The New York Post reports that American Idol creator, Simon Fuller is doing an “outreach” to record labels about a new deal for Idol artists.
The preliminary talks with other labels comes as Sony Music’s longstanding agreement to represent the winners of “American Idol” on its various labels is expiring. One source said the Sony deal expired with the conclusion of season nine, which finished its TV run in May. A precise end date to the contract could not be confirmed.
Sony’s deal is with Idol’s parent company, CKx, but as a consultant to CKx and an Idol producer, Fuller remains in the middle of all decisions related to the show.
Season 9 artists are already signed to distribution deals with Sony labels. Winner Lee DeWyze on RCA and Crystal Bowersox on Jive. Both are working hard on their debuts, set to be released in the fall. Any new agreements would likely affect the winners of Season 10 competition.
According to the post, Universal Music Group is a possible new partner, given Fuller’s “existing relationship with fellow Brit and new Universal CEO Lucian Grainge.”
Sony Music jointly owns SYCO, with Simon Cowell, the company that will bring the UK X Factor to American shores in fall 2011, and Sony is also the label responsible for the hit soundtracks from the FOX TV show, Glee.
Read more at the NY Post
