Today, the sales numbers for the latest American Idol’s were released. Each year, the winner and runner-up of American Idol release a single and it is always interesting to see and compare the different results each year.
Winner, Kris Allen and runner-up, Adam Lambert are now a part of the number’s game.
The following charts have three numbers that are important. First, is the total number sold in the first week of release. The second number shows the highest placement ever reached on the Top 100 and the number in parenthesis is the placement for the debut week.
The following numbers are from Idollive.net
Winners
1) Ruben Studdard, “Flying Without Wings / Superstar” – 286,000* – #2 (#2)
2) David Cook, “The Time of My Life” – 236,024 – #3 (#3)
3) Kelly Clarkson, “A Moment Like This / Before Your Love” – 236,000* – #1 (#52)
4) Taylor Hicks, “Do I Make You Proud / Takin’ It to the Streets” – 190,147* – #1 (#1)
5) Fantasia, “I Believe / Chain of Fools / Summertime” – 142,141* – #1 (#1)
6) Kris Allen, “No Boundaries” – 134,458 – #11 (#11)
7) Carrie Underwood, “Inside Your Heaven / Independence Day” – 131,504* – #1 (#1)
8 ) Jordin Sparks, “This Is My Now” – 74,303 – #15 (#15)
Runners-Up
1) Clay Aiken, “This Is The Night / Bridge over Troubled Water” – 393,000* – #1 (#1)
2) Adam Lambert, “Mad World” – 114,763 – #19 (#19)
3) Bo Bice, “Inside Your Heaven / Vehicle” – 108,158* – #2 (#2)
4) David Archuleta, “Imagine” – 71,178 – #36 (#36)
5) Blake Lewis, “You Give Love a Bad Name” – 70,133 – #18 (#18)
6) Diana DeGarmo, “Dreams / Don’t Cry Out Loud / I Believe” – 65,000* – #14 (#14)
7) Katharine McPhee, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow / My Destiny” – 47,394* – #12 (#12)
Adam Lambert’s highest-selling track, “Mad World,” stands at #2 when compared to the other six singles’ debut week sales. However, if digital sales are included, Bo Bice’s “Inside Your Heaven / Vehicle” has a total of 121,423 downloads, which puts him ahead of Adam.
Kris Allen has the second-lowest debut on the chart for any winner and Adam’s highest-charting single is also the second-lowest debut for any runner up on the chart.
Last week, it was reported that the finale of Season 8 of American Idol had the second lowest audience numbers, ahead on only Season 1 which was a summer replacement show. Perhaps the numbers for Kris and Adam are influenced by a smaller audience.
There are many factors that play a role in the numbers game….immediate download ability, price differences and the popularity of the song are some of the variables that should be taken into consideration. However, the numbers are an interesting way to compare each season and their idols.
Clay Aiken is a winner in 2 ways. He is the top selling runner-up and also the top seller of both winners and runner-ups.
Let us hope that the “coronation” song that is chosen next year will help the winner and perhaps the numbers will go up.
The numbers are always fascinating! Season 2, Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken, remains the benchmark, six years later.
Good luck to ALL of these talented people!!!
I think that in a way it shows that the show is not so much about music anymore. First of all, if the TV audience really was the 2nd lowest this year AND there was about 100 million votes, which, as I understand, is the highest number of votes ever (I am sorry, I don’t really know much about this since I don’t live in the US and haven’t heard all abot it…lol), it quite simply means that there is a smaller audience which is willing to vote more. When it comes to record sales, there are only a few very addicted fans who will go and buy more than just one copy of the record.
American Idol loses the audience (even though it gets more money from votes), the idols sell less records.
That said, I totally understand the decreasing interest of the American society in the show. Even compared to last season, this year I found the show pretty boring and predictable. But that’s just my opinion, so…
Clay and Ruben, both from season 2, top the list at #1 and #2 respectively. Season 2 is also has the highest rated finale of all 8 seasons.
Yay, Clay is still # 1 !!!
WAY TO GO CLAY!!!! In my humble opinion Clay Aiken is STILL the one with the most PERFECT VOICE AND STAGE PRESENCE AND PERSONALITY. As a devoted fan for the last 6years I could not be PROUDER of him in all respects……….Marissa
Go Clay! That voice can never be duplicated…ever.
Yeah for Clay, Ruben and Season 2!
Clay will always be #1 to me.
Oh yes..the man still has it….
That really is a hard number to beat…Someone else was talking about how back in 2003, the buy the single it was like $4.99. To download a song now is .99 cents….big difference there as well…
I think it is wonderful news…Go Clay!!!
Hugs,
judy
Very nice article and interesting numbers. I forgot about the difference in price when Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard released their singles and the iTunes downloads that are not only cheaper, but much easier to get now. Clay and Ruben still top the list by a wide margin. You Go, Guys!
Oh yes..Clay Aiken is a winner in two ways. He is the top selling runner-up and also the top seller of both winners and runners-up. Whew..that’s some title and pretty hard to beat. You go Clay!!!!
Clay Aiken, STILL THE ONE!
I’m so happy that Clay and Ruben remained friends!
You go, boys! You both are the best!