The unfortunate thing is that Taylor's CD had several problems that were not of his making (several that were, though). Last year was the first time the AI powers-that-be allowed losing contestants to release albums before the winner. By the time Taylor's album came out, the other AI albums had sucked up much of the oxygen for show viewer carryover into album sales. Also, industry sales as a whole are down significantly. And rock has been making a comeback the last three years or so as hip-hop/rap has begun to fade a bit. Taylor's sales are actually good for a new artist, especially given the overall depressed album sales. But they are definitely disappointing by AI winner standards.
AI brought that on themselves and as much as Cowel hates Taylor, I wouldn't be surprised if it was done to purposely sabotage his sales. I like how Daughtry also gets preferential treatment by using one of his song as the send home song this year. That'll help boost his sale too. Too bad they don't help all their former contestants when they can, instead of tearing some down every chance they get.
Okie dokie.
This following link goes to an article that starts out talking about Pickler, but then, veers off into Scooter Libby and Plamegate, and how we should be more offended by Libby than Skanerella at the memorial. Thought I'd post it just in case anyone felt like leaving the author a message.
" I honestly don’t understand why people have more anger about some girl posing inappropriately on a war monument than they do about Lewis Libby. It doesn’t get mentioned much, but there were agents and informants who had worked with Valerie Plame Wilson who likely did get compromised. If anyone outed Valerie Plame just to make a point, we’re talking seriously sick, not young and stupid."
"Phil Stacy: I enlisted right after 9/11 to show my patriotism, now I sing in the Navy Band. I know the argument that makes sense of this, but it still made me think about Pat Tillman ( a personal hero of mine) who gave up the NFL to become an Army Ranger then got killed by friendly fire after which the army lied about it. Isn’t appearing on American Idol, the exact reverse of the Tillman story?
I missed my baby’s birth to go to an audition. I’m now defending my country by being a recruiting device on a reality show that promotes my singing career. You seem like a nice guy, but…that’s not going to make me root for you. Fox News meet Fox Network."
http://chancelucky.blogspot.com/2007/03/didnt-you-used-to-be-kellie-pickler.html
You can like Taylor, and still admit that he isn't the recording artist Chris Daughtry is. Winning the show just means you won the show. There is no other conclusion that can be drawn from a victory. If Kelly or Carrie had come in 2nd, that wouldn't have made any difference as to whether they were the best recording artist-- just as Clay sold more than Ruben. They still would have sold a ton of albums. I promise that when Daughtry's album was released had nothing to do with the tremendous success of it.