Chris Daughtry provides some free publicity for Ed & Live Options

[livefan1999]

American Idol finalist, Chris Daughtry recently signed a recording deal with RCA Records/19Recordings. 19Recordings is a company run by the producer of American Idol, Simon Fuller. Often 19Recordings links up with RCA Records, as Clive Davis works with American Idol on backing many Idol finalists.

There has been a widespread press release issued on behalf of those labels about the signing of Chris. In the release, there is mention of Chris having collaborated with Ed in the past six weeks. The AP release has been picked up by hundreds of newspapers around the country and I've seen it on paper sites as far away as Malaysia.

Just a little more public mention of Live and perhaps a prompt to get those unfamiliar with the band to put the info in Google. Maybe more fans interested in Live's works.

Here is the paragraph in the release which mentions Ed and Live:

"'This won't be a pop album,' he said. Over the past six weeks, Daughtry has been writing new songs and collaborating with some major artists, including Ed Kowalczyk of Live and Fuel's Carl Bell. He also plans to collaborate with Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger and other major artists, Daughtry said."

[Gertjan]

Is it free publicity or name dropping?

[livefan1999]

Is it free publicity or name dropping?

From my point of view, considering the complex and successful publicity machine behind Chris and Amerian Idol and the large fan base for any American Idol production, be it a cd, television show, magazine, whatever, I'd consider it a little free publicity. Somehow I think Chris and all that is currently behind him don't really need any names to "drop" as sales figures for any of these Idol finalists are huge. Chris' single has been at the top of the charts for weeks.

[tswart1]

A couple things....

1) If I was going to drop names, I would not drop Ed or Carl Bell. If anything Ed and Carl will name drop Chris.

2) Chris is far bigger than Live and Fuel. Over the rest of time, he could outsell these 2 bands in the US.

[mfitz804]

1) If I was going to drop names, I would not drop Ed or Carl Bell. If anything Ed and Carl will name drop Chris.

Good point. He might as well drop my name if those are the names he's going to drop.

[SJN1279]

A couple things....

2) Chris is far bigger than Live and Fuel. Over the rest of time, he could outsell these 2 bands in the US.

That is a pretty bold statement. Chris is 26 years old and hasn't done jack yet. By the time Ed was 26 years old, his band put out 4 albums and sold over 15 million records. Right now, Chris is huge in the US because of a reality show. He has a lot to prove before you put him in the same sentence as Ed K. or Carl Bell.

[tswart1]

That is a pretty bold statement. Chris is 26 years old and hasn't done jack yet. By the time Ed was 26 years old, his band put out 4 albums and sold over 15 million records. Right now, Chris is huge in the US because of a reality show. He has a lot to prove before you put him in the same sentence as Ed K. or Carl Bell.

I meant from this point forward. Not overall. I based the statement on Live's pitiful sales in the US. If that trend continues, he could very well sell more than LIve and Fuel. Live may not even sell 1 million records in the US.

[SJN1279]

I meant from this point forward. Not overall. I based the statement on Live's pitiful sales in the US. If that trend continues, he could very well sell more than LIve and Fuel. Live may not even sell 1 million records in the US.

Then thats a realistic statement. I can see Daughtry's first CD selling pretty well in the US. And who knows what Live's next move will be. I guess we'll see.

I can't see Fuel doing much in the future either. They lost a lot of fans when they lost Bret.

[Gertjan]

Point taken. I guess I underestimated the polularity of Chris

Btw, the winners of the Dutch Idol series were hyped beyond reason but all of 'm lost most of their fan base within six months. I'm sure their first records sold pretty well but they are merely considered a product of the show, not artists.

[livefan1999]

Point taken. I guess I underestimated the polularity of Chris

Btw, the winners of the Dutch Idol series were hyped beyond reason but all of 'm lost most of their fan base within six months. I'm sure their first records sold pretty well but they are merely considered a product of the show, not artists.

That has happened to some here in the U.S., too. Particularly the second-place winners. Even Ruben seems to have been struggling somewhat. He was the second year winner in the U.S. Kelly Clarkson, well, we know how great she is doing, but that is because she left behind the style Idol wanted her to do and did her own thing. Fantasia had her first cd sell well and she is doing a lot of other projects, but I don't hear much about her recording, etc.

I think Chris pulled a much larger fan base than most of the Idols. If he holds true to the style of music he professes to enjoy writing and performing, along the lines of what he did in the competition, I think he'll do pretty good. Whether or not he will have long-range success, who knows. I'm glad for him, but at the same time, I sometimes get a little frustrated for all of the musicians out there who beat their heads up against the wall to get recognition while some of those coming off Idol get instant recognition. I know Chris has been playing for a long time, too, so maybe it is his time to move forward and have a successful career.

[beau99]

Even Ruben seems to have been struggling somewhat. He was the second year winner in the U.S.

Actually, he's doing gospel music, which doesn't get much promotion beyond word of mouth.

[livefan1999]

Actually, he's doing gospel music, which doesn't get much promotion beyond word of mouth.

I don't think Ruben began with Gospel, but recently switched over. Also, Gospel music is a very big genre with a huge fan base. Maybe it doesn't cross over to where fans of rock hear about Gospel artists, but those who are interested in that type of music know who is good and who is not. Who is doing well, etc. An example is George Huff who finished fourth on American Idol 3. He signed with Word Records, a Gospel/Christian label. He received a nomination for one of his songs at the award ceremony for Gospel/Christian music, the GMA Music Awards, which is the equivalent of the Grammy Awards for music in general. He also has a song on a compilation cd which has been charting at 4 for many weeks. He was recently picked up by a Gospel television network to have one of his videos run regularly. Doing A-Ok and he finished fourth.

George is a very outgoing, positive, open performer. He welcomes his fans and he welcomes any and all publicity, media request, etc., that he gets. Ruben, on the other hand, has always been a little less willing to embrace all that is involved in the media world and other things necessary to promote your music. Also, many question the style of song he writes. Guess they're just not as well-received as others in that genre.

This post has been edited by livefan1999: Jul 14 2006, 3:14 pm