It seems winning American Idol is no guarantee that you’ll actually keep your major label deal. Just before Christmas, rumors began circulating that season 2′s Ruben Studdard, who released three albums for J Records since 2003 (the latest, 2006′s The Return, to modest sales), had been dropped. (Studdard continues his management contract with 19 Entertainment.) Now the Hollywood Insider hears that season 5 winner Taylor Hicks has also lost his J Records deal. “Taylor is going to record his next album on his own,” said a label rep. “He is no longer on the J Records roster.” Back in March 2007, we wrote about Hicks’ performance on the charts and later analyzed several more Idol hits and misses. What does this mean for the latest winner, Jordin Sparks? Or, with season 7 kicking off on January 15, the franchise’s star-making power?
Jan 3
2008
10:26 PM ET
Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard dropped from J Records?
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that is great j records did nothing to help taylor now he can make his own next album the way he want it way to go taylor soulpatrol.
that is great j records did nothing to help taylor now he can make his own next album the way he want it way to go taylor soulpatrol.
WOOOOO!!!!! That is great news if true! Taylor can now record *HIS* music his way. J Records sucks, Clive sucks even more.
Great news, now he can go back to making his music his way. He did it before and those albums are great. They were written and produced by Taylor. He was promoting those CDs at his concerts, that money goes into his pocket, not Clives!!! YAY!!!!!!
J records never did a thing to promote Taylor and his album. I am a happy fan!!! He stayed true to himself and wouldn’t sell out.
Wooooooooo!! I couldn’t be happier for Taylor. This is the best thing that could have happened for him.
I hope it is true, too. j records shabby treatment hurt more than helped Taylor’s sales. Now he’ll be able to make his album his way, and thumb his nose at clive and company. Go Taylor!
J records did nothing for Taylor Hicks, so this is the best thing that could happen for him. Taylor sold over 800,000 records worldwide without any radio play, promotion etc. They wouldn’t even restock his cd. I also heard that it was Taylor that wanted out of his contract…..So, go Taylor. You can do it your way now. The Soul Patrol loves you and will back you all the way!
J.Records & Clive Davis did nothing for Taylor Hicks. He is not stupid and wanted out of this contract for months now. Can’t wait to hear his next CD without the compromise of American Idol’s fake pop, country & rock genres. HEADLINES: Taylor Hicks stays true to who he is.
YES!!!!!! It has been rumored that Taylor wanted out from under Clive. Taylor is a smart business man he will be better than ever.
WOOOOO HOOOOO I AM SO HAPPY THAT TAYLOR WILL NO LONGER BE UNDER CLIVE’S COAT TAIL. TAYLOR IS TO SMART FOR CLIVE. TAYLOR KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS AND HE IS GOING AFTER IT.
U think this is great news for all Taylor fans. Clive davis is an idiot from the things I’ve heard. Taylor is too good for the kind of pop they try to promote. It’s really been downhill ever since season one.
Good for Taylor, they didn’t do diddly squat for him. It was always about Daughtry.
When’s Clay’s turn to be dropped, anyway? Clive Davis seems to be determined to run his career into the ground.
WOOOO-HOOOOO!!!!!! I’m so happy for Taylor. He probably bought out his contract. He wanted out from the get go, good for him! No more Clive shoving Diane Warren songs down his throat! Way to go Taylor!
I’m really happy for Taylor. Now he can be free of Clive Davis who did everything in his power to see to it that Taylor didn’t get heard. IMO this is the beginning for Taylor and his career. It’s all up from here.
If it were up to the record companies and popular radio we’d all be listening to Umbrella-ella-ella songs and Underwood/Daughtry schlock 24/7. Since buying Hicks’ first two independent albums and looking into his musical interests I’ve discovered Blues, Soul, and southern rock. Thank God for people like Taylor and thank God for satellite radio!