Billboard Chart Beat Column 9/11/08

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart_beat/bonus.jsp

Lots of info in this article about TOML reaching #1 as well as Idol contestants reaching #1 in general (DC already ranks in the top 10 Idol contestants for most BB #1s).
What is not mentioned in the article is the fact that TOML is the first "coronation song to hit #1 on an airplay chart.
Kelly's coronation song made the highest airplay chart appearance before this (at #4 on AC).

Boston Globe review

I didn't see this one posted, so forgive me if it is a duplicate.


But nothing compared to the chaos that ensued when winner Cook came out. He held out the microphone at one point in an attempt to get everyone to join in on coronation song "Time of My Life," but there was no singing, only screaming. But he made a canny move by changing up a power-ballad-heavy set with Foo Fighters' "My Hero," which proved that he might actually have it in him to be the rocker he's been labeled as.

I have never seen Marc Hirsh give a favorable review to anyone other than Chris Daughtry. For him, this is high praise.

You can see the full review here:
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/20..._the_spotlight/

Hot Google Trends

Check out #8 on this list. Note that it doesn't say Time of My Life or American Idol or David Cook or anything like that. It says: this is the time of my life.
What does that mean, you say? Well, that means that people who have no idea who Cookie is, don't watch AI and have never heard TOML are digging this song, and, by extension, David Cook. I don't know who set this up: 19, RCA, whoever. My hats off to whomever is responsible. What an honor for DC and what a fabulous way to get him heard (worldwide, even!) Sorry, I am actually giddy right now. With it being used tonight, will it be used more throughout the Olympics? I don't watch them usually so if there is someone who knows the protocol with these things, please let me know.

Anyway, here's the link:
http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends?sa=X

BTW, this list is updated often so the number may change but as of the time of this post, it is #8

ETA: Thought I'd attempt a copy and paste job to capture this moment (or taste it, as it were, lol)

Aug 8, 2008 - change date
Updated 8 minutes ago


iGoogle Gadget New! Site Feed
1. flatwater
2. jim mckay
3. virtual counselor
4. flatwater olympics
5. flatwater sport
6. 2008 us olympic team
7. scarlett johansson tattoo
8. this is the time of my life
9. 2008 olympics opening ceremony video
10. 2010 olympics
11. catcher freeman
12. 2014 olympics
13. 2012 summer olympics

That's the best I can do; techno whiz I am not.

Which labels have worked best for Idols?

As most know by now, 19E/19Recordings is the label that ALL artists picked up by Simon Fuller and Co. are signed to when coming off AI (winners, runners-up and some others). They are then signed to a major label under the Sony/BMG umbrella. Most go with 19 as their management, but not always. So, out of curiosity, or perhaps sheer boredom, I have done a little research for comparison purposes to see how it all tends to work out (no Debbie Downer, no Optimistic Olive, just Rita Reality):

Season 1:
Kelly Clarkson - signed to 19/RCA and 19 management
debut album, Thankful, sold 2 million
second album, Breakaway, sold 6 million
switched to The Firm management after Breakaway's release
third album, My December, sold 800k
switched to Starstruck management (Reba McEntire's husband) in July 2007

Justin Guarini - signed to 19/RCA and 19 management
dropped from label and management due to lackluster debut album sales

Tamyra Gray - signed to 19 but never received major label backing and was dropped from 19 without releasing an album

Season 2:
Ruben Studdard - signed to 19/Arista and 19 management
debut album, Soulful, sold almost 2 million
second album, I Need An Angel, sold 451k
third album, The Return, sold 237k
dropped from label but still managed by 19

Clay Aiken - signed to 19/RCA and 19 management
debut album, Measure of a Man, sold over 2 million
signed to outside management before follow-up album
Christmas album sold over 3 million
second album (mostly covers), A Thousand Different Ways, sold roughly 600k
latest album, On My Way Here, dropped off the BB200 after selling less than 300k

Season 3:
Fantasia Barrino - signed to 19/Arista and 19 management
debut album, Free Yourself, sold 1.8 million
second album, Fantasia, sold 515k
dropped from 19 management but retains deal with 19/Arista

Diana DeGarmo - signed to 19/RCA and 19 management
debut album, Blue Skies, sold 164k
dropped from label and management

Season 4:
Carrie Underwood - signed to 19/Arista Nashville and 19 management
debut album, Some Hearts, sold 7 million
second album, Carnival Ride, has so far sold 2 million

Bo Bice - signed to 19/RCA and 19 management
debut album, The Real Thing, sold over 500k
dropped from label and management
has released an indie album, See the Light

This one is interesting: Mario Vazquez dropped out before the top 12 but ended up being signed by Arista, not 19. He had a hit single, Gallery, but his self-titled debut album sold only 24k and he was subsequently dropped.

Season 5:
Taylor Hicks - signed to 19/Arista and The Firm management, never 19
debut album, Taylor Hicks, sold 702k
dropped from label

Katharine McPhee - signed to 19/RCA and has had two different management firms, but never 19
debut album, Katharine McPhee, sold 375k
dropped from label

Chris Daughtry - signed to 19/RCA and 19 management
debut album, Daughtry, has so far sold 4 million

Kellie Pickler - signed to 19/Arista Nashville and 19 management
debut album, Small Town Girl, sold 774k

Season 6:
Jordin Sparks - signed to 19/Jive and 19 management
debut album, Jordin Sparks, has so far sold 857k

Blake Lewis - signed to 19/Arista and 19 management
debut album, Audio Day Dream, sold 301k
dropped from label but remains with 19 management

And, now, Season 7:
David Cook - signed to 19/RCA and 19 management

David Archuleta - signed to 19/Jive with outside management

Kristy Lee Cook - signed to 19/Arista Nashville and 19 management

What will happen is anyone's guess. This is what seems to be the case:
Arista is the label for artists that 19 does not know what to do with them - they have dropped 3, not counting Mario (and signed 4)
Arista Nashville, obviously, is for the country artists and has dropped no one (and signed 3)
Jive is for the teens who need lots of work and patience; they also have dropped no one (but have only signed 2)
RCA is for artists whom 19 believes are ready to make a splash in the music industry (sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't) - they have dropped 4 (and signed 8)
So...Arista has the worst track record (with 75% of signed Idols being dropped) and RCA behind them (with 50% of signed Idols being dropped) while Arista Nashville and Jive so far have perfect records.
Those signed to 19 management seem to be given better promotional opportunities post-AI tour than those who seek outside management.
How will Cookie fare? Everything so far points in the right direction. Here's hoping it stays that way and he sits in the RCA group of Kelly, Clay and Chris and not Justin, Diana, Bo and Katharine.