More than a year after her third-place departure, American Idol season 6 alum Melinda Doolittle has finally found a record deal, EW.com has learned. Doolittle will join the roster at independent label Hi Fi Recordings, the current home to Todd Rundgren. The label also has had a hand in successful efforts by Avril Lavigne and Spacehog, among others. Hi Fi was founded in 1995 by music industry vet John Hecker and was originally a joint venture with major labels Elektra, Arista, and Virgin Records. Doolittle’s debut is expected to be released this fall, but an official street date has yet to be determined.
Jul 29
2008
11:42 AM ET
Melinda Doolittle signs with Hi Fi Recordings
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It’s about time! She was by far the best singer for that AI season. I’m looking forward to her CD.
GO MELINDA!!!!
She really should have won. Jordan was great, don’t get me wrong, but Melinda was CONSISTANTLY fantastic every week!
It’s about time I will buy her CD in a minute, she’s was absolutely the best singer of season 6, way to go melinda
This is probably the one and only AI contestant’s CD that I will ever buy. It’s about time somebody gave this talented lady a shot.
Whitney is way above this bunch, please do not put her in the same class with Jennifer Hudson. By doing so, you commit a sacrilege. sacrilege. Thanks
Now this is going to be negative so bear with me. I think whatever she does music-wise will have to “out the box”….jazz, Latin, something other than R&B/soul, because she honestly cannot compete with the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Whitney, Beyonce, even Christina Aguilera. They say there’s plenty of room at the top, but she’s coming in at the bottom, where it’s crowded as h**ll. And she’s got so much going against her — age being one. But time will tell if she makes it…frankly, I always throught she was a Sharon Jones &Dap Kings singer….she needs a strong backup band.
I’d buy it without listening to it first, she’s such a talented singer.
I think it’s great that she’s got the contract! Like everyone else though, the song will be the deciding factor – I would never buy anyone’s album because they did well on a reality show – they need to bring it in the studio where it counts!
Let others rush (lest public interest wane). Let others take whatever is offered to them (because they don’t know their true worth). Melinda Doolittle is not a flash-in-the-pan, past-expiration-date or limited-to-pop culture taste artist. She is a genuine vocalist who is appreciated beyond these borders as well as within. The W-O-M-A-N returns in September. Time to party, people!
So happy for Melinda! It was a looong time coming! Can’t wait to hear it!
Thanks for the update. Keep reporting on the deals of the artists.I’m really curious if Carly and Jason C and brooke get deals.
Go Melinda Go Go Go! New website to support Melinda Career http://www.mdstreetteam.com come join us
This just made my morning. Can not believe it took her so long to get a deal, but I am glad she finally did. It will be nice to not have to youtube her everytime I am craving her voice.
Best of luck to Melinda. She really should have been in the finals instead of Blagh-ke Lewis. I agree with Sally that she needs to go outside plain ole’ R&B. A major label wouldn’t know what to do with her so indie is probably the way to go. I wonder if Hi Fi has any distribution partnerships, since Avril Lavigne’s first two records are listed under the Arista label.
AWESOME!!!! Make sure you post on the front page of your site when it’s coming out, EW, so we’ll all be reminded to go out and buy the CD!
FINALLY!