As everyone who gives a fig knows by now, Kelly Clarkson won the American Idol competition last night. She is now in the hands of the 19 Group of Companies (scroll to bottom):A Brief Introduction…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
As everyone who gives a fig knows by now, Kelly Clarkson won the American Idol competition last night. She is now in the hands of the 19 Group of Companies (scroll to bottom):A Brief Introduction…
Article comments
26 - Alice Keymer
The only person getting rich from this contract is Simon Fuller, the bubble will burst soonder than he thinks!
27 - Pete
People aren't forced to buy the music these programs generate but while they do people like simon cowell will get richer, do you blame him or the buying public
28 - Joel
Wow. Simon is a genius. I had no idea.
I can't wait for the "behind the music" VH1 show in 10 years where all the Idol stars of today tell their story of woe, where any ambition they may still have to be a performer is crushed by this contract. Maybe someone wants them to sing the Star Spangled Banner at a ballgame someday, but they'll have to ask 19 first (and give them at least 50% I'm sure). And no matter where in the universe they may travel, throughout the perpetuity of all time, there shall be no escape.
Of couse there won't be any tell all on VH1 at any time in the future, because 19 won't allow it.
Wow. What must it feel like to knowingly sign your life away??!!!
29 - D
And I thought Korean artists had it bad.
It sounds like Koreans may get it slightly worse or about the same but the cd's from their labels are at least cheaper I think.
30 - Gabriola Island
Simon is a dork. He shouldnt be aloud to take advantage of those kids like that.
31 - Eric Olsen
Interesting that this has been revived again - interesting also that no new contract information has leaked out in the last year-and-a-half. These guys run a tight ship.
32 - Jim Erickson
Kelly gets 50% Simon Fuller gets 50% That's high for a manager, but he made her.She sold 1 million records at $14.00
royalty rate would be around 10% so she made at least 1 million dollars.That's not bad.5-7 year contract, 1 record a year, at least a mil per year.
33 - Eric Olsen
That's true of course in absolute terms, but the questions are: is it fair and reasonable, would she be better off for not having signed on in the first place, and isn't exploitation still exploitation even if the exploited is getting wealthy?
I don't necessarily have the answers.
34 - Eric Olsen
we welcome your comments
35 - Natalie Davis
Exploitation is exploitation. But it could be argued, I suspect, that for many people, being an exploited millionaire is better than being exploited and penniless.
36 - Wendy Day
Just a reminder that royalty points don't kick in until the label and production company have recouped totally.
Also, just a reminder that the expenses get repaid out of the ARTIST'S royalty share, so very precious few artists EVER recoup.
This is not an industry that is conducive to artists making money from their recording contracts.
-Wendy Day
Rap Coalition
37 - PETERD
AND I THOUGHT ONLY OLD BLUES-MEN GOT SCREWED !!!!!
38 - anna
this reminds me of the East European prostitution, since i'm from there and I knew ppl in that "business" from both sides of it... the PIMP gets 50% too, and all costs are paid from the girls' half of what they make... which means, those girls are taken to foreign countries, and they DO pay for rent, food, clothes, whatever, then if they get banned by police it's them who got the trouble for 3 or 4 years.
the same with kelly, who i'm a fan of. i'm totally shocked by this contract. now, what makes it seem better thta kelly is over her debut album, which was a success - but it was her management that picked Low as single and it flopped, though i love the song.
I am in Europe i can't even count how many failures and missing chances there were for kelly coz of 19, just lately - and im not even in the business.
as for justin guarini - it was risky to have him there, after the movie flop and the dating rumors (maybe 19 started them and it went out of control?) and it is OBVIOUS that fuller didnt want to promote him - he wanted JG to flop, to get him out of the picture.
at the end, JG got a new mgmt and record deal, he's managed by ricky martin's benny medina (remember j-lo) and he's got better chances and surely a more fair contract than this.
and, since kelly arrived in the position where she can do it, she can sue fuller whenever she want, like the aforementioned boygroups did with pearlman - she can get out of this and have a fair one - if she'd only see what this is about.
she goes on tour with clay aiken... it seems like she'll never be able to get away from the show and be recognized as an artist until she is under contract with 19. and i DO believe that with her voice, songwriting talent ("thankful" "you thought wrong") and working ethics, she can make it better without fuller, and wont end like the spice girls (where lets say there was no talent at all).
39 - anna
so anyone think that "P.I.M.P." is 50 Cent?
No way, the original MF PIMP is Simon Fuller.
40 - Jim Erickson
Ok Kelly got the same contract as any other artist.One thing about being signed, you have to to be in the game.Her contract is no more "fair and reasonable" than any other artists.This point hasnt ever changed, you can either sign and they will exploit you (remember people, we are all sitting here talking about her)or they will just take someone else.I think a more interesting point would be that if she didnt win this contest, we would have never heard of her, since she doesnt create her own music and tour.As for Benny, I have worked with him before.I dont think Ricky Martin is doing all that well lately.Hes back trying to release another english album, since the Latin market hasnt done as well..
"Ricky Martin (news) will deliver his first English album in a number of years.
But the crossover phenomenon, once regarded as a slam-dunk to gain broader exposure and bigger audiences for Latin acts, is treated by labels with more caution in the face of shrinking budgets and diminished sales across the board."
41 - Dave
""In addition. I hereby grant to Producer the unconditional right throughout the universe in perpetuity to use, simulate or portray (and to authorize others to do so) or to refrain from using, simulating or portraying, my name, likeness (whether photographic or otherwise), voice, singing voice, personality, personal identification or personal experiences, my life story, biographical data, incidents, situations and events which heretofore occurred or hereafter occur, including without limitation the right to use, or to authorize others to use any of the foregoing in or in connection with the Series (or any episode or portion thereof) and the advertising, promoting or publicizing of the Series or any Series episode by Producer, the Network, its operations, activities or programming services and with any merchandise, tie-in, sponsor, product, or service of any kind by Producer, the Network, or any of its programming services, and in any other manner whatsoever as Producer may elect in its sole discretion. I understand that, in and in connection with the Series, I may reveal and/or relate, and other parties (including, without limitation, other contestants, the judges, Producer and the host and/or co-host of the Series) may reveal and/or relate information about me of a personal, private, intimate. surprising, defamatory, disparaging, embarrassing or unfavorable nature, that may be factual and/or fictional.""
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No wonder Clay Aiken can't do a damn thing about the gay rumors that Simon Cowell started about him. Is this contract for real? It can't be forever, that has to be against the law. I hope Clay writes a tell all book someday.