Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard Dropped From Major Label

1. These two never should have won in the first place. There is a flaw in the voting process that allows groups to flood the voting mediums with votes and block out others. Remember the girl from Hawaii who should have been gone weeks before she actually left the program. Chris Daughtry put it best. He stated he already was established. He just needed people to know he was out there. That is why a farmgirl and a barmaid did well. Blake Lewis was another who already had a band. Elliot- I just give him credit for persistence. He overcame many obstacles to be successful, but he can sing as can Fantasia.

Jay at 7:04AM on Jan 8th 2008

2. Very few in the American Idol family can truly sing and perform. The key is "perform"...without having both a person is not going to make it in the industry. These are known as the "one time wonders." Honestly, the only American Idols, whether winners or not are: Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson & Carrie Underwood. Therefore, the per centage of people that actually can sing and that have actually "made it" is extremely small. The per centage would be those 4 persons out of the "hundred's of thousands" that have auditioned. I must admit I am certain there were certainly some that auditioned that didn't move on with American Idol for whatever reason. However, if those persos truly pursue their dream they will "make it" with out without American Idol! Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks were a joke, as was that "curly" head gay guy that came in next to Kelly Clarkson. That guy was a piece of work and had NO talent whatsoever...Justin somebody I believe it was? I enjoy watching American Idol and I truly believe it brings much entertainment to us in the television world! It's days are numbered though, nothing can last forever! So, young people that try to win the American Idol title I so "GO FOR IT" because you never know what might happen to you and your career!

Rand Zuhlke at 7:24AM on Jan 8th 2008

3. I enjoyed watching Taylor Hicks but his music is not for me. I really love Ruben's voice and the way he seemed to get joy out of singing but his CDs were not that great. If he could hook up with the right writers and producers he would have a kick - ass CD. I would tell Ruben to keep looking and find the right fit.

fran at 7:44AM on Jan 8th 2008

4. I believe Taylor Hicks was blackballed from the get-go. He hasnt been promoted as most other winners were.

Plus, His win shows that the American Idol voting system can be manipulated. During his year, the Soul Patrol figured out how to beat that system by bypassing busy land lines and putting cell phones in thousands of voters hands. Nonstop text votes were counted away while most other contestants' voters were wasting their time on busy land lines.

Chock it up as the older generation of music lovers are smarter!

Donna at 8:06AM on Jan 8th 2008

5. Taylor Hicks is a BIG TIME TALENTED MAN. Ruben is great too, he just needs to move a little. Taylor and Ruben both were not promoted or talked about like the others. If you find some of that head banging crap and men with eyeliner good stuff then I am more and more sorry for the music business everyday. I personally like clean music, we must remember the world is wicked and we don't have to like it.

carolyn at 8:12AM on Jan 8th 2008

6. Until they fix the voting system, they will not be getting the person with the most talent as their American Idol. In Taylor Hicks instance, it took a few thousand rabid fans, voting thousands of times, and running up huge cell phone bills, and using computer programs, to crown the clown the winner. American Idol has become a joke, do the the voting system

jaybird at 8:14AM on Jan 8th 2008

7. None of the American Idols are that talented. Truly talented artists WRITE THEIR OWN MUSIC or have a one in a million voice like Whitney Huston used to. The songs written for these mass produced machines are typically horrible. Do you really think any of these Idols can compare to Eric Clapton, Green Day, Bon Jovi, Faith Hill, Patti LaBelle, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc... Absolutely not.

mary nourse at 8:21AM on Jan 8th 2008

8. Jaybird, no big cell phone bills. Soul Patrol prepaired in advance y adding unlimited text messaging for $19.99 BEFORE everything got down to the wire! They also created a plan funded with donations across the nation to buy Cingular Go Phones and phone cards, held educationa mini-siminars at local Walmart stores to teach fellow Soul Patrolers how to text if they did not know, and hosted numerous voting parties across the nation using these donated Go Phones to text their votes on finale night.

The other contestants' fanbases were just outwitted.

All the above to name only a few of their tricks of the trade. I know because I was one of those involved! LOL

Donna at 8:38AM on Jan 8th 2008

9. i purchased clay aikens and carrie underwood recordins loved them so much i used them for christmas gifts lilly

lillian cutsinger at 8:41AM on Jan 8th 2008

10. Golly gee. I guess you don't read the writers' credits on CD liners, do ya. Carrie Underwood could out-sing and out-write Faith Hill any day. She could probably whoop her ass and walk away with Tim McGraw too, but she's too nice for that.

Sherry at 8:46AM on Jan 8th 2008

11. we wouldnt be saying this if they made it. but reality checks need to be made here. 1st of looks play a part in this. not to mention who mostly buys cd's. young kids. soul patrol catered to an older audience and ruben also. but ruben went through a bad experience where he lost all his money by a family/manager. but it also is promotion. look at clay. his single and cd was promted and pushed more then rubens was. i think they both can make a comeback if they get the right p.r. people and promote to their target audiences

adore at 9:05AM on Jan 8th 2008

12. I have been reading the comments here and I have to say that for the most part, all of you are wrong. People talk about how the old ways of music business are corrupt and while I agree, the new ways are even worse. Rueben deserved to be dropped because he did not take his career seriously. Taylor, on the other hand, went out and promoted and toured like a freak. I went to see a lot of his shows and he is FAR MORE entertaining than Chris Daughtry (who by the way, can't really sing all that well live), Carrie Underwood, Fantasia (again, who can't sing well), Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson and Katherine McPhee. Taylor will be ok. Kelly Clarkson has already been forgotten. Her new album went completely un-noticed. Carrie will be forgotten in another year or two as well.

Eric at 9:16AM on Jan 8th 2008

13. First of all, I AM a performer, so I can speak intelligently on this subject. 98% of you have no idea what you're talking about unless you've walked a mile in their shoes. Furthermore, it doesn't take "talent" to "make it" in the industry. However, it DOES take talent to stay in the industry, and on top of the charts.
I personally prefer Country Music, so I will put Jo Dee Messina on the chopping block. She is pretty, and has a good figure for her age group. As for her voice, she can't sing live to save her life!! She sounds like she's been smoking since the age of 13!
Jessica Simpson, now there's a good one! What is she about? She's gorgeous, has a great body, but again...can't sing to save her life! She whines when she sings!
She was married to Nick Lachey, and that helped boost her career for a minute. (and that pitiful show) Now she has to sell shoes and extensions for people to look at her seriously? She's can't even go see her boyfriend play ball because she's a distraction! (Imagine that!) And as for her new "Country" album, what the HELL is that?? It really is true that if you have money, you can do whatever you want. I think it will be funny to see her fall flat on her face with this adventure. If she thinks she's going to reach Carrie Underwood status...keep dreaming sweetie! Carrie has TALENT!
For someone in the Country Music Industry, I'm so ashamed they would allow Jessica to record the album. But, there is nothing that speaks louder to record execs than the almighty dollar. Proof? I have had a tremendous outcome with my demo. So why am I not "on the charts yet"? Because I don't have $70,000 to hire the best songwriters and producers. Without money, and the right songwriters, you might as well forget it. And I'm 32, so that leaves Idol out. (and Nashville Star is a joke) So why are these people allowed to continue to record for their labels and be successful? Because men and women would rather see an attractive person singing and being sexy in a video, than listening to the quality of the music. Sex sells!
As for the "curly headed "gay" guy" for Rand, it was Justin Guarinni. And... he has an amazing voice. He chose his path, and it wasn't to be in the spotlight. Very few people that make it have true talent. Sorry to say... It's mostly about the image you portray to the public. Good example, Taylor Hicks. Everybody loved his energy and his personality!! They loved that so much, THEY voted him their "American Idol". Talent had NOTHING to do with it, and we all know it.
To make it in the music industry is one thing. To stay in the industry and be at the top of your game...that's a whole different story.

Riviera at 9:20AM on Jan 8th 2008

14. From first hand experience, I can tell you that it there was a market and an audience for both of these very talented me to win from, then that was the market that they should have been geared to. As with many labels, you have young people in positions of power who know absolutely nothing about music. The know how to bob their heads up and down, but to understand a melody or how a singer should interrupet the lyrics to the melody. They should make A&R reps have a degree in music or at least know how to play an instrument. They artist are signed based on what they do know, which is how to sing and the style that best suits them. Then the labels come in and say "Oh no, you don't know what to do and we do" and change them into something that they are not, and then punish them for not having great album sales. But whose fault is it? I've seen so many artist who were dropped from their labels for this very same reason and truth be told, it's the label and the A&R people who messed it up. Just let them be themselves, and it will sell. Taylor and Ruben are not Chris Brown, Justin or Robin Thicke. They are really talent artist in their on right and should be allowed to showcase that.

Lorraine at 9:25AM on Jan 8th 2008

15. Taylor Hicks rocked American Idol. But like many of you said he catered to the older generation. If they would of marketed him in that way, especially to reach those who didn't watch the show, he would do alright. I hope he does release another album on his own. As for Carrie Underwood and Faith Hill, please, Carrie would out sing Faith in a minute. Fantasia was the best performer Idol ever had, i wish i could of been in NY to see her in "The Color Purple" I bet she rocked it.

renee at 9:32AM on Jan 8th 2008