so ya know, i've watched idol in other seasons, but......i never really "got into it" like with david, oh....i mean like with season 7. so i'm wondering if any of you know when his "job" with idol ends. like for instance, the last concert in tulsa. what if david just wanted to stay around awhile and hang with his friends. i'm talking like right after the concert he said, "i'm just gonna hang out here for awhile, you guys go on without me." lol but seriously. i know he's probably lovin this whole thing. but when is his contractual (is that a word?) obligation to AI over?

Not for a little while, I think. I hear he'll be doing an appearance at the opening of the exhibit/show in Disney. And usually, the prior year's winner makes a few appearances in the subsequent season.

I'm sure he'll get some time off eventually, but don't forget, too, that after Tulsa, he might have some album work to finish up/polish off (if it's not already done). Plus, all of the other parts of getting a record out.

Yeah. The album is out in October and he'll probably be getting ready to promote that. Not to mention, Simon Fuller is his manager!
I wish I could be in DisneyWorld the day that AI thing opens!! haha.

Lindz! Am I gonna have to sneak you into my suitcase AGAIN?! First, KC. Now, Orlando!? Geesh, what's your mom gonna think?!

so.........his AI contract and record contract are basically the same thing??? sorry, just don't know.

No, his record contract is probably separate. His AI obligations are probably part of a personal services agreement. Like Tiger Woods' might have an agreement to make a certain # of appearances at a Nike corporate event or two per year due to his sponsorship/marketing contract with them.

I am guessing that because RCA/19 Entertainment are essentially the same people as AI, DC is wedded to AI forever. Which isn't a bad thing, as long as he fulfills the obligations he has to AI. For instance, appearing on their show as warranted; appearing on any Guitar Hero; Disney etc. promotions.

The only thing I want to know is when does DC get to stop being introduced as THE American Idol. I noticed what a difference it meant in a photo that was captioned, "Singer" David Cook, not American Idol. It was almost like it gave it more credibility.

I think that he can make the whole AI/RCA/19 Entertainment work, as long as he can do what he wants, but also make money for them. I think that this is a whole other ballgame than any AI winner they have had before.

Now, he does have to sell records, and the proof will be in the pudding. If he can sell 6 million (like Carrie did on her first album, i Might be wrong, on whether this was her first or second album), but if DC can sell records and do things the way HE wants, then he has more say in what he does.

If he has his own songs on his album and it sells, then he is his own man.

To be honest, as long as the winner has their record deal, their ties with AI really never end so to speak. If you have seen AI in the case with Carrie Underwood for example, she has made numerous appearances on the show since her win during season 4. From what I understand, you are required to make an X number amount of appearances as part of your AI win that the runner up doesn't have to so even when you handover the crown, your association with the show isn't over. Jordin made 2 appearances on Idol during season 7 promoting her album and singles. AI, love it or hate it, can be a great vehicle for promoting your single and album.

There is some truth about album sales helping you gain credibility. When your album sells well, you get more creative freedom on the next album.

I think like any star in any of the entertainment professions (TV, movies, music, broadway) the degree of independence and influence is proportionate to the degree of success. If David hits a home run with the new CD and has at least as many hits & sales as Daughtry (or Carrie Underwood), and then has a good follow up CD, he will be able to negotiate the best deal possible. But it could take 5 years before he's "free" of all things Idol. If he stays with 19/RCA as a huge success they will draw up contracts the way they do with other popular artists. David will also need a good agent. But for the time being, the AI/19/RCA thing will be loaded with obligations... but they're the kind that David probably will fulfill gladly.


Wow, we posted the same thing (essentially) at the same time! I just took forever to hit complete! I agree, AI can be a good thing. David will never be that "underground, indie" artist anymore. He can be rock, but he is still going to have a pop thing going on and he seems to have accepted that just fine. As long as he can write and play and record and perform the music he loves. His goal has always been to make a living at this (not to have to get a "real" job) and he will do more than that. I feel he'll be a very big star, but at the very least I have no doubt he'll be, if nothing else, a successful musician who makes more than a good living doing what he loves.

I'm pretty sure all idol winners are under contract for 1 year (which is when they tour/make their first cd/etc) and then i guess after that year they can kind of pick what they wanna do from there

Totally agree. Excellent points and very well-said.

Scott,

I couldn't agree more. I'll be satisfied as long as David is happy and only sells enough CD's just for the label to consider him a success even if it's only a million copies even though obviously I hope he sells even more than that.

Pam, it's so weird. There's still that part of me that's in competition mode. AI is over but the competition to succeed in the rat race is on! I got so used to rooting for him, that I'm still in that rooting mode. He's like a favorite sports hero or team. I'm very impatient too. I need that CD to come out NOW! (LOL). I feel this overwhelming need to see him make it big. It's like an "A Star is Born" thing. We go to biopic movies like "Ray," "Buddy Holly Story" and "Walk the Line" and it's a whole storyline laid out. There's the struggle, the moment the star "makes it," the stuff they deal with, etc. I feel like AI was a microcosm of that. Like Season 7 was a drawn out biopic where an unknown David Cook comes from nowhere, pulls ahead of the pack, and then wins big... and now we're just up to the 2nd act (or sequel). Does this make sense?

Scott - your posts are definately one of my favorites - Annette

Ya'll have made great points.
I think it works like the reigning Superbowl champs...DC will hand over the "crown" after season 8 winner is announced. LOL!!! However, as far as how long the public considers him the "american idol" versus "singer" would depend on what kind of work he puts out from here on out. I've been playing his music to non-idol watchers and have a few sucess stories...am dying for him to put out more material for me to show off!

as far as idol show apperances...artists make them all the time, particularly when kicking off a new tour/album. it's a great publicity outlet.

Absolutely. Do you all think Carrie Underwood has shaken the AI label yet? I do, and it didn't take all that long. Kelly Clarkson was the first, so it's a little tougher. But she's kind of had a bad run since her last album, and if she makes a successful comeback she will probably have shaken off the AI label. And remember, as popular as AI is, no TV show gets the viewership and ratings of the old days, so many haven't seen AI. Most people (especially men) will discover David this fall for the first time and they'll not have any association to AI in their heads-except for what they read or hear.

I'm sorry but that picture is disturbing and kind of gross. I know we all get down and dirty here but to me that crosses the line of good taste. I sometimes think what if David saw some of these posts, and for the most part I think he could laugh at even the raunchy ones. Never saw that photo. That one I think would be embarassing to both of them. Just my opinion~

re: idol 08
i cant even think about watching AI next year. i dont think it can get any better than this year.

I think David mentioned during the interview with Ryan Seacrest that the CD release date is Mid to Late November - but we'll find out as we get closer to Fall time frame.

i'm a bit confused as to what picture you're referring to.

that's because the sig has changed now.

ahhh...lindz's circled picture? i wasn't crazy 'bout it either...do love the hug siggie.

The contract maybe one year but I'd be shocked if 19 Entertainment didn't include an option clause that allows them to renew the contract till eternity in case the singer is a hit. It's like Blake Lewis' contract with Arista. With the optio the record company isn't bounded if the sales suck, but can keep the artist if sales go well. So in that sense, David is bounded to AI probably till the cows come home if he is as successful as we all expect him to be. Excluding the option clause will not be negotiable from AI's side.

But if David wins some kind of grammy award (like Carried does with the ACMA best female vocalist), then the AI winner label will definitely be replaced with the award title. I think it's very likely that David will win some kind of grammy best new artist award or something like that. So I wouldn't worry, as long as the AI machine doesn't screw him up.

Going off the subject of David for a minute (no throwing of tomatoes please) whatever happened to McPhee (did not really watch Idol) until this year. I know that she won one year was it Season 4 or 5 maybe. The only reason why I bring her up is that she is scheduled to perform at the Macy's Fireworks in NYC on 7/4.

Actually she came in 2nd... was the runner up to Taylor Hicks in Season 5 two years ago. Very nice voice. Very bizarre season.


Yeah, don't worry at all. AI will really be a promotion help, not a hinderance. I think the relationship between the successful winners and AI has been mutually benefitial. They won't ask that much of him after this year... just to appear on future AI shows, do some Disney tie-ins (for however long the AI-Disney relationship lasts) and maybe a few other things. But if you look at Carrie, Kelly and Jordin, they're off and running, doing their own thing, being big stars.