American Idol Winners

Just in time for the seventh-season kickoff of American Idol comes word that Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks and Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard have been dropped from J Records thanks to lackluster album sales. (Studdard is still represented by Idol creators 19 Management.) Meanwhile, Season 5 third-place finisher Chris Daughtry continues to steamroll over the top-40 playlists and big-box music sections of America. Why is this making me wonder if fans of the upcoming season's contestants will withhold their votes en masse in the show's second-to-last week? Source : www.idolator.com

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, who did not give further details regarding Hicks. 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. Roger Widynowski, spokesman for 19 Entertainment, did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages seeking comment on Hicks’ situation. Hicks’ self-titled, post-“Idol” album, released in December 2006, d...

Better late than never. Nearly three months after her crowning, sixth-season American Idol champion Jordin Sparks has officially signed a recording contract. The 17-year-old Glendale, AZ native -- who was the youngest Idol winner in the show's history -- will cut her debut album with 19 Recordings/Jive Records. Jive is part of the Zomba Label Group, a division of Sony BMG. 19 Recordings is part of 19 Entertainment, the company founded by Idol creator Simon Fuller. "We're thrilled to welcome the partnership with 19 Recordings and Jordin Sparks as the first Idol winner to make her home at Jive," said Barry Weiss, CEO and president of Zomba. "Her poise, her amazing vocal ability, her relentless optimism has been apparent to millions of fans all around the world. We're honored to have this burgeoning worldwide superstar on Jive Records." Idol's five first winners had all signed with Arista Records, J Records, or RCA Records -- three labels that are par...

"It just turned out pretty cool, I guess," she said, giggling and brushing back her long dark hair. In addition to transforming nobodies into stars, "Idol" has become a coveted forum for established artists to be seen. Wednesday's star-studded event included performances by Gwen Stefani, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight and Green Day. Sparks, who is from Glendale, Arizona, and is the daughter of former National Football League player Phillippi Sparks, started singing as a toddler and auditioned for "American Idol" as soon as she could after becoming eligible at the age of 16. "She sings so good it's hard to believe that she's 17," music legend Robinson told reporters after the show. "To sing like that you would have to have lived for a long time." Heading into the competition's final week, many thought the show's top title was up for grabs, with "Idol" judge Simon Cowell saying viewers would have to decide be...