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Fallen Idols
Jan 7, 2008 | 8:46 PM
Category: Music
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Two former American Idol winners have been dropped from their record labels?

What went wrong?

Here's the story:

NEW YORK - Taylor Hicks might have won "American Idol," but he doesn't have his record deal anymore.

The soul singer, who claimed the "Idol" title in 2006, has apparently been dropped by J Records, a label within Sony-BMG, which signs the show's singers. "Taylor is going to record on his own for the next album," said J Records publicist Liz Morentin.

Another "Idol" winner - Ruben Studdard of season two - left his contract with J Records late last year, but continues his contract with 19 Entertainment, the company managed by "Idol" creator Simon Fuller.

Studdard is now at work on an upcoming album, but it will not be distributed by J Records, Morentin said. Studdard's previous album, 2006's "The Return," has sold only 236,000 copies.

Hicks' self-titled, post-"Idol" album, released in December 2006, debuted at No. 2 on the charts. In the weeks after it was issued, however, the disc slid down the charts. While it sold a respectable 699,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan data, it did not reach the one million mark, unlike all the other debuts from previous "Idol" champs. It also did not register a hit song, unlike other "Idol" winners.


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Member Comments Total Comments: 14
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kurkel read my blog view my photos
Jan 7, 2008 | 9:07 PM

I never liked taylor hicks and never understoon why he was so well liked and/or why he won. He was the last one , I thought to win!

I am not suprised that his album didnt sell so much or have a hit single...he couldnt sing.
jeanette read my blog view my photos
Jan 8, 2008 | 7:33 PM

They can record what they want leaving.. I think when they win they have to stay with this company but have to produce what the record company want.Going somewhere else they can record what they like. I liked Taylor and Rueben. But I don't buy any of their stuff anyway
kurkel read my blog view my photos
Jan 8, 2008 | 10:23 PM

I liked Reuben and I have liked most of the idols, just not Taylor....but he was well liked by many obviously. And it sounds like they both left for similar reasons?
Nailer read my blog view my photos
Jan 10, 2008 | 9:35 PM

Just shows that the right person doesn't always win the Idol contest.
beckysoap read my blog
Jan 11, 2008 | 8:53 AM

i am glad that taylor was dropped. he turned out to be a real jerk to his fans. so no more soul patrol. i have seen him and other people said that he is not friendly to his fans at all. i liked him but not anymore. i am glad his career is going down the toilet.
kurkel read my blog view my photos
Jan 11, 2008 | 9:54 AM

I just dont get what was liked about him, he really didnt know how to sing very well. And he looked like an old man not an american idol, to me...but yet I had much younger friends who thought he was great and cute. So I just dont get it....LOL...(not the first time!)
heylady56_2008 read my blog
Jan 12, 2008 | 6:34 AM

Good luck to Taylor on his own. I voted for him to win and enjoyed his singing on Idol. Katarine McPhee was also dropped from her music label and I did not vote for her.
kurkel read my blog view my photos
Jan 12, 2008 | 9:11 PM

you and many others heylady...guess that is what makes the world go round...we all like different things. I didnt vote for her either..

LOL...I watched alot more then I voted I think!

OR I just cant remember who I voted for....
freespirit55 read my blog
Jan 12, 2008 | 10:16 PM

Rueben is no surprise, he never had any talent. It just goes to show you what good PR and a nice smile can do for a win; but he didn't have the talent, fans, or ability to sustain the momentum Idol gave him. He only won because a few fans made hundreds of calls to vote. Those fans weren't enough to financially support him. Clay should have won. Taylor did well in person for live shows, but his movements and on-stage personality couldn't make the shift to albums. Last season was awful. Melinda and LaKisha should have been the top two if it were really a talent competition. Blake was just annoying with his beat-box or whatever, it ruined almost every song he tried to do. I still don't know how he avoided elimination early on.
WalkThruFire read my blog
Jan 13, 2008 | 3:28 PM

Most fans of Taylor Hicks are people who don't buy CD's because they are older. I never got into that season of "American Idol," but I remain baffled at why he won.

"American Idol" has run its course. There are many other reality show rip-offs on TV now and AI has just been on for too long. They were overdosing viewers on AI for a couple of seasons and now people, like myself, are burnt out.

It's time for AI to wave the white flag.
heylady56_2008 read my blog
Jan 14, 2008 | 4:14 AM

You are too funny walkthurfire. I was a Taylor Hicks fan and yes I am older but I also have a CD collection. He won because he had a great voice and people voted for him, not hard to figure out. I am country by heart but I did buy Taylors CD. It isn't my cup of tea but I don't regret voting for him. I enjoy watching American Idol because of the great artists that have came out of it. Carrie Underwood, Kelly Pickler, Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia. So keep on going American Idol.
becker read my blog
Jan 14, 2008 | 6:08 AM

Same here, kurkel.I was so very disappointed.
Freespirit, I thought that Melinda was just wonderful.
I don't know if Taylor being such a rude person to the public since his win, had anything to do with the outcome, but he sure forgot who got him where he was.
farmersdauter read my blog view my photos
Jan 18, 2008 | 1:55 PM

freespirit--
i know i'm a little late chiming in here...but i agree with everything you said above!
farmersdauter read my blog view my photos
Jan 18, 2008 | 1:56 PM

especially about beat-boxin' blake-annoying.
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