One reason why they weren’t even close is because the amount of promotion wasn’t even close.

Kris doesn’t seem to be the type to generate much spontaneous media interest, does he. Resulting in this being true:

 The people who are supporting him need to convince the ones with the money that Kris will turn a profit for them, but it’s hard to do that when the single isn’t selling, and Kris has such a small base, and is getting very little attention from media outlets, including radio stations being slow to play the song. 

The problem is that because Kris and his music doesn’t generate any spontaneous interest, his supporters won’t be able to convince the ones with money to give him a chance. It’s a vicious circle. 

‘There are a lot of things that 19 could have done to get Kris’ name out
to the public, but they involve doing more than getting him interviews
with people who cover AI, run internet radio shows out of their
basements, or who have internet talk shows that draw a couple of hundred
people.”

Doing more costs more money, though. They’ve looked at the second-album sales of many many Idols. Maybe they just figure that sinking a lot into promotion for a second album has high odds of being a losing proposition. Of course, that tends to be a self-fulfilling prophecy, which seems both unfair and like cutting off your nose to spite your face. But I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the kind of short-sighted calculation they make.

If so many voted for Kris and his music and not for more sinister reasons,  why were the eventual single and album sales not even close?

I will give another reason why sales aren’t even close.  American Idol the tv show and competition is completely separate from the artists/musicians that come out of it.  What I mean is that millions watch the show with no intention of buying or supporting the artists they vote feverishly for during the show’s run.  It’s a sport unto itself that provides pleasure in the moment.  I voted for Elliott Yamin, David Archuleta, & Michael Johns.  However, I have not bought music from any one of those artists.  This year I am likely voting for Jessica or Joshua, but I have no intention of buying their records.  Count me among the millions who will do the same.  Kris is the first contestant (with the exception of KC, whom I did not follow on Idol) whose music I bought post Idol.  I just really connected with Kris and his music.

Honestly, this (baited) discussion regarding Kris just frustrates me beyond belief.  Most fans want him to sell big, but honestly, it’s more important to us (and Kris) that he puts out awesome music.  And I, for one, think he has after hearing the snippets.  Plenty of artists have careers without selling millions of records at once.  I am thinking of the Matt Nathansons/Mat Kearneys/James Morrisons of this world.  All are artists I really like, putting out quality music to the smaller masses.  If Kris doesn’t ever achieve more than that, I think he and his fans will be more than happy with that kind of success.

The only thing wrong with these snippets is they keep ending right when I’m really into the song. Grrrr.
 
I am so happy with everything I’ve heard so far from Kris’ second album.  He has every reason to be proud.  There’s not a bum song in the bunch – as much as I can tell from snippets – and the only songs I’m neutral on are Turn the Pages and Fighters.  Seeing as those are the bonus songs on the Deluxe version, that just shows that Kris had a good sense of which were the strongest songs and put them on the Standard album.
 
I am in the camp that My Weakness should be the second single (presuming Kris gets one).  I also love Monster, Better With You, and the Meiko duet.
 
The biggest surprise to me is how much I love You Got a Way.  When the track listing first came out, I thought there were too many romantic ballads and YGAW was the weakest so it should have been a bonus track.  Now I think I will love it the most of the ballads because his voice just gets to me on that song. (Though I also have to give a shout out to Teach Me How Love Goes.  That seems to be a love it or hate it song and I love it.)

Is that a xylophone playing in Monster?