Idols Parting Ways With Record Labels: Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, and Ruben Studdard

For all of the phenomenal sales and chart success of past American Idol favorites Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, and Carrie Underwood, there is also a string of disappointments and lackluster performance. While early reports that Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, and Ruben Studdard had all been dropped by their record labels may be slightly overstating the truth, it is no secret that all 3 have failed to live up to the expectations of many in their sales totals.

2006 American Idol winner Taylor Hicks holds the dubious title of being the first champion to fail to sell 1 million copies of his debut album. So far the Taylor Hicks album has shifted only approximately 700,000 copies and it failed to generate any major hit singles. Hicks reported that he and his former label J Records have mutually parted ways, and he will record his next album on his own.

RCA Records recently confirmed that they have indeed dropped Katharine McPhee, the runner-up to Taylor Hicks, from the label. One exec stated that the label put millions behind promoting her music only to finally conclude she was unlikely to break into the pop mainstream. Her debut album Katharine McPhee has failed to sell even 500,000 copies. Some reports have claimed that she is already negotiating for a new recording contract elsewhere.

Ruben Studdard, 2003's winner of American Idol, has had some success on gospel and r&b charts as well as holding nominations for American Music Awards and Grammy Awards. However, his most recent album The Return can only be seen as a commercial failure. After debuting on the album chart at a relatively lofty #8, it has failed to sell even 300,000 copies total. Singles from the album made very little impact on the pop charts. J Records confirmed last December that Studdard had been dropped from the label. He has been exploring opportunities for acting on stage to expand his entertainment career.

_{Photo courtesy Fox Television}