Simon Fuller the man behind the American Idol plan - 19 Entertainment/Robert Sebree photo

Video Beat EXTRA Part 2 - American Idol creator Simon Fuller TIES UP AMERICAN IDOL WINNERS

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

When checking the list of all the American Idol winners all but one Jordan Sparks signed with the management firm 19 Entertainment which was founded by American Idol creator Simon Fuller. If you believe that incest is best then this is one example - IT'S DOWN TO THE FINAL 4 - Part 1 AARON KELLY ELIMINATED - Recommended TV Listings

Sunday May 9, 2010

IS THE FIX IN?

There seems to be an excessive amount of favoritism from American Idol judges towards Lee DeWyze. In the results show he was the first saved and is always praised. DeWyze continually goes off key but receives no criticism from the judges, what he does receive is support.

Conversely the two best voices remaining in the final four are Crystal Bowersox and Michael Lynche. Their voices are stronger and have more timber than DeWyze. They NEVER go off key or as the judge's wrongly refer to as pitchy.

Funny enough this weeks mentor Harry Connick Jr. who is a legitimate musician called the judges out and the told them, "The word pitchy does not exist judges. You have to stop saying that!"

He is right in my over 30 years in the music business I have never heard the term until these off the mark judges used it and we must add... they use it TOO MUCH. It's as if pitchy is the only word they know.

With all of the praise given to DeWyze it raises the suspicion that the fix is in for him to win. WHY? Good question.

When checking the list of all the American Idol winners in some way all signed with the management firm 19 Entertainment which was founded by American Idol creator Simon Fuller. If you believe that incest is best then this is one example.

Fuller was Chief Executive of 19 Entertainment, based in London, Los Angeles, and New York City, which he founded in 1985. Prior to forming 19 Entertainment, from 1981 to 1985, Fuller worked at Chrysalis in publishing (Chrysalis Limited) and A&R (Chrysalis Records). In 1983 he was responsible for signing Madonna's first hit 'Holiday' to the company. When he discovered Paul Hardcastle in 1985 he started his own management company aged 25. Hardcastle went to #1 in the US and UK single chart with his Vietnam war song, "19".

Fuller owned at least 75% of the business since it's founding in 1985, in March 2005 he sold 19 Entertainment to CKX, Inc. in a cash and stock deal worth over $200 million. The stock ownership indicates that he is still involved with the company. Does one hand wash the other?

Fuller remained in his role as Chief Executive of 19 and became a director of CKX, a position which gave him creative control over all CKX's assets including the Elvis Presley Estate, Muhammad Ali's business interests, and other iconic rights properties, until January 2010 when on approaching the end of his 5 year contract with CKX signed when the company bought 19, he opted to start a new firm, XIX (also 19 with Roman numerals) Entertainment, while continuing to work with CKX / 19 as a consultant and Executive Producer of 19's shows, continuing his close relationship with his former business.

Fuller has it coming and going. American Idol appears to function as a tryout or proving ground for Fullers' interests. In some way 19 Entertainment signed all of the winners. Idol largely functions as a talent contest for Fuller to have it going both ways from the audition stage coming in and then signing the winners to a management contract and from there controlling their careers after deprting Idol.

The 49-year-old Fuller (to be 50 May 17) makes money from the Idol Top 10 tour then makes more money from management of the winners and other chosen Idol contestants. Record sales are factor as another source of a revenue stream.

On August 17, 2007, it was announced Jordan Sparks had signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records/Zomba Label Group, becoming the first Idol winner to join the label group. David Archuleta (Season 7, runner up), Kris Allen (Season 8, winner), and Allison Iraheta (Season 8, 4th place) also joined the label group, making them the only four Idol contestants who signed a contract with them.

Sparks has stated that she has recorded some songs for the album but the bulk of the recording would be done in Los Angeles after her tour was over. She said the album would be "Top 40, radio-friendly, uplifting stuff" hopefully mixing "the pop rock sound of Kelly Clarkson with the R&B edge of Beyonce". Her debut album came out on November 20 and November 27, 2007. Some critics thought the album's ubiquitous and age-appropriate American Idol material has helped Sparks to find a secure future.

When a management firm chooses to sign someone other than talent the main issue is can the talent be manageable or are they too strong headed in what they think is right and will be counter productive in their career development. No management firm wants to sign a talent that doesn't cooperate with management decisions.

That scenario can lend itself to who eventually wins the American Idol contest. Red flags rise when the number of votes said to have been tabulated exceed the ratings of the number of viewers. Votes are accepted within a two hour voting period in which the voting lines are open. There lacks a non bias third party company to account for the accuracy of the numbers American idol present. The question is WHY NOT?

This season not only is it the worst of the talent chosen to compete but the judges are terrible in their biased critiques. It's as if Randy Jackson is going to break out in song and sing Zip-Ta_Dee_Do-Dah… Oh, oh, my what a wonderful day with Brear Rabbit trailing behind him. The entire judge's panel is sickening and appears to be critiquing according to orders and plan.

By far Crystal Bowersox has the best most flexible voice in the competition with Michael Lynche second. Given the competition if Bowersox doesn't win then there should be an investigation as to WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES WITH AMERICAN IDOL? THE RED FLAGS ARE UP.

AMERICAN IDOL WINNERS

SEASON - CONTESTANT - MANAGEMENT

1. Kelly Clarkson - 19 Entertainment

2. Ruben Studdard - 19 Entertainment

3. Fantasia Barrino - 19 Entertainment

4. Carrie Underwood - 19 Entertainment

5. Taylor Hicks - 19 Entertainment

6. Jordan Sparks - 19 Entertainment recording contract

7. David Cook - 19 Entertainment

8. Kris Allen - 19 Entertainment

9. ??? STAY TUNED

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