Lee DeWyze Dropped By RCA Records

By On 10/06/2011 · 248 Comments · In American Idol

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We saw this coming, right?  The Hollywood Reporter confirms That Lee DeWyze has been dropped by RCA Records:

He avoided elimination all through his American Idol run, but Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze has reached the end of the road at RCA Records.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter last week, newly appointed RCA Records CEO Peter Edge confirmed that the 25-year-old DeWyze is no longer on the label. Under Sony Music CEO Doug Morris, who took the reigns in July, RCA has absorbed the rosters of Jive, Arista and J Records, all labels which have seen their share of Idols signings, both winners and runners up.

Lee continues to be managed by 19 and is working on new music. His option officially expired in September. Lee’s post-Idol debut, 010’s Live It Up, sold just over 168K.

A rep for Lee says he’s “in a good place right now” and is working on several projects.

 
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  • fuzzywuzzy

    The place seats 200 people no matter who is playing there. So, what’s the difference?

    The size of the venue is not the only point. I think that you should read the first part of my post, which explains why I think that it was a diss to Lee. JMO

  • Tal.

    Clearly, it’s not the same situation when huge, established artists play this venue. I still think that it was a diss to Lee. JMO.

    dosent matter the size of the vanue, its a respectfull place that many great artist played in

    as for the drop… in the end , it should have not happened, 170,000 album sales is still profit , also when considering the fact thay didnt spend money to promot him , and his single was doing decent… thay could have kept him

    also its funny how the media wakes up once a bad thing happen to lee, but when its a good thing like the single release , thay wont say anything about it, lee is a pretty big headline maker considering he is “the worst idol”

  • Elliegrll

    I read those comments and understand what he’s saying. Still, for the general public, I think that the perception (and reality to some extent) is still that Idol is a huge platform and gives anyone (or should give anyone) who wins it a big advantage in launching a music career, and historically, it does.

    I don’t think the general public gives this as much thought as you think they do. You say that historically idol has given people a big boost, but as I mentioned earlier, people who don’t follow R&B have no clue about what Ruben and Fantasia are or have done. The same is true with Carrie Underwood. Most people just know her for Before He Cheats, and nothing else.

    More importantly, Edge has said that those who have done well have had good songs and good A&R. This is what matters. Kelly’s popularity and level of success skyrocketed with the release of Breakaway, Carrie’s with BHC, but she was seeing a lot of success before that with the other songs that she released. If people don’t have the songs, and aren’t marketed correctly, the idol fanbase doesn’t matter.

    I agree with the opinion that was stated earlier, Lee was thrown out to the public with very little fanfare, promotion, or anyone trying to deal with the negative remarks concerning his season of AI. There was no way that this environment was going to lead to him selling a lot of records. Add to that that his song was pretty much a failure, as well as a poor representation of who he is, and he didn’t stand a chance.

  • Trina

    I understand what you mean fuzzy. I think the fact that the writer even pointed out it was “tiny” makes it a diss. Why refer to it as tiny? They make it sound like a small place for new artists trying to catch a break and don’t bother mentioning Katy, Jason, etc played there.

  • happyhexer

    Well, I will only say that I like (and have bought) some of Lee’s pre-Idol songs, but I don’t care for his post-Idol CD with RCA at all. So I am hoping that his next CD (and I think there will be one, one way or the other) will be better.

    Lee has some problems, but when he sings the right songs well, he’s quite good. My personal favorite is “Annabelle.”

  • aprilfoolish

    I do think all the new shows have hurt idol. Glee has all these good looking almost-30′s playing kids singing like they are on broadway, and I think it makes people think those on idol should be that polished. And so many offerings on iTunes that people have to decide who gets their disposable cash. When idol first started, I heard many say they bought the album to support artist and didn’t like it. Now people can preview.
    All I’m saying is the picture is constantly changing.
    Good luck Lee. Looking forward to the next part of your journey.

  • tripp_ncwy

    If you go back and read some of the interview that Peter Edge & Tom Corson have given, they specifically talk about artist development. So, the artists that remain on RCA are artists who have already proved themselves & others they believe they can develop into successful a recording artist thus greater focus on A&R. Artist development does not happen over night but the artist themselves have to be willing to accept help & direction to build a successful career in whatever genre they are in.

  • Dlynne

    I’m looking forward to what Lee does next. I know I will love it.

    As far as RCA is concerned, I say good riddance. RCA treated Lee like an indie artist from day one. They did very little to promote him or the album, while maintaining creative control. Now he can do his own thing. I see him having a career on par with Ryan Adams, which would be perfect for him. He has a large enough fan base to continue doing what he loves without having to compromise on the music he makes.

  • fuzzywuzzy

    I don’t think the general public gives this as much thought as you think they do. You say that historically idol has given people a big boost, but as I mentioned earlier, people who don’t follow R&B have no clue about what Ruben and Fantasia are or have done. The same is true with Carrie Underwood. Most people just know her for Before He Cheats, and nothing else.

    I’m talking about the initial boost to an Idol’s career, and historically, it’s been true of the vast majority of winners and many non-winners. In that regard, I do think that the industry, public (and Idol viewers) have the reasonable expectation that any Idol who drew 10s of millions of votes would have a ready-made fanbase that would facilitate launching a career, and I don’t think that this is an unreasonable assumption given the circumstances. It’s in parlaying this initial success into becoming an established artist where the comments by Edge come more into play.

    I understand what you mean fuzzy. I think the fact that the writer even pointed out it was “tiny” makes it a diss. Why refer to it as tiny? They make it sound like a small place for new artists trying to catch a break and don’t bother mentioning Katy, Jason, etc played there.

    Yes, it was the way that the author described this venue combined with the tone of the preceding part of the article that made me believe that it was an intentional diss.

  • Elliegrll

    I’m talking about the initial boost to an Idol’s career

    Idol fans are fans of the reality show contestant, and may or may not be fans of the music. Idol fans buy cds without hearing the music, and they become fans of someone, even when that person is producing music that doesn’t fit into a genre that they normally listen to or like. It happens every year, people who never listen to country music suddenly become country fans, because their favorite is releasing a country album. The problem with this is that for the most part, these people aren’t going to truly change their tastes. They may start out listening to country stations, and doing other things to support their favorite, but over time they will drop that artist, and latch on to another reality show contestant.

    This type of boost isn’t helping anyone’s career. It results in inflated album sales, but pretty much just for the first album, and that’s about it. It doesn’t give anyone any credibility, in fact, some PDs have used it as an excuse to not play an alum’s songs. The person who wrote that nasty story about Scotty before the season was over pointed to him having so many fans who don’t like country music as a negative, and an example of why he shouldn’t be taken seriously. This is why A&R is so important, because a good A&R rep knows how to develop artists so that they will connect with the demographic who is willing to buy their music.

  • aprilfoolish

    Lee has some news. He tweeted tonight.

    Cool news, I’ll have some live recordings from my LA shows available for download soon, I’ll keep you posted. Thanks for everything guys :)
    Twitter for iPhone • 10/6/11 9:57 PM

    and earlier he was in studio with Rune who had a part in Daughtry’s single.

  • Brook52

    I am sure that Lee will release another album. I have seen him perform live many times now and love all of his music, pre and post idol. He is a talented singer songwriter. He definitely has a fanbase that is incredibly loyal.

  • Jae

    One thing I have noticed is that no Idol winner starves. Even runner ups don’t starve. Lee will be able to have a life time career as a musical artist just because of Idol. I’m sure that is a huge thing for Idol winners. Lee will be fine. I never liked him on Idol as a singer or performer but a bunch of people did. They at least insured him a career.

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    Reminder:

    Keep the discussion in this post focused on Lee

  • borntorun

    This wasn’t really the biggest surprise ever, was it?
    The poor management and promotion has been discussed among fans for a long time.
    But for the fans that really like Lee’s music, this won’t change a thing. We’ll still love the music.
    The album with RCA was not at all what I expected it to be, from hearing Lee’s earlier work and him talking about the musical people that inspires him, but I like it. He says he’s happy with it, and I guess we’ll have to take his word for it ;)

    I love Lee’s voice, and hearing him singing all the songs from the album live, is more of the Lee that I expected to hear on the album. I hope, and think, that that is the way he’ll go with his new music.
    Record labels are all about making money… just look at all the crap music, like Kesha and others, that still are on labels being promoted. If you can’t bring the cash, you’re out. And Lee’s sales figures haven’t been what they want them to be so, he’s out. It’s weird tho that they don’t promote their artists better, because in the end that will make a difference, and they will get their money’s worth… but what do I know about the music industry? ;)

    Anyway…
    I hope that the new music will give Lee the credit he deserves. When it comes to music it’s all about the feeling you get when you hear it, and there are no “wrongs” or “rights”. It’s only how you experience it. If you don’t like you just have to not listen to it. Lee’s been bashed a lot, but to me he’s a great singer/songwriter, and his live performances show that. I’ll keep listeing! :)

  • Tal.
  • Brook52

    Thanks Tal. for that link. It expresses how I feel about all of his music-especially the live recordings. Would love a release of Bridge Burns or Love and Misery as a video. But I am sure he wants to go forward now- can’t wait for the new music he has been working on- no matter how it gets it out. He is played a lot on several internet stations.

  • tripp_ncwy

    Lyndsey Parker: Reality Rocks
    http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/422766/idol-winner-lee-dewyze-officially-dropped-by-rca-records/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

    ETA: I think Lyndsey gives a fairly complete picture of the whole situation.

  • lucy

    The problem with this is that for the most part, these people aren’t going to truly change their tastes. They may start out listening to country stations, and doing other things to support their favorite, but over time they will drop that artist, and latch on to another reality show contestant.

    This type of boost isn’t helping anyone’s career. It results in inflated album sales, but pretty much just for the first album, and that’s about it.

    Well, I agree that this is true in a way. But in another way, most of those who really apply themselves do get a permanent boost from Idol, I think.

    Not that they become stars from it. But many many many of them are proving that they are able to get continued gigs, and better gigs than many many equally talented people who haven’t been on the show.

    They make connections, get experience, and get some level of name recognition. And when you put all that together, it means that they can get pretty good upper-middle-class lifestyles out of it and at least decades if not a lifetime (we can’t tell that yet, obviously) out of pursuing the things that they love. That’s a pretty big boost, really, when you think of it, seems to me.

  • tripp_ncwy

    A lot of the discussion has been geared toward RCA but what about 19M. How much of a priority will 19 give Lee? 19 has David C., Kris & S10 idols who have record deals. They also have Allison, Alex Lambert(?) and now Stefano who are unsigned but still have 19 mgmt.

  • iani

    I think Lee being dropped by RCA has nothing to do with other idols success or popularity. Lee was from the beginning the unwanted winner from a not so popular/successful season. He won the year when (there were some discussions here) they wanted a next Taylor Swift kind of(who’s fault they didn’t get her!). For sure 19 didn’t helped him too much with a good career launch, maybe he had half of a regular winner-promotion, no song for finale, the Ford- keys “stayed in his pocket hidden” for months, til 2 weeks ago when Lauren finally got her car. S9 is the only season with no real AI star, the most down-to-earth/ the top 3 next door king of contestants in 9 years. Finally S10 has “saved” the show again and S11 should be the best in order to show X Factor that AI is the best show in US for reality reasons(it’s a reality show!).

  • wjmtv

    I put this out on Twitter, but I thought I’d add it here in case people are still reading this thread.

    There’s a good article in the Chicago Tribune today about a Grammy winner who was later dropped by his label, Blue Note. It offers some interesting insights into what happens when a label views someone as one kind of artist, and they see themselves differently.

    http://tinyurl.com/4xdqsxg

  • happyhexer

    Thanks, wjmtv! That was an interesting article. Makes me want to go look up Van Hunt, because I like all kinds of music. Will be interested to discover how he blurs the genre lines.

    If I knew how to make a circle with a diagonal line through it on the computer, I would. No more music genre tyranny!

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