Look who is on the cover of the next issue of Billboard! It’s American Idol winner, Phillip Phillips and his Idol mentor, Jimmy Iovine!
Phillip Phillips’ coronation single “Home” just sailed past 3 million downloads, and his album The World From the Side of the Moon, released on Nov. 19 last year, went Gold this week! The album, which landed at #11 on the Billboard 200, sold 58K copies for a total of 533k! Congrats Phillip.
Jimmy Iovine graces the cover with Phillip, because, not only is he the official American Idol mentor, doling out criticisms and shepherding the contestants through the rigors of the competition during the show, but he’s also the chairman of the singer’s record record label, UMG.
Jimmy and UMG took over the job in Season 10 held by Sony since the show premiered in 2002–signing and releasing the albums of Idol winners and alums in partnership with 19 Entertainment. So far, Jimmy and company have done a great job.. Before Phillip, Clear as Day, the debut album from Season 10 Idol winner, Scotty McCreery, has sold over a million copies.
The front page story is timed perfectly with the premiere of American Idol 12 next week at movie theaters across the country. While X Factor and The Voice just crowned shiny new winners, it remains to be seen if they can launch record-selling stars.
