Phillip Phillips' Debut Album Won't Appear Until January Or February

It has been long standing tradition that the first album from an American Idol winner appears in stores during the fall of the year of their victory. This puts the collection out in time for the rush of Christmas gift giving. However, this year will be different. 2012's American Idol champion Phillip Phillips has confirmed that his debut album will not be released until January or February. He says that most of it will be recorded after the annual American Idols Live concert tour ends. Phillip Phillips has also commented, "They really want to give me some time to make an album that represents me."

There has been a buzz in response that January and February are "dead" times of the year for the music industry and this seems an extremely risky schedule for launching Phillip Phillips' post-Idol career. However, one big difference between Phillip Phillips and most of the American Idol winners of the past is that his music appeals strongly to a more adult oriented audience. His coronation song "Home" has proven to have much stronger legs than coronation songs of the past. Part of this is due to its embrace by adult pop radio where "Home" is inside the top 15 on the chart. Two of the biggest hit adult oriented albums in recent years, Adele's mega-hit 21 and Lady Antebellum's pop breakthrough Need You Now, were both released early in the year bucking older trends. I expect a new single in time for Christmas and an audience primed for new Phillip Phillips music by the single and "Home." With less competition, he could have a major hit on his hands.

• Watch "Home"

_{Photo by Theo Wargo / Getty Images}