This video provides an interesting little recap of some of our favorite American Idol stars – Katharine McPhee, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, Blake Lewis and Jennifer Hudson.
It’s about a topic that has been widely debated on Idol Stalker this past week. You guessed it – album sales and whether certain Idols are underperforming or have been dropped from their labels.
Watch it and let me know what you think of what they had to say!

Sounds to me like there’s a lot of “housecleaning” going on with AI. I’m surprised at the low sales for both Jordin and Blake from their first CDs.
I think American Idol better revamp for this upcoming season and not let good singers go and keep mediocre ones.
I agree it is not all about album sales.
Clay Aiken’s last album, ATDW has sold a bit over gold status, yet he has racked up over $30,000,000 in tour revenues! That is without any decent promotion from RCA or radio play.
That beats champion Kelly Clarkson’s $28,000,000 in tour revenues and she has been around longer and had great promotion and tons of radio play.
I think that Fantasia has done well without the promotion from her label and did well with the color purple. Fantasia album is one of the best album of 2007. And she is one of the top best of AI. In fact she has alot of fans. I personally can’t wait to she her in concert somewhere. I hope to see her soon on T.V. She has a beautiful voice and I love her personality.
I’m also stumped at Blake’s slow sales, but then again, sales are slow for nearly everyone.
I think Blake may be a big concert hit as well. In person he is absolutely electric. I’m still hoping his sales will pick up. Break Anotha isn’t my favorite on his cd–I think How Many Words or What’cha Got To Lose are hits just waiting to be released.
I don’t understand why Fantasia was included in this segment. The girl has accomplished a lot since Idol.
Her first album went platinum and her second went gold. She wrote a book that was a best seller and had a movie that was #2 I believe in Lifetime’s television history.
She has been nominated for grammy’s, she has won AMA award, theater award, NAACP award, etc, etc.
Additionally, she has starred in the Color Purple for nearly a year and has received excellent reviews.
So again, I don’t understand why she was included–I really don’t.
Fantasia should not have been included in this, beside Fantasia did not get to promote her album due to starring the color purple which was great for her and she hasn’t been on every commerical to promote her album, been in concrete or get alot of maz to promote her album now she finish
the color purple and good things are to come. I believe you should get the fact straight. You people have been dogging her out on everything and everything that look good an’t good if you get my hint.
Niecy and Kael and right on!
Album sales determine whether a performer is being recognized by music fans and with Katharine McPhee not achieving shows the public is not interested. Her music career and actress roles will turn out to be a loser, just like the man she is marrying
They left out some others too – like Elliot Yamin. His 2007 Christmas Album tanked. I’m not sure how much it sold, but my Target had over a hundred after Christmas that they couldn’t even give away!
Anyway, this year they did change their format. They placed all singers with past experience in the Top 12. Singers who in some cases were professional with prior record deals, prior music videos, prior bands, prior wins on Star Search (children’s) and two foreigners who were also pros – one being a “ringer” who was at MCA Records when Randy Jackson was there – they also spent over 2.5 million dollars promoting this Irish Lass, but she couldn’t even sell 500 records. So what do they do? Put her on AI hoping they can clear out a warehouse of her old CD’s…..
So it’s a big change this year – we have all contestants who are good looking and all have professional pasts – either record deals or prior experience with singing in semi-professional bands. We’re going to see this from now on. They need to sell records, Platinum Records.
Neo Knot
I loved this very informative clip of actual cd sales vs popularity contest. Life is really great when the AI contestants that never had any “Star Appeal” (Taylor Hick, Rubem Studhard, Flake Lewis…), somehow don’t sell many cds when marketed in the real world. They could not have received any more promotion than they did from appearing & even winning AI & still TANK.
They did not disrespect the legendary Fantasia whatsoever. They stated her numbers of sales & pointed out that her 1st cd went platinum & her 2nd release did not do as well… So deal with it.