AT LAST! We have some signing announcements. Jordin Sparks’ camp announced today that she has signed on with 19 Recordings/Jive Records, and is set to release her first single “Tattoo” on August 27.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the partnership with 19Recordings and Jordin Sparks as the first Idol winner to make her home at Jive, ” stated Barry Weiss, CEO and President of Zomba Label Group (ZLG). “Her poise, her amazing vocal ability, her relentless optimism has been apparent to millions of fans all around the world. We’re honored to have this burgeoning worldwide superstar on Jive Records.”
Jive Records is gearing up to launch Jordin Sparks’ lead single, “Tattoo, ” produced by the hit-making duo Stargate (Beyonce, Ne-Yo) and co-written with Amanda Ghost, whose impressive credits include James Blunt’s “Beautiful” and “Beautiful Liar” with Beyonce and Shakira. “Tattoo” will be arriving at radio stations across the country on August 27th, and Sparks’ eagerly awaited debut album will be in stores in November.
Jive records is the home of teen-centric performers such as Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys.
Jordin recently spent 8 hours recording at the Rainbow studios when the Idol tour rececntly stopped in Omaha. She’s also recorded in LA, Chicago and Pittsburgh, and will finish up recording for her November release when the tour is over in September.
By this time last year, Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler had officially announced signings with Sony/BMG. Taylor and Katharine’s signings were both announced shortly after the May finale, when Taylor was crowned Season 5’s American Idol.
Season 6 has been notable for the lack of news and buzz around this year’s crop of contestants. Hopefully, Blake Lewis’ signing announcement will follow shortly. We shall see…
There’s more about Blake and Jordin’s upcoming albums in this recent Billboard article:
Both singers tell Billboard.com they’ve been using off-days from this summer’s American Idols Live! tour for recording, and both hope to have their efforts out before Thanksgiving. Sparks’ is untitled so far, while Lewis’ has dubbed his “Audio Daydream (ADD).”Sparks has recorded four songs so far…”It’d kind of Kelly Clarkson’s pop edge, a little bit, ” she says, “and I recorded a ballad-y type song, like a power vocal song, and then I recorded just a really fun, fast one. I’m trying to mix everything together. I’m loving all the songs I’m recording, so hopefully that will come off the album when you listen to it and you’ll be able to feel the emotion.”
Idols Live! tour mate Chris Richardson has been writing songs with both Sparks and Lewis for their albums, which would be submitted for consideration. Lewis says he’s recorded eight songs so far, working with producers such as Sam Hollander, Mike Elizondo and J.R. Rottem, with bt working on another track.“It’s your favorite ’80s mix tape, ” Lewis says, “very inspired by Michael Jackson, Prince, Erasure, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, the Cure. It’s all over the map, really — very influenced by ’80s hip-hop, old school breaks, whatever.”
“They’re letting me down the album I’ve always wanted to make, ” says Lewis, who’s written 11 of his own songs for the set.
