Today Idol headlines after the jump ¦
Country’s glamour gal
…Others might suggest that image has been an especially touchy issue since last fall. That was when television cameras caught Hill throwing her arms up backstage at the Country Music Association Awards and apparently yelling “What?” when American Idol winner Carrie Underwood scooped the female vocalist of the year award.
Underwood repeated the upset at this spring’s Academy of Country Music Awards. Hill, who blends media savvy with unexpected forthrightness, insists that she was delighted that Underwood nabbed both awards, which Hill had previously won a total of 15 times, along with five Grammys.
“I was really happy for her. As long as she knows that, everybody else can kiss my ass.”…
A Weekend at the Cape
…For the main course of my trip on Sunday night, it was time for some soul food. Taylor Hicks was playing at the Cape Cod Melody Tent and we had sweet 6th row tickets. Not that there are really any bad seats at the tent. The stage is small and the seats are close…
Count your blessings, Kelly
I’m afraid of what Kelly Clarkson is becoming.
What started as a phenomenon has slowly turned into a mild bout with megalomania, Ã la Britney Spears. America’s first Idol is slowly turning into the next industry-versus-the-rock-star story primed and ready for the pages of entertainment weeklies, nightly gossip hours and the merciless blogosphere. The Internet loves Kelly Clarkson, but after her recent behavior, it’s only a matter of time before the likes of Perez Hilton and TMZ get going about her spiral into self-controlling hysteria.
As a former Stater Forum editor so quaintly put it, “That girl ain’t right.”……..
Chicago Fire Soccer Presents Faith & Family Night on July 1
…Fans attending the game on July 1 can enjoy the pre-game interactive Faith Festival starting at 4:30 p.m. CT, just inside gate B, including live performances by former American Idol finalist Brooke Barrettsmith and Christian ska band, “Hook Line and Sinker.”…
Ryan Seacrest wants us to get him an Emmy
…Any win for “American Idol” would sure be appreciated at this point, considering it may soon become the biggest loser in Emmy history. Having been snubbed 22 times in the past, even in the tech races, it’s just 3 losses short of tying the record held by “The Bob Newhart Show.” In the rop race, for best reality program, “The Amazing Race” has zoomed past it every year since the category was created in 2003…
Kelly’s sales are a little idle
Kelly Clarkson is suddenly in danger of driving right off the radio – a stunning turn for an artist who, since winning the first “American Idol” in 2002, has become arguably the biggest mainstream pop star of the decade.
“Never Again, ” the first single from the “My December” CD due out next Tuesday, has made barely a ripple on local radio compared to her previous hits.
“We’re disappointed, ” says Tom Poleman, program director of WHTZ (100.3 FM). “She’s been a core artist for us with her last several records. She’s been a big part of the revitalization of top 40……
Rush & Molloy
Side Dish
…”American Idol” castoff Sanjaya Malakar hasn’t given up hopes for a career in showbiz. “My first objective is to legitimize my music, ” he told Steppin’ Out’s Chaunce Hayden, “then do modeling and acting.” But his brief fame may soon be overshadowed. Buzz is that his sister Shyamali – ousted from “Idol” long before her pony-hawk rocking bro – has been offered nude magazine spreads. Not that she’ll be tempted, says Sanjaya: “She was never the type to flaunt it.”…
Former `American Idol’ Employee Ordered To Arbitrate Harassment Complaint
Arbitration was ordered today in a case brought by a former assistant production accountant for the company behind “American Idol, ” who claims he was fired for complaining of sexual harassment by a male contestant….
CABLE NETWORKS GETTING THEIR FEET WET WITH UPFRONTS
…Meanwhile, the major broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox – said they are fast approaching the finish line and could complete their negotiations by week’s end.
Fox, home to “American Idol, ” is expected to be the first to wrap up negotiations. Fox has fewer hours of primetime to sell than its rivals.
“We are near completion of our upfront sales, and are on target to top last year’s best-ever upfront market, ” Fox said in a statement.
Fox is part of News Corp., which also owns The Post…
Who do you want your daughters idolizing?
MeMe Roth, a spokeswoman for the National Action Against Obesity, has been dodging verbal shrapnel ever since she implied that “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks, 17, is overweight.
Roth says she’s simply worried about the potential health hazards Sparks could face as a result of excess weight.
Roth is blaming the blowback she’s getting from Sparks’ furious fans on the Fox Network, where she was first heard expressing concern for a teenager who has publicly declared that she’s perfectly happy with her body….
The Record Industry’s Decline
Record Sales are tanking, and there’s no hope in sight: How it all went wrong
This is the first part of a two-part of series on the fall of the record industry. Today we’re including Brian Hiatt and Evan Serpick’s report on where the music business went wrong, from the current issue of Rolling Stone, as well as an interactive graphic illustrating the industry’s slide. Tomorrow, check back with RollingStone.com for interviews with the industry leaders on the future of the music business.
For the music industry, it was a rare bit of good news: Linkin Park’s new album sold 623, 000 copies in its first week this May ? the strongest debut of the year. But it wasn’t nearly enough. That same month, the band’s record company, Warner Music Group, announced that it would lay off 400 people, and its stock price lingered at fifty-eight percent of its peak from last June……