Sony Music has enjoyed a very profitable long-term relationship with the American Idol franchise, but today the New York Post reports that their deal may be up – and it says producer Simon Fuller is doing “outreach” to other labels.. It says “Universal Music Group might be one option for Fuller, given his existing relationship with fellow Brit and new Universal CEO Luican Grainge.” Past Idol winners such as Carrie Underwood (11.5 million albums sold) and Kelly Clarkson (10.6 million) have given way to lesser sales for Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and David Cook.

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The downfall has begun.

tired of this competition...

They should just cancel this show, it's pathetic now..

Not Sony's loss.

This show is falling apart

Sony probably cut the deal. I mean, the winners aren't exactly pulling huge numbers anymore. And I doubt Lee & Crystal will break the trend, eveyone has forgotten of them already.

This is probably going to be the last season.

Is it sad that I don't even know who they are?

Thanks bb. I stopped watching after Carrie won.

Kelly, Carrie, Jordin, Adam>>>>>>>> I don't know the rest

Not at all. This season was the least-watched in years & the usual post-show tour sold dismally.

AI is losing popularity & credibility. Numbers don't add up, & without Simon numbers will tumble harder.

Even Sony has hopped off the AI train and they realize that these contestants are just a waste. Nobody cares about American Idol anymore. I mean, it took me a minute to even remember that Lee DeWyze won. Has ANYONE been talking about him lately?

Lee and Crystal will both flop hard.

They need to cancel this show.

They don't, AI is the TV program, not the singers comming out of it.

They make way more money for the show itself than for the singers produced. The show still holds 19 million viewers every week, they still has more viewers than almost any other show on TV right now. Yes, the singers comming out of AI are less and less popular each season, and yes the raitings are falling every season, but it's going to keep on going 'till they lower 15 million vieres or so, I give AI at least 3 more years.

Some of my favorite singers are from AI, humble, coming from the bottom and with great voices: Kelly, Carrie, David Cook, Daughtry, Archie, Allison Iraheta, Adam ,Kris, they all are very talented.