What do you think of Kelly Clarkson not allowing any of the AI contestants to use her songs? Personally, I think it stinks and makes me think less of her. I agree with Simon on this one.
Sigh. Did you ever have a mentor? Maybe a teacher who brought out a particular talent you have, or a boss who gave you a big break in your career? If so, when do you get to stand on your own and enjoy the fruits of your own success?
Do the Miss America winners owe the rest of their lives and earnings to the pagent after their year is up? How about the winners of Survivor, or Trump's show, or any talent show?
Kelly was the AI winner in 2002, four years ago. Are you saying she has to be tied to AI forever?
Kelly has a massive worldwide hit in the album "Breakaway." You know who gave her the real break for that album? Not AI, but Disney, when they chose the title song for their "Princess Diaries 2" movie. Kelly promoted the rest of the album herself, touring almost non-stop through 2005. Her solo tour -- just Kelly, no backup singers, no opening act, just her and her band -- grossed over $11 million last year. AI didn't do that for her. She did it for herself.
The album is still selling like gangbusters, 14 months after its release. It has never been out of the top 20 and was #11 this week. She has had four straight #1 smash hits off the album and her latest single is already #22 and is flying up the charts. No artist wants their current hits used by others until the songs have had their run. Often not for years afterwards.
Why doesn't AI want songs from Kelly's first album, Thankful? It has had its run and Kelly had several top 10 hits on it. Answer: AI wants songs from her current album because they are smash hits around the world. They are not asking for Fantasia's two #1 R&B songs, or Josh Gracin's two #1 country songs, or Carrie Underwood's #1 song, or for anything from Clay or Ruben. Why not? Why just Kelly?
One reason only. She has become a worldwide A-list artist and they want to cash in on her name. Period.
AI's producers, FOX TV, etc., make huge sums of money off the contestants, both winners and losers, and the contestants don't make anything unless they get signed at the end of the show. The contestants make the show, not the other way around.
Sure, Kelly got her break on AI, but the fact of the matter is, without at least one former winner becoming a big star, the show's winners and runners up had no credibility beyond the show. They were considered just reality show has beens.
Kelly has blazed a trail that other former AI contestants are following. Thanks to Kelly's success, others in the industry have been willing to give talented AI alumni a chance they might otherwise not have gotten. Just in the past couple of months, Diana DeGarmo and Jennifer Hudson landed huge leading roles in a touring Broadway musical (Diana) and a movie musical (Jennifer). AI discarded both of them, and I'll bet both girls are glad the way it worked out. If Diana someday wins a Tony and Jennifer an Oscar, will they have to grovel before the AI producers too?
Well, beandog, looks like you got your wish. Cowell flapped his stupid gums and you bought it hook, line and sinker. Looks like Kelly will be in bondage to Cowell, Lythgoe and the AI honchos for the rest of her life.
Jonny, I'm really angry about this crap from Cowell. Apparently, he and Randy were piling on later on some radio show in New York. Right now I don't know if I'll ever watch the show again. Their tactics were despicable. Turns out the AI bunch don't want to pay the going rate for music and that's what this is really all about.
From Hits Daily Double (Click link, then "Rumor Mill" tab.)
FOOT-IN-MOUTH DISEASE: As another Fox prime-time star would say, "D'oh!" Hours after Simon Cowell insinuated that Kelly Clarkson was barring the use of her songs on American Idol, Clarkson's hit "Since U Been Gone" could be clearly heard on the show Tuesday night. Wednesday afternoon, the singer’s publicist, Roger Widynowski, speaking to a reporter from Reuters, attempted to clear up the confusion initiated by Cowell's misstatement: "Kelly Clarkson was happy to hear her song, 'Since U Been Gone,' on American Idol last night, and as far as she's concerned there is no conflict between her and the TV show. She intended all along to license additional material to the show and will do so when asked and within reason." Clarkson's reps claim they were negotiating with AI over the rights to the material when Cowell's statements became public, taking them by surprise. "Kelly is fine with her songs being used on the show. There was never an issue," Widynowski insisted. Case closed. (1/18p)
From Reuters
Kelly Clarkson spokesman dismisses "Idol" flap
Thu Jan 19, 2006 1:02 AM GMT
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - One day after "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell slammed Kelly Clarkson for refusing to let the TV talent contest that launched her career use her hits, a spokesman for the pop star denied there was ever a dispute over song rights.
"Kelly Clarkson was happy to hear her song, 'Since U Been Gone,' on American Idol last night and as far as she's concerned there is no conflict between her and the TV show," her publicist, Roger Widynowski, said.
"She intended all along to licence additional material to the show and will do so when asked and within reason," he said of Clarkson, now a pop superstar in her own right and by far the biggest "Idol" success story.
A contestant on the hit show's season premiere warbled Clarkson's massive hit "Since U Been Gone" in the first few minutes of the program.
Cowell, speaking to a gathering of TV critics on Tuesday, said that Clarkson would be making a "big mistake" if she barred "Idol" from using her songs after the show catapulted her to stardom.
"No matter how talented Kelly Clarkson is, she would not be in the position she's in now without winning this show," he said. "It's the public who bothered to pick up the phone and vote for her. If she refuses to give songs to be used on the show, it's like saying to every person who voted for you, 'You know what? Thank you. I'm not interested in you anymore.'"
"Idol" must get permission from the owners of song licenses, Clarkson included, before broadcasting the material. Some artists, including the Beatles, have been notoriously reluctant to grant permission.
Clarkson's representatives say they were in standard negotiations over those rights and that Cowell's remarks took them by surprise. "Kelly is fine with her songs being used on the show. There was never an issue," Widynowski said.
A spokesman for "Idol" agreed that negotiations were in progress and said it was not clear if Clarkson was ever personally involved in those talks.
The first "Idol" champion, Clarkson has gone on to earn a Grammy nomination and sell nearly 7 million U.S. copies of her first two albums, "Thankful" and "Breakaway," becoming one of pop music's biggest stars.