Idol Chartwatch, July 14: New Idol Music on the Horizon

It happens every year at about this time. Idol-related CDs and singles begin to slip on the charts, and there’s nothing new out there to replace the tried and true! But the new music is coming and it’s coming soon.

To kick things off, Ace Young's self-titled debut drops this week. The album is produced by music giant Desmond Child, and Ace wrote or co-wrote 11 of the tracks. There is also a Diane Warren tune on the album.

Taylor Hicks is releasing a compilation CD, Early Works, due out August 11th. The CD will include songs from In Your Time and Under the Radar, plus a version of “Georgia” that was not included on any other previously-released Hicks CD. He is also writing songs, and said in a recent MTV interview that a music “megastar” is interested in recording one of his new tunes. No clue as to who this is other than that the star in question is female.

David Archuleta fans have been clamoring for a new single, and their wait will end August 11th with the release of “Crush,” a track from his upcoming CD, which will be released in early November.

Also due out August 11th, Kristy Lee Cook’s first single, “Fifteen Minutes of Shame.” Kristy Lee recently signed with Arista/Nashville and will release her first CD in the fall.

Daughtry fans will have to wait until 2009 for his sophomore album, but a new, “deluxe” version of Daughtry will hit the racks September 9th. The CD will include four new tracks – acoustic versions of “Home” and “What About Now,” a live version of “It’s Not Over,” and a cover of “Feels Like the First Time.” A behind-the-scenes DVD will also come with the package.

Jennifer Hudson’s much-anticipated debut drops September 30th. Her first single is already showing signs of being a hit. Also tentatively set for a September release are debuts from Melinda Doolittle and LaKisha Jones.

Last, but not least, Jon Peter Lewis’ second effort, Break the Silence, is set for release on July 22nd.

Idol Singles

Phil Stacy has a new one on the charts this week. “Old Glory” debuted at #57 on Hot Country Songs. Also new this week, “Lose my Soul” by TobyMac, featuring Mandisa. The song is #28 on Hot Christian Songs.

David Cook’s “Time of My Life” has stabilized, most likely due to interest generated by his being on tour. The song has moved up on the Hot 100 Airplay chart from #57 to #53. This is huge, considering the reluctance of radio stations to play Idol-related singles, and along with the Pop 100 Airplay chart, this placement shows solid airplay across the board.

“Time of My Life” remains on all the major charts, including the Hot 100 (52), the Pop 100 (47), Pop 100 Airplay (42), Hot Digital Tracks (37), Hot Digital Songs (50), Hot Adult Contemporary (8), and the Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks (46).

Jennifer Hudson’s “Spotlight” moved up from #38 to #33 on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, and is up to #15 on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay listing.

Here’s how the rest of the Idol-related singles charted this week:

• “No Air” (Jordin Sparks’ with Chris Brown): Hot 100 (19), Hot 100 Airplay (9), Pop 100 (18), Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (25), Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (26), Hot Adult R&B Airplay (36), Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks (16), Hot Digital Tracks (29), Hot Digital Songs (31), Hot Adult Top 40 (15), and Hot Dance Club Play (48).
• “Tattoo” (Jordin Sparks): Hot Singles Recurrents (21), Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks (9), Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay (21)
• “One Step at a Time” (Jordin Sparks): Hot 100 (70), Pop 100 (35), Pop 100 Airplay (33)
• “Feels Like Tonight” (Daughtry): Hot Singles Recurrents (10), Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay (3), Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks (10), Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks (4)
• “Home” (Daughtry): Hot Singles Recurrents (26), Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay (19), Hot Adult Contemporary Recurrents (3), Hot Adult Top 40 Recurrents (13)
• “Over You” (Daughtry): Hot Adult Top 40 Recurrents (9)
• “On My Way Here” (Clay Aiken): Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks (26)
• “Last Name” (Carrie Underwood): Hot 100 (49), Hot 100 Airplay (55), Pop 100 (61), Hot Country Songs (13), and Hot Digital Songs (42), Hot Digital Tracks (48).
• “All-American Girl” (Carrie Underwood): Hot Singles Recurrents (19), Hot Country Recurrents (9)
• “Before He Cheats (Carrie Underwood): Hot Singles Recurrents (18), Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay (15), Hot Adult Contemporary Recurrents (14)
• “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” (Kellie Pickler): Hot Country Songs (39)
• “We Weren’t Crazy” (Josh Gracin): Hot Country Songs (14), Hot 100 (929)
• “I’ll Walk” (Bucky Covington): Hot Country Songs (36)
• “Spotlight” (Jennifer Hudson): Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart (33), Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (32), Hot Adult R&B Airplay (15)
• “When I See U” (Fantasia): Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrents (30)
• “Fall” (Kimberley Locke): Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks (18), Hot Dance Club Play (2)
• “How Many Words” (Blake Lewis): Hot Dance Club Play (20)
• “Because of You” (Kelly Clarkson): Hot Adult Contemporary Recurrents (16)
• “Breakaway” (Kelly Clarkson): Hot Adult Contemporary Recurrents (19)
• “Empty Me” (Chris Sligh): Hot Christian Adult Contemporary (13), Hot Christian Songs (13)

Idol Albums

Carrie Underwood’s Some Hearts has officially been “retired” and moved to the catalog category on the Billboard charts. An album is moved to the catalog chart if it’s over 18 months old and has dropped below #100 on the Billboard 200. Some Hearts had an outstanding run, charting on the Billboard 200 and Country list for over two-and-a-half years (release date 11/15/2005) and selling nearly 6.5 million copies.

• Carnival Ride (Carrie Underwood): Billboard 200 (35), Top Country Albums (3)
• Jordin Sparks: Billboard 200 (80)
• Daughtry: Billboard 200 (81), Top Rock Albums (22), Top Hard Rock Albums (9)
• Running Back to You (Chris Sligh): Top Christian Albums (33), Top Christian and Gospel Albums (41)
• We Weren’t Crazy (Josh Gracin): Top Country Albums (55)
• Bucky Covington: Top Country Albums (56)
• True Beauty (Mandisa): Top Christian Albums (42), Top Christian and Gospel Albums (61)

Donna Reynolds is a freelance writer based in Syracuse, New York. While entertainment sustains her emotionally, she earns her daily bread by writing and editing web copy. Check out her new website at www.idolthoughts.net. Donna loves mail, so shoot her an email at foxydonna@earthlink.net.

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