Another Idol label deal bites the dust. Hollywood Insider has learned that Katharine McPhee is the latest former contestant to part ways with her record company. Like season 2 winner Ruben Studdard and season 5 champ Taylor Hicks, who were signed to J and Arista Records, respectively, a rep for RCA Records confirms that McPhee is no longer on the label’s roster, adding that, “Katharine is going to record her next album on her own.” McPhee’s self-titled debut charted at a promising No. 2 in February 2007, but it never reached gold status. Sources close to McPhee complain the label didn’t support the album — but Idol Phatigue seems to have conquered McPheever. Still, she shouldn’t lose all hope: The singer, who is managed by Guy Oseary, makes her first feature-film appearance (opposite Anna Faris) in I Know What Boys Like later this year, and we hear she’s already in talks with another label.
As for this recent spate of Idol exits (we double-checked, and deals for Clay Aiken and Fantasia are still intact), a rep for the RCA Music Group (which includes Arista, RCA, and J Records) tells Insider, “After six seasons, we are proud of the eight artists on the roster who started their careers on the show. With respect to Taylor, we have an understanding that he will come back to us to play music once he’s finished writing his new material.”
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I am happy about this! Clive Davis is a huge A*%hole and did nothing to support the album anyway.
Im glad shes leaving in a way. they did not promote her well at all I think. However if shes going with a smaller label means a lower budget and not a big tour. I hope she comes back to St. Louis again.
sad for kat….and rueben, and taylor..but perhaps AI should change the way voting is allowed. should be “one vote, One person”
Could you please explain the line that ends this article? Taylor is no longer on the label, but after he writes his new stuff, he’s going back there to “play music”? HUH?
I sincerely hope that this article re: Katharine’s news doesn’t draw as many nasty comments as when EW reported (sure, with a question mark, but still intended to be negative) that Taylor and Ruben were “dropped”
It will draw negative comments, it’s about Katharine. I am SO happy with this news! I hope it’s true unlike in October when she thought she was going to sign with Warner and we all got our hopes up lol.
Seems like BMG is cleaning house of all the former idols except for Kelly, Chris and Carrie. Well I think that Kat being dropped by RCA will ultimately be a great thing for her. Plus she is the only one that is being reported to already be in negotiations. Possibly those rumors about David Foster and WB will come true afterall.
Hey Ruben was dropped, Taylor was dropped, and now Kat was dropped. Of all of them I think Kat will rebound the highest! You go girl! Glad you are away from Clive, I just wish Kelly would get away too!
Well, that sucks. I was hoping the rumor about Clay was true, but Clive seems to be determined to keep him from being successful. FURCA
What the hell is going on? They are dropping idols left and right like they are garbage. We are just one week away from the new season of American Idol. I hope all the semi-finalists are watching what is taking place and realize just because you make Top 10 doesn’t mean you will become a superstar. HAVE A PLAN B KIDS!
They must be clearing the way to signing all the ringers that are going to “compete” this year. http://www.votefortheworst.com/americanidol7contestants
The last press release “Taylor will be making his next album on his own” connected to this one, “Taylor will come back to us to play music….” What an interesting thing to say! The first statement implies Taylor’s no longer with the company, and the second one implies he is still on their roster. Taylor’s contract must be as thick as a book!
“we double-checked, and deals for Clay Aiken and Fantasia are still intact”
Too bad. I’d love to see Clay get away from that old fossil, Clive.
I can’t get over fans saying being dropped by a major label is a good thing!!!! It’s not, so shut up already before you ruin it for those that still have a contract. Gawd, you guys are ignorant.
I too wish Clay would get away from
RCA and ole senile Clive.
Janice – if the label doesn’t support you or let you spread your wings creatively, then what good are they? You have to do what you need to do to create your art and if that means going indie or solo, then so be it. People like Taylor who now has the best of both worlds – freedom, a large fanbase, and a name. He’ll be more than fine.
I read that Kelly Clarkson is going to be managed by Reba McIntyre’s husband. I guess Kelly may be going in a new direction. As for Clay and Clive: Clive could never, ever keep Clay from being successful, as Clay is one of the most successful Idols that there will ever be. Most of his fans do hope Clay gets away from Clive, soon, but in the meantime, Clay has just come off his 4th very successful Christmas tour, a week in Mexico as a Unicef ambassador, and had an extremely successful 1st Golfing for Inclusion fundraiser for his multimillion dollar foundation this past Monday in Boca Raton, Florida. He looked and sounded AMAZING ( go to youtube.com -Clay Aiken Golfing For Inclusion). He is now headed off to Broadway, Jan. 18, to star in SPAMALOT as Sir Robin for 4 months. So…Clive can have his newest goldenchild, Daughtry, in his clutches, but Clay will survive with or without him. (If you don’t count number of cds sold – Clay IS the most successful Idol)
I think it will be a good thing for all 3. Kat wants to be in the movies. Now she has more time for that. Rubin is on stage and opening a club. People make a name for themselves on stage and make lots of money. Taylor now can write and record the kind of music that he did before AI. He has a huge following and will continue to tour. So I say go for it. They don’t have to pay the piper any more.
The “other label” that’s she’s negotiating with is rumored to be A&M or Warner, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she’s already signed. RCA issued a statement that she’s “left to support her other entertainment ventures”, which to me reeks of sarcasm. I smell Guy’s footprints on this. Good for her.
Why Mario Vazquez is still with Arista? Why was not he dropped?
all i can add is that…look at elliott yamin and his success and remember he did it on his own, his way
i am not surprised that kath was dropped. her album was not succeesful. it seemed that bmg is clearing houses for the new idols. clay is the only runner up remaining from any season and i think that when his contract is up he will leave unless rca get their act together, after all he has been them now in his 6th year.
Seems like every Idol whose album isn’t successful always claims that the label didn’t support them – a poor excuse to me. I saw Kat promoted everywhere, she just lacked the formula that say Chris, Kelly, or Carrie had, which included having standout songs and an identity. You can’t mimic Beyonce or Mariah Carey because that genre is totally saturated for a newcomer, she should have targeted an older crowd, but even to do that she really had to clean up her act and hone your skills. She was way too inconsistent as a vocalist to compete with the incredible talent out there that didn’t need AI exposure to be successful.
I know Kat had a lot of promotions lined up for “Over It”, which according to her (and myself – however unimportant my opinion to others may be), it’s just not a song that’s going to move album sales. So if anything, I think RCA did a poor job in picking her first single. Secondly, there was little to no promotion for her second single, Love Story.
Kat’s contract was only set for one album anyway and after she mentioned how much she had to compromise on her debut album with the things that RCA wanted her to do and what she wanted to do, I think it pretty much already ended there.
I think she’ll be better off with another label and she’s already in talks with David Foster. And with the few movies that she’s doing as well, I think everything will work out just fine for her.
I forgot to mention that Taylor said in his book it’s very hard to get crowds in arenas to maintain interest in you…particularly when someone has a sign saying they voted for Daughtry. P.S. Did you know Ruben has sold a few more CDs than Fantasia. I think most of the Idol voters and viewers are pop/country fans, not r&b. Doesn’t make sense. I’ve read AI is one of the few prime-time shows seen equally by blacks and whites.
dropped! fired!
I have noticed on the intro to American Idol this year that Taylor Hicks isn’t shown on the background as all the past winners are. Am I just not seeing him?
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Mario Vazquez has been dropped from Arista Records as of March 2008!!!
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