Taylor Dropped From J Records

[petertorklover]

According to EW,  http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/01/two-idol-winner.html

It seems winning American Idol is no guarantee that you'll actually keep your major label deal. Just before Christmas, rumors began circulating that season 2's Ruben Studdard, who released three albums for J Records since 2003 (the latest, 2006's The Return, to modest sales), had been dropped. (Studdard continues his management contract with 19 Entertainment.) Now the Hollywood Insider hears that season 5 winner Taylor Hicks has also lost his J Records deal. "Taylor is going to record his next album on his own," said a label rep. "He is no longer on the J Records roster." Back in March 2007, we wrote about Hicks' performance on the charts and later analyzed several more Idol hits and misses. What does this mean for the latest winner, Jordin Sparks? Or, with season 7 kicking off on January 15, the franchise's star-making power?

[felinefrenzy41]

According to J Records, Taylor is STILL on their site.

http://www.jrecords.com/

[IdolObserver]

Some thoughts :

1) Not sure if it's true, but if it is, I say, good riddance. Taylor got almost minimal support from J Records and it's really a surprise that he sold that many albums.

Better to go with a label that is willing to support his kind of music instead of the assembly line pop type e hear everyday on the radio.

2) Just hopes that whatever label he ends up with will support his touring plans.

3) If this news is true, it sucks big time. The agreement is a 3-record deal for winning the contest and he did it fair and square.
This would simply show that the label does not keep its promises. I wonder if there are any separation agreements ( monetary ) I mean in the contract...

[petertorklover]

I think there's lag time between J Records changing their page and the facts at hand.  

That said, this is FABULOUS NEWS!  This will free Taylor up to make the record HE wants, with the people HE wants to write and produce with.

There's been a lot of hints over the past few months - we should have picked up on it... just to name a few:

- The fact that Taylor's TH.com website recently disappeared and redirected to his myspace makes a LOT of sense now.

- When Taylor put up "The Fall" on his myspace a few months ago might have been the parting point. We should have figured that out.

- No re-stocking of Taylor's CD in the stores? Red-Flag alert!

- His promotion of STAX records (t-shirt wearings) and working with a Stax artist "Steve Cropper" on his next album - a BIG hint there.

- The recent comment about "was" when asked about Clive's involvement in his last record was a give-away that some of us picked up on.

I completely believe Taylor is no longer with J Records, and that's fine with me. Taylor looked absolutely giddy during his recent trip to Asia and on the Liberty Bowl, so I think he's happy with it too. How it came about is still a mystery.

Oh yea - one more - the "Cost Effective Tour" makes a lot more sense now as well

[webchic00]

Cool. Great way to start a new year.

[felinefrenzy41]

I have to agree with this being good news! Where ever he goes.....he will do great!

[IdolObserver]

BTW, a lot of things make sense now.

Notice that TH.com website recently disappeared from the internet and anyone who wants to go there is redirected to Taylor's myspace page.

 Notice that many of you have been complaining about not being able to buy any Taylor Hicks CD on most major retailers. This makes a lot of sense now. J Records were not interested in pushing him anymore.

Clive Davis has a certain "kind" of artist in mind he believes can sell and Taylor's kind of music just isn't it. Clive wants the Fergie', the Rihanna's, the sultry singers of the world. Those kind of singers play well of top 40 and sell to today's crowd. People like us are not who Clive wants to cater to. Thus, he was never enthusiastic about Taylor winning in the first place ( and neither was Simon). That's just a fact.

[felinefrenzy41]

BTW, a lot of things make sense now.

Notice that TH.com website recently disappeared from the internet and anyone who wants to go there is redirected to Taylor's myspace page.

 Notice that many of you have been complaining about not being able to buy any Taylor Hicks CD on most major retailers. This makes a lot of sense now. J Records were not interested in pushing him anymore.

Clive Davis has a certain "kind" of artist in mind he believes can sell and Taylor's kind of music just isn't it. Clive wants the Fergie', the Rihanna's, the sultry singers of the world. Those kind of singers play well of top 40 and sell to today's crowd. People like us are not who Clive wants to cater to. Thus, he was never enthusiastic about Taylor winning in the first place ( and neither was Simon). That's just a fact.

Well said! TP4U!

Okay, in honor of this good news.....I PASS AROUND THE CATNIP TO "OUR KIND" AND BRING UP THE GLASSES OF GOOD CHEER TO OUR SWEET SOUL MAN! 

[webchic00]

Well said! TP4U!

Okay, in honor of this good news.....I PASS AROUND THE CATNIP TO "OUR KIND" AND BRING UP THE GLASSES OF GOOD CHEER TO OUR SWEET SOUL MAN! 

hey, I need some of that "catnip" hehehehh!!!

[oldiebutgoodie]

Did they drop him or did HE drop THEM months ago?  The hints have been there--and I kinda sorta believe
its mutual. I think he sensed it and started planning for this-and although he's never said it openly, he gave
subtle clues all along-and I agree that he looked and sounded great at the Liberty Bowl and in Asia-and it has been noted over and over by the Asian press that he was the first Idol to go there- a precedent-and we all know that the Asian press LOVED him there.  Maybe now with this freedom comes a more favorable light for radio airplay etc.

NOW the rest of the world will get to see what we in the Soul Patrol have always known-that when Taylor
does things, he does them to the best of his ability, HE's satisfied with it and it will show. I don't see him frowning or worrying about it-I seem him smiling and happy at his FREEDOM to do things the way he's learned to do them-Ruben survived-the other Idols have survived-and SO WILL HE!!!

Forward Soul Patrol and Taylor!!!

[Debbie in Florida]

I don't want to worry, but, with that said, if it is true:  what will happen to Taylor's new CD and DVD and Tour that he just Plugged on the Liberty Bowl?  I hope that this isn't bad news.  He does look happy, I will be the first to admit it...  I just want the best for Taylor...  He deserves it for as hard as he has worked...  Pls. tell me not to worry....  and that he will be ok..  Thanks.  Just my opinion....  

[oldiebutgoodie]

Darlin' don't worry about Taylor-he's a survivor from way back.  Remember he had 10 years of experience doing this and put out two CD's before AI ever heard of him-AI just got him before the public eye.  Remember how we kept running into people who saw him on AI and voted for him but then didn't know about the CD or the book or anything?  That's because J Records knew this was coming and thought that they could
shut the door on his career since he wasn't the one everyone wanted to win anyway-but we all know that
Taylor's not going anywhere-not with the Soul Patrol around-especially not THIS Soul Patroller-as long as there's breath in my body and a way for me to get to a venue and a way for me to squeak along with his music I'll be there--so NERTZ to J Records--its their loss!!!

[felinefrenzy41]

I don't want to worry, but, with that said, if it is true:  what will happen to Taylor's new CD and DVD and Tour that he just Plugged on the Liberty Bowl?  I hope that this isn't bad news.  He does look happy, I will be the first to admit it...  I just want the best for Taylor...  He deserves it for as hard as he has worked...  Pls. tell me not to worry....  and that he will be ok..  Thanks.  Just my opinion....  

Don't worry about our Tay-Tay. This is probably the best thing that can happen to him at this point. Not only does this release him from Clives arms, it will hopefully move him further away from the Idol connection and he can sail on to who he really is.....A talented artist who has much to offer and plenty to share.  

[felinefrenzy41]

I think it's important to remember too that things are different for Taylor from the pre-Idol days. He has a solid foundation laid now and has many doors of opportunity opening up. He has made priceless connections that he was not exposed to before. This didn't happen over night and I'm sure part of him being so happy over the holidays was because of this news.

I say "THANK YOU CLIVE!" 

[foxymoxy]

With Taylor's experience in the music industry, I don't worry about him making the right choices and hope that he will, nevertheless, choose talented and smart people to guide him in his future endeavors.

Happy New Year, Taylor! 

[tayme]

Well thank you,   Now Taylor can show Clive how it's REALLY done   Go Taylor  

[lah]

I agree, no surprise here, there have been hints for months now.  but I don't
think it was a one-way decision of them dropping him.  He obviously wanted out.
That said, this is GREAT news.  I'm so excited for the new CD.  Imagine
what Taylor can do without J Records behind him.  They were just
not a good fit for him and never supported him.  I'm so glad they won't
have anything to do with his new CD.

Things are just looking better and better all the time!!!

[JSNorris]

I say...this is a good thing for Taylor...no longer will he be held back by JRecords or Clive (neither of whom did him any favors!!)...he's FREE...Free to be the phenomenal artist we all know he can be...here's to a new path for Taylor!!!

[oldiebutgoodie]

Just one more observation--this explains the delay in releasing the DVD-contract renegotiations etc.  But I am not worried-after all he's from Alabama like me-we tend to do things differently from the rest of the country anyway-"cussed stubbornness"-and when all the dust settles-he'll walk away smiling that gorgeous impish little grin that says "How Do Ya Like Me Now"--(no offense to Toby Keith)-and the Soul Patrol will be right with him!!

Hey Clive--got a great song for ya--maybe one of your artists should record it--

"Take This Job and Shove It"!!!

[jatterb]

I don't want to worry, but, with that said, if it is true:  what will happen to Taylor's new CD and DVD and Tour that he just Plugged on the Liberty Bowl?  I hope that this isn't bad news.  He does look happy, I will be the first to admit it...  I just want the best for Taylor...  He deserves it for as hard as he has worked...  Pls. tell me not to worry....  and that he will be ok..  Thanks.  Just my opinion....  

As a rule of thumb, label drops don't happen overnight. A lot of discussion usually takes place before the drop, so rarely is an artist actually surprised when it officially happens. In addition, drops often occur weeks before the public ever officially receives word.

If the above is true where Taylor and J Records is concerned, then the comments Taylor recently made about the new CD, new DVD, and new tour for this year would have been made either after the split or with the full knowledge that a split was in the works. That would mean that all three are still in the works and are still planned despite the drop.

[Debbie in Florida]

I know, I'll try to stop worrying!  This probably explains the delay in the DVD release.  I feel badly for him, that he wins AI fair & square, and they don't promote him.  He should be proud; he has accomplished so much.  I just don't want to see him disappear.  I PLAN on Being a SOUL PATROLLER for Life...  Thanks for listening....   

[lah]

I don't want to worry, but, with that said, if it is true:  what will happen to Taylor's new CD and DVD and Tour that he just Plugged on the Liberty Bowl?  I hope that this isn't bad news.  He does look happy, I will be the first to admit it...  I just want the best for Taylor...  He deserves it for as hard as he has worked...  Pls. tell me not to worry....  and that he will be ok..  Thanks.  Just my opinion....  

I don't think this is a surprise to Taylor at all.   There have been several hints left in the last few months
by him that something was going on with the label.  I think it's been in the works for a long time.  I wouldn't
be surprised to hear this was something Taylor even initiated.   There was mention a while ago that he was possibly
buying out his contract.  There have been so many things to indicate this has been coming for awhile and seeing
and hearing Taylor the last few weeks, it's obvious he's excited about what's happening, so it's all good. 
The next  CD is going to be amazing and he won't be tied down by a record company that doesn't get him
or support him.

Good things are a-coming.  Time to celebrate.

[Debbie in Florida]

OldieButGoodie/Feline/Jatter:  Thanks for your notes.  I am a worrier by nature.  I'll try to stop worrying and feel that Taylor has it all planned out.  We know that he is smart, and that he makes good choices...  Thanks for the encouragement.  Like I said, I plan on being a Soul Patroller for life...  

[taylorgotsoulno1]

i for one don't think this is good news
for months we complain why we do not hear taylor songs on the radio ....for months we complained that there are no cd's in the stores
now can you imagine all this happened  under a major label...now think of what will happen with out a major label

i do not see a lot of successful on their own artist getting breaks, radio play or pushing his record. or getting it in the stores..can we say back to selling cd's out of a bigger trunk???

taylor needs a major label and fast before this info distory any chance he has for his next album..i say go where micheal buble is..his music is different i think taylor would fit right in on that label

[petertorklover]

i for one don't think this is good news
for months we complain why we do not hear taylor songs on the radio ....for months we complained that there are no cd's in the stores
now can you imagine all this happened  under a major label...now think of what will happen with out a major label

i do not see a lot of successful on their own artist getting breaks, radio play or pushing his record. or getting it in the stores..can we say back to selling cd's out of a bigger trunk???

taylor needs a major label and fast before this info distory any chance he has for his next album..i say go where micheal buble is..his music is different i think taylor would fit right in on that label

Hasn't hurt Elliott Yamin none.