have gone in from the very beginning. 

    He seems like a very nice, sweet, and very sincere human being.  I’m glad he’s found happiness with his soul mate Mandy and hopefully is enjoying being a daddy.  I wish him nothing but the best as he takes this big step in his future. 

  • Anonymous

    Love Jason!!! My favorite ever, happy for him

  • breakdown

    Jason is doing what he loves to do. That’s all that matters.

  • Anonymous

    I’m confused as to whether he still has a deal with Atlantic or is just with Word?

    I haven’t heard much of his music since he came off Idol, but he seems happy with this direction, so good for him. Hopefully Word will do a good job working with him.

  • http://twitter.com/cindydesigns Cindy

    So happy for Jason! (:  I loved his debut album and his “Who Am I” release!! 

  • http://twitter.com/crackletlightin B

    I haven’t been too interested in his latest songs but I certainly want him to do well and do what he wants to do. I’m just not into the Chrstian genre really – so I hope he also puts out more secular style songs too – I have always thought he has a lovely tone of voice.

  • http://twitter.com/KariannHart Kariann Hart

    Ah…my dear sweet Jason.  I hope this will be your big break.  A more secular song can be weaved into the album.  He’ll be doing what he wants to do.

    I knew of Jason’s Christian lifestyle when reading that Brooke White held prayer before each show with several others.

  • Anonymous

    There are a lot of great voices in the Christian music genre.  Happy that Jason has this opportunity.   Will definitely look into what he puts out.

  • Anonymous

    Good for Jason. I always liked him and this label seems like a good fit for him.

  • Incipit

    Good for Jason – sounds like a wider distribution, and that can’t hurt. He was my second favorite artist on Season7 – from the night he did “What a Day For a Daydream” – he had that easy approach that suited the song so well. 

    The actual Jason couldn’t be much further from all those ‘oh so funny’ blog assumptions during Idol that he was some sort of Stoner, because of the dreads. His friends said differently – and Jason just ignored it.

    He’s worked hard at his career; I wish him much success with his music, and happiness with his family.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Violet-Morris/100000517025345 Violet Morris

    Very excited and can’t wait to hear some new music from one of my favorites on American Idol season 7.  I loved his first album and have gotten to see him perform live a few times – he is great!  Congratulations Jason!!!

  • revcat

    Jason is a cutie; I have a couple of his songs but like most people nowadays don’t buy many CDs (which is why everything but the country music market is in the toilet). Nothing against the Christian market or Jason, but I think Colton has a chance to succeed in a bigger market. He is definitely one to watch this season among others, am interested to see what he does next. Jimmy is right though, gonna be hard to top the theatrics of his last performance.

  • MissMyEm

    And I’m not try to just go and become a ‘Christian artist.’ That’s never been my goal. So this next album, I think it’ll be a continuation of what we started on the first album, just a much truer version.”

    I absolutely adore Jason Castro and have since he sang Daydream during Season 7.   I loved his first CD and was disappointed that the songs “Let’s Just Fall In Love Again” and “That’s What I’m Here For”, two songs which I absolutely loved, never got added to any station’s playlist.   I often wondered if Atlantic Records, a label that at one time embraced Jason, floundered.   So in one respect, I’m glad he’s with another label, but I sincerely hope they don’t make him into an ONLY Christian artist.   I am not a Christian, but no matter I just don’t care for music that preaches about God in any religion because IMO, religion is very subjective and everyone has a right to believe and practice in whatever way and howsoever they choose.

    So I sincerely hope, as Jason says in the above article and the portion I put in itals, that there will be more music like his first CD which I thought was great.   I feel Jason is more like a Jason Mraz type and while I’ve heard it say that he’s not current or his music doesn’t fit into any category, I say hogwash to that.   If Mraz is current then so is Castro.

    Anyway, I wish Jason all the best wishes in the world and I hope I’ll be able to hear him on the radio, on CDs and in concert with songs that are other than Christian, even though I don’t mind if he does go partly into that genre.   I want him to be successful no matter what.   So if it has to be only Christian music, so be it.  

    Whatever it is, I hope Jason remains true to himself.

  • fuzzywuzzy

    “I just don’t care for music that preaches about God in any religion
    because IMO, religion is very subjective and everyone has a right to
    believe and practice in whatever way and howsoever they choose.”

    Totally agree. 

  • Anonymous

    I heard Let’s Just Fall In Love Again in CVS last week. So at least he must be making some money from it. Don’t know how that works, but I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong. :/

    Anyhow, I really like that song – also thought his first CD was great. Don’t agree with whoever said it was overproduced – mostly, it has an acoustic vibe, doesn’t it?

  • Anonymous

    I agree with that, but I also think if an artist believes something it’s their right to sing songs about it.

    I don’t like ‘preachy’ music at all, and I’m especially a fan of religious music. But then, most Christian music that I have heard, from artists like Starfield, for example, isn’t preachy. Or Warren Barfield. He’s a very good artist. I think Mat Kearney also is a Christain artist, isn’t he? Have any of you ever heard of Family Force 5? Check them out, I think you’ll be surprised, if not stunned.