Posted on: Sunday, October 6, 2002
'American Idol' winner Kelly now must sing for her supper
By Elysa Gardner
USA Today
She managed to slide past Justin Guarini to become our "American Idol," but does Kelly Clarkson have what it takes to soar up the pop charts?
The 20-year-old Burleson, Texas, native, who scored a record deal when she beat Guarini on the Sept. 4 finale of this summer's star-making Fox series, isn't scheduled to release a CD until the first quarter of next year (pushed back from a tentative Nov. 26 date). But insiders already are predicting a runaway hit.
"The question is not whether the album will be successful, but how successful it will be," says Airplay Monitor editor Sean Ross.
Pretty successful, so far.
Clarkson's "A Moment Like This/Before Your Love" is No. 1 on The Billboard Hot 100 after just three weeks on the charts and the single by the "American Idol" winner has shattered all of 2002's sales records for singles, selling 236,000 copies the first week of sales.
Will this be enough to save the endangered single? Many record companies have de-emphasized singles, believing that they cut into album sales. Deep discounts given to stores to stimulate singles' sales in hopes of achieving a No.1 debut on the Hot 100 chart have cut into the profitability of singles and further discouraged their release.
However Clarkson's label, RCA, didn't offer the record at discount.
"Given these (sales figures), an argument could be made that there's room for commercial singles — especially in an environment where peer-to-peer sharing and CD burning have empowered the consumer to be song-selective," says George Mayfield, director of charts for Billboard.
Sales surely weren't hurt by radio support: "Moment" made its debut at No. 31 on the "Airplay Monitor" mainstream Top 40 chart, reflecting a jump of more than 1,000 spins last week. "It helps that (Clarkson) got in there a few weeks ahead of the superstar glut" of fall releases, says Ross.
Many say that Clarkson's voice and girl-next-door charm — not to mention the success of the TV show that launched her — might prove bigger assets than her material.
"Because of what this (phenomenon) is, Top 40 is being a lot more supportive than they might be if this song walked in the door from, say, Celine Dion," Ross says.
Clarkson's label has recruited a list of songwriters and producers worthy of a big-name crooner for Clarkson's first outing. Clarkson and RCA Records exec Stephen Ferrera, who co-produced "Moment," are, according to Ferrera, "strongly considering" contributions from such hitmakers as Babyface, Diane Warren, Walter Afanasieff and Rhett Lawrence.
Ferrera promises "contemporary pop songs that showcase what an amazing singer Kelly is."
According to "Rolling Stone" music editor Joe Levy, though, that formula alone won't be sufficient. "Kelly's got a built-in audience that voted for her on the show, and that will help in the short term. But long term, the only thing that will help is her talent and her ability to manage her career. For all the protestations that they were going to find the world's greatest material, all ("American Idol") gave us were some really goopy ballads. Celine Dion or Mariah Carey wouldn't cross the street to spit on those songs. And that's who Kelly is competing against now — it's not just Justin anymore."
Levy agrees with Ross that Clarkson's accessible wholesomeness is an asset.
"People voted for Kelly because she had a sweetness and a vulnerability in addition to astounding ability. They've got to give her songs that communicate something about her personality. Otherwise, she might as well be queen of the Thanksgiving Day parade rather than a pop star," he says.
