The American Idol Finals

-[R]-ChurchPunk · 05-26-2005, 07:09 AM

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Gwenny · 05-26-2005, 08:49 AM

I was pulling for Bo, because I just think he's a great singer, and he's got personality, and just I love him. I have no doubt that he will do great things though. Look at Clay, besides Kelly so far, he's been the most successful. I will definitely buy Bo's c.d. when he comes out with one. His performance with Skynyrd was AMAZING!!!!!!! It was awesome, I got chills just watching it. Carries performance with Rascal Flatts was good too, there harmony was nice. But still loving Bo though.

Nate · 05-26-2005, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art

No...

Ruben's marketablility beyond AI has been very limited.

Really? Is that why his album "Soulful" was 31st on the Billboard yearend charts for the top selling albums (cross-genre) of 2004 and 7th on the Billboard yearend charts for top selling R&B albums of 2004?

Quote:

Fantasia just sucks. I don't think she every could be marketable. That's just me, though.

You would think so, but she's currently 61st on the Billboard weekly cross-genre album sales charts and currently11th on the Billboard weekly R&B album sales charts. Also, the single "I Believe" from her album "Free Yourself" DEBUTED at #1 on the Billboard singles charts, and her album went on to sell platinum.

Quote:

Clay Aiken, the guy who LOST on the second season, has been far more marketable than the other two.

As far as I can tell from Billboard, Ruben has been more successful than Clay. Clay has obviously had his share of success, though. His album was 43rd in 2004 (behind Ruben by 10 spots or so).

In other words... you've been pwned, my worthy opponent.

In His love,
Nate

Nate · 05-26-2005, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yojimbo

Clay's 2003 album is ranked #388 in Amazon's music sales. Ruben's 2003 album is at #2334. Ruben's newest album is at #666(!!!). Clay's Christmas album is at #840 (but was huge during season).

Fantasia is at 106.

Are these weekly figures?

Quote:

In the competition of single releases, Clay owned all. His "Bridge Over Troubled Water" sold 393,000, the second best first-week total of all time. Ruben, Kelly, and Fantasia did 286k, 246k and 142k respectively. Fantasia may have debuted at #1, but not all #1's are equal.

Still, debuting at #1 is pretty darned impressive from a marketing perspective. According to the article I linked to, it's the first time it's ever happened in the history of the Billboard charts.

I'm not going to argue that anyone who wins American Idol is going to achieve superstardom, but I think it's fair to say that anyone who wins American Idol is going to achieve innumerably more than they would have achieved without the aid of the marketing machine that is the show (and I'm not talking about marketing their albums once the show is already over; I'm talking about the show marketing them as an artist for months and months before they even begin to record their album; the after-show marketing is ridiculously simple: release album + stick winner's name on it = platinum).

In His love,
Nate

Nate · 05-26-2005, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yojimbo

Also, Clay's album debuted in October 2003, Ruben's in Dec 2003. So Clay's humongous first two month sales (which easily beat Ruben's sales, despite the latter being released near Christmas) would not have been included in the Billboard Top 200, which appears to go from Christmas to Christmas.

Interesting.

Whose craptastic idea was it to release an album in December, though? Wow.

***Art*** · 05-26-2005, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate

Really? Is that why his album "Soulful" was 31st on the Billboard yearend charts for the top selling albums (cross-genre) of 2004 and 7th on the Billboard yearend charts for top selling R&B albums of 2004?

You would think so, but she's currently 61st on the Billboard weekly cross-genre album sales charts and currently11th on the Billboard weekly R&B album sales charts. Also, the single "I Believe" from her album "Free Yourself" DEBUTED at #1 on the Billboard singles charts, and her album went on to sell platinum.

As far as I can tell from Billboard, Ruben has been more successful than Clay. Clay has obviously had his share of success, though. His album was 43rd in 2004 (behind Ruben by 10 spots or so).

In other words... you've been pwned, my worthy opponent.

In His love,
Nate

About Fantasia - She sucks and I wouldn't buy her crap. That's why I think she's unmarketable. All this proves is that I would be a terrible record exec.

As for Reuben and Clay... I've seen a LOT more of Clay than Reuben... and heard a lot more of him on the radio. That is where I was basing that. Plus, Clay is just plain better than Reuben.

***Art*** · 05-26-2005, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yojimbo

Yeah, but Nate's point is that none of those people, Clay included, would've made any foothold without AI's backing. Of course, AI can't do everything for them.

If country fans have to pick between Carrie and whoever won Nashville Star...a lot might go for Carrie just because of her popularity even if (and this is likely) the NS winner has more talent. I doubt Carrie will sell well, though...there is a market for country-pop, but there is still a stigma against country music (just as there is against soul music, hence Ruben's and Fantasia's banishment to BET) and Carrie isn't good enough to overcome that.

The difference between Clay and Carrie is that Clay got better as he went along. He was good in the beginning, but not good enough. Plus, he has very very limited sense of style.

Carrie... I just disagree. I really think you guys are underestimating her market. I think she could have gotten a record deal without the help of AI. Would she have? Probably not, but that is mostly because she lacked the confidence to go do it.

Signing&Singing · 05-26-2005, 12:01 PM

i just wanted bo to win. i think he had the better voice. but one good thing is that another market would be reached if either of them won. country with carrie and "rock" with bo. at least he'll get a record deal too.

-[R]-ChurchPunk · 05-27-2005, 11:54 AM

Yeah, and he can choose what label he wants, instead of being stuck with AI..

Purple Girl · 12-20-2005, 05:54 PM

The new season of American Idol is starting next month.

-[R]-ChurchPunk · 12-21-2005, 05:07 PM

I know, I can't wait.. =)

**JBanana** · 12-22-2005, 12:50 PM

Maybe this year will be better than last year-which sucked majorly. Yes, the talent was better than past years but I found a lot of things on the show offensive and raunchy. I can remember one night hearing Ryan Seacrest making a totally inappropriate remark about Kristie Alley (sp?). And all of that scandal in the news didn't help either. I also think that the producers are trying too hard to make it "new and fresh". I hated how they did the top 24 last year (which there were 32 contestants the years before) by having the same system as the top 12 round. I just hope that this year they'll cut out the crap and make it a good show again.