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Music News: Billboard: Kelly Could Sign With Big Machine
Member Since: 1/27/2012
Posts: 15,057
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Billboard: Kelly Could Sign With Big Machine
Now Free From Her 'Idol' Contract, What's Kelly Clarkson Worth?
Emerging from American Idol's shadow after 13 years, the show's inaugural winner -- now a free agent -- looks to a new and more lucrative recording contract.
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Kelly Clarkson has notched another American Idol first. Arguably the biggest star to emerge from the Fox show (she's tied with Carrie Underwood at three No. 1 albums), Clarkson is the first alum to fulfill the recording contract she won in 2002. And with the release of her seventh studio album, Piece by Piece, on RCA (it debuted at No. 1 the week ending March 8 with 97,000 track-equivalent albums, according to Nielsen Music), she's now a free agent who could command a hefty new deal.
So where will the pop star, who has notched 10 top 10 hits and sold 13 million albums, end up? Sources tell Billboard Clarkson is in early talks to directly sign with Sony Music's RCA, as opposed to her current structure that goes through Idol's recording arm, 19 Recordings. (It's worth noting that advances for Idol grads have dropped dramatically. Today, a winner's advance could be as low as $100,000. Three years ago, an Idol champ commanded $250,000, and back when Clarkson won, $500,000 or more -- $650,000 when adjusted for inflation.)
What might Clarkson fetch today? Between $1 million and $3 million per album, depending on terms, say insiders, with skeptics pointing to the lower end of the scale due to the singer's age (almost 33) and already mature career. And while normally the incumbent label holds a home-field advantage because it has the artist's catalog, in Clarkson's case, it comes with some heavy baggage.
In 2007, Clarkson and then-Sony BMG head Clive Davis clashed in a bitter public feud over the direction of her dark album My December. Coming off her biggest hit, 2004's Dr. Luke and Max Martin-helmed "Since U Been Gone," Davis felt the album wasn't commercial enough, in part because Clarkson wrote most of it herself. Clarkson would later say that Davis "told me verbatim that I was a '****** writer' ... and how I should just shut up and sing." (Davis currently holds the title of chief creative officer at Sony Music, which owns RCA.)
A number of sources speculate that if Clarkson doesn't re-sign with RCA, Big Machine Label Group could be a leading contender for several reasons: Its pop success with Taylor Swift (aided by Universal's Republic Records) has proved the Nashville-based shop can work both pop and country, and Clarkson has stated her desire to make a country album; BMLG president/CEO Scott Borchetta is now a mentor on Idol (which partnered with Universal Music in 2010); and, on a personal note, Clarkson's mother-in-law, Reba McEntire, is very close to Borchetta and recently signed to his new Nash Icon label. (Clarkson's manager, Narvel Blackstock, is McEntire's husband; Clarkson is married to his son, Brandon.) Borchetta and RCA declined to comment, but Blackstock tells Billboard, "We love the team at RCA. They're great to work with."
Still, when asked if Clarkson planned to re-sign with RCA, Blackstock adds that it's too soon to say. "She hasn't focused on it. Her new album just came out."
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http://www.billboard.com/articles/ne...source=twitter
Thoughts?
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 23,488
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Member Since: 11/8/2011
Posts: 31,648
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This would actually be a good move for Kelly.
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Member Since: 5/22/2011
Posts: 21,227
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That'd be cool. Carrie's contract is ending soon, and a lot of fans want her to move to BMR too. Imagine Kelly and Carrie on the label? 
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 11/22/2010
Posts: 10,782
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I predicted this weeks ago. Follow the machine, Kelly.
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Member Since: 1/27/2012
Posts: 15,057
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I think RCA is going to do everything they can to keep Kelly.
At the same time, I feel like both RCA and Kelly have gotten too comfortable together. I feel like a new label would maybe get her to stop being so lazy...
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Member Since: 3/30/2011
Posts: 9,692
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Quote:
Originally posted by jpsketch
I think RCA is going to do everything they can to keep Kelly.
At the same time, I feel like both RCA and Kelly have gotten too comfortable together. I feel like a new label would maybe get her to stop being so lazy...
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Meh. Big Machine is a lot more powerful than RCA, especially since country is dipping into the country world so often these days. RCA would only be able to offer her money that probably don't have.
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Member Since: 10/15/2011
Posts: 7,114
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Big Machine is most likely since Scott is a longtime friend of Reba and is signed to their NashIcon Brand. She was on their Valory Brand for some time. Reba has also launched a label too, so I could also see her on Starstruck Records.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 29,531
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Member Since: 5/9/2012
Posts: 38,050
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That'd be a good move, honestly.
They know how to dwell with pop cause of Taylor and they recently just signed some pop artist.
They're also pushing that Who Is Fancy guy and his song 'Goodbye'.
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Member Since: 3/2/2014
Posts: 2,164
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I hope she goes with BMR  No RCA again, please Kelly!
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Member Since: 8/28/2012
Posts: 10,506
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Ah, I really hope so since she is putting out a country album. RCA blows.
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 8,025
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so her next album will definitely be country then....
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 23,128
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It sounds like a good idea.. they'd do her justice if she wants to do country
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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Quote:
Originally posted by 50thStateofMind
so her next album will definitely be country then....
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We knew that tho...
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 12,296
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that would be great move 
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 19,483
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Big Machine would be a huge step for Kelly. A new chapter indeed. Maybe even she'll get a script for her music videos. 
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 1,456
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It would be great for her. Hope that it happens. I'll be so disappointed if she sticks with RCA.
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Member Since: 10/17/2011
Posts: 8,965
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Member Since: 4/3/2014
Posts: 5,036
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mezik
That'd be cool. Carrie's contract is ending soon, and a lot of fans want her to move to BMR too. Imagine Kelly and Carrie on the label? |
Imagine Kelly & Carrie duet.
Or Kelly and Taylor :O
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