Comments on: Taylor Hicks Dropped By J Records

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:02:30 +0000

Chris was chosen well before AI ever got underway to be crowned (after that season, is there anyone who believes that it’s not one big marketing scheme?) That Taylor upset their choice made TPTB scramble. So they gave him the minimum required, very little press, and dropped him at first opportunity. So what? They care nothing about the music, only about marketing and $. He is better off this way — he’s not in it for the money. He’ll be a Jimmy Buffet — smaller, but solid, fan base, in it for the long haul and coming up with music that lasts.

By: Saundra

Saundra — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:38:11 +0000

It started on Thursday, January 3, 2008, with Shirley Halperin’s EW article
titled “Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard dropped from J Records?”http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008…omment-96209426
From the article, this was the only quote by a label rep: “Taylor is going to
record his next album on his own,” said a label rep. “He is no longer on the J
Records roster.” That quote started the rumor that “he had been ‘dropped’ by the
label because of poor sales”, and is still being spun negatively by news media
and blogs over a week later. Additional statements were revealed, which disputed
the notion they dropped him, but that the two camps reached a mutual agreement
for his next album.
—————–Tuesday, January 8, 2008 ~ OK Magazine article titled “Taylor Hicks
Parts with Record Label”http://www.okmagazine.com/news/view/3681
Taylor Hicks has split with his record company, his rep announces.
“American Idol winner Taylor Hicks has announced that he and Arista Records
have mutually agreed to part ways,” reads a statement from his camp.
No reason was specified for the separation nor was a new home for the singer
announced, but the statement goes on to say the 31-year-old is currently working
on a new album to be released later this year.
——————–
Tuesday, January 8,2008 ~ Taylor Hicks My Space announcement – “Statement
from Taylor”http://www.myspace.com/taylorhicks
A statement from Taylor:”To all my fans and The Soul Patrol, I want to take a
moment to talk about the recent news that my label and I have mutually parted
ways. The important thing for all of you to remember is that I’ve been a working
musician my whole life. This is turning the page on a new chapter of my career.
Artistic freedom and control is an exciting prospect. The things that are most
important to me is creating my art, performing it, and my fans. With the
momentum that all of you have created over the years, Taylor Hicks is not going
to stop anytime soon. I’ve started working on the new album, writing and
scheduling exciting collaborations. The DVD, Whomp at the Warfield, is in it’s
final stages, and will be released soon. So as one door closes, a new one opens
for 2008 with more excitement for all my fans than ever before. Sit tight,
because the best is yet to come!”
———-Wednesday, January 9, 2008 ~ Shirley Halperin’s EW article titled
“Katharine McPhee: the latest Idol to go indie”http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008…rine-mcphe.html
As for this recent spate of Idol exits, a rep for the RCA Music Group (which
includes Arista, RCA, and J Records) tells Insider, “With respect to Taylor, we
have an understanding that he will come back to us to play music once he’s
finished writing his new material.”
————Friday, January 11, 2008 ~ NY Daily News article titled “Katharine
McPhee voted off by RCA”http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2…off_by_rca.html(quotes
pertaining to Katharine, Ruben and Taylor)
KATHARINE ~ “We put millions behind Katharine. Many of us at the label still
love her songs. But we’re in the major leagues. We didn’t think she could break
into the mainstream. We would rather be honest.” (McPhee is talking with another
label and is due to star in the movie “I Know What Boys Like.”)
RUBEN ~ “The exec noted that Studdard put out three albums, “but there comes
a time when we have to recognize the market for adult-oriented albums is tough.
We allowed him to be a free agent, to make the record he wanted to make.
TAYLOR ~ “The same thing with Taylor Hicks. We didn’t want to shove any songs
down his throat. We wanted to make an album in the style he was comfortable
with. We mutually agreed that he’d work on an album [on his own], we’d listen,
and we’d see where we go from there. There’s no acrimony.”
————
Saturday, January 12, 2008 ~ Reuters article titled “Idol dilemma — ratings
up, sales down”http://www.reuters.com/article/tele…lBrandChannel=0
As for the “Idol” alumni jettisoned by RCA, Corson says “the door is open” to
Hicks, once he completes his album on his own. As for Studdard, “it was business
as usual,” he says.

By: Coletta

Coletta — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:50:38 +0000

Haha! Good point, GerriG. I don’t think they will believe Taylor was dropped until they see him serving up burgers at McDonald’s.

By: GerriG

GerriG — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:27:53 +0000

Colette, I know how you feel. People like to pretend ,they think it will go away. Thats how we go “Bush”in the white house.

By: Coletta

Coletta — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 06:24:36 +0000

I have read all the links and statements, and I laugh when I see that some people are still trying to say Taylor was not dropped. You are in deep denial. What do you think “mutual agreement” is? It is the label telling Taylor they’re dropping him, and him saying OK, bye. Now I hear that he isn’t really doing much in the way of writing right now. I think he needs some time to mourn.

By: Saundra

Saundra — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:08:39 +0000

Or maybe we can’t post links here? Is that why my comment has been in moderation for over an hour? Just curious and confused – post at 3:04 seemed to go through okay. Post at 1:49 still shows to be awaiting moderation.

By: Saundra

Saundra — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 23:04:52 +0000

He wasn’t dropped by the label, Coletta. If my post ever gets out of moderation, you can see links and the additional statements made by both camps regarding Taylor/J Records split.

By: Shel

Shel — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:36:35 +0000

Coletta,
I didn’t write the comment. Yes, I get it. I apologize for not separating it, but I guess I assumed the reader is intelligent enough to discern the difference in style and context. I had no sinister plan but I did think it could generate some interesting discussion. I never claimed it was fact. I’m sorry you missed the possibilities of such a discussion and don’t understand your over-reaction. I’m outta here. Have a nice life.

By: Coletta

Coletta — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:27:55 +0000

You didn’t just post the short article, you posted the long comment to it, without any separation. The comment was probably written by you. Whoever wrote it is extremely naive. Your post made you a laughingstock. If I were a Taylor fan, not in my wildest dreams would I make up a story like that, unless I knew how to state facts in a professional, believable manner. That’s assuming I HAD any facts. It’s hilarious that this bad writer claims to know that Hicks agreed not to reveal any details, although she just stated the made-up details above. Do you get it now? The post is a sham, so poorly written that I assumed at first that it was a joke. Now do you get it?

By: Shel

Shel — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:14:18 +0000

Coletta,
Your reply seems a little defensive and threatening. I would be a fool if I believed it is common knowledge about what happened. I posted the article because it contributes more information and it couldn’t possibly have anymore spin than the article above it. Either way Taylor wins, because he believes in his music, and has more integrity and class in his little finger than the label and those associated with it will ever understand.