October
31
Carrie Underwod: Queen of the 'Idol' Empire
Carrie Underwood's label wants the world to see her as a newly accepted member of the country sorority and not the winner of some new-fangled sining competition. The achievements of her opening week sales of "Carnival Ride" are all tied to its place in the country pantheon: Did you know it's the best-selling first week of any country sophomore album since the inception of SoundScan and the largest country debut in digital album chart history, with digital sales of 44,928?
But to many, she will always be the top idol of the American Idols, who now must all look up to her as the single most popular winner.
Underwood's "Carnival Ride" sold 527,00 copies in its first week and when combined with the opening week of her debut, "Some Hearts," Underwood has the highest collective total of opening week sales for any "Idol" finalist. Sure it's a stretch but there has to be a way to get Clay Aiken's name off one record. Underwood's combined first week sales are 842,000, besting season two runner-up Aiken's total of 808,000. "Carnival Ride" saw a 40% spike over the debut week sales (315,000) of "Some Hearts."
Every other "Idol" champ has seen their tally dip when the second album is released.
Kelly Clarkson
"Thankful" - Released April 15, 2003 – 297,000
"Breakaway" – Nov. 30, 2004 – 250,000
Ruben Studdard
"Soulful" – Dec. 9, 2003 - 417,000
I Need an Angel – Nov. 23, 2004 - 96,000
Fantasia
"Free Yourself" – Nov. 23, 2004 - 240,000
" Fantasia" – Dec. 12, 2006 - 113,000
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Aiken's first 2 albums total first week sales are 882,833 so he still holds the top place no matter how you slice it.
Measure of a Man sold 612,589 first week and
Merry Christmas With Love sold 270,010 in its first week.
Posted by: IsThatSo | October 31, 2007 at 09:49 PM
Ooops. I'm bad at math. The total for Aiken's first week sales on the first 2 CDs is 882,599.
Posted by: IsThatSo | October 31, 2007 at 09:57 PM
carrie underwood is undeniable the success story of amrican idol, but cla aiken first 2 album was measure of a man 613,000 and merry christmas with love 270,000 total is 883,000. just to correct a few facts.
Posted by: pat free | November 01, 2007 at 07:05 AM
I'd just like to know why so many music writers are so desperate to degrade Clay's talent and achievements? If you don't like the music he sings, that's fine. But at least graciously accept his accomplishments.
Posted by: IdolFanatic | November 01, 2007 at 10:01 AM
Carrie sure is doing great - way to go girl. But the Aiken comment left a sour feeling with me. Sheesh - way to mess up a fine article.
Posted by: cg | November 01, 2007 at 10:40 AM
Just to clarify: Christmas albums are not being counted here, just as they are always an exception within an artist's contract. This is strictly full-length non-holiday, non-concert albums.
And Clay is a target because a) his second album was terrible; b) he appears to be hiding something; and c) we don't have Justin Guarini to kick around anymore.
Posted by: The Set List | November 01, 2007 at 02:50 PM
Not only do you have totally made up criteria for this comparison but you are changing the criteria in mid-stream. The numbers don't lie - if you use the correct numbers, that is. And if you don't, this blog is complete fiction. As for hiding things, Clay's hiding his disdain of "journalists" who can't resist making potshots just because all the others do. Gosh, be a man and step up. Do some research (remember how from journalism school?) and find out who the guy really is, not just what those bastions of journalistic integrity, a/k/a tabloids, say about him.
Posted by: charlie | November 02, 2007 at 09:28 PM
Christmas albums aren't expected to sell that well right out of the gate. Did you know that the highest first week sales for a Christmas CD in the soundscan era was 185,000? Clay now holds the record as the artist with the highest debut week for a Christmas CD at 270,000.
That is an accomplishment that no-one has come near since 2004. Josh Groban's Noel just opened in the 62,000 range in his first week. But go ahead and talk your trash Phil. Its what you do.
Posted by: IsThatSo | November 02, 2007 at 09:54 PM