• Clay Aiken logs 13th straight week atop Canada singles sales and 12th week in US

  September 12, 2003
  Is 13 unlucky? Nielsen SoundScan reports that American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken's debut single "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night" has now spent 13 straight weeks atop the Canadian Singles Sales chart, placing #1 again in the week ended September 7. In addition, the single recorded its 12th week -- and second straight -- atop the U.S. SIngles Sales chart.

• 'American Juniors' single "One Step Closer" soars in Canada but falls in U.S.

  September 12, 2003
  What's happening with the single of "One Step Closer" by the American Juniors, the five-member group (with a few runners-up) created on Fox's American Juniors? The answer is very different depending upon whether you live north or south of the 49th parallel.

• New Clay Aiken 'Invisible' single to be issued by RCA as promo-only

  September 11, 2003
  Billboard reports that RCA Records has selected a second single for American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken ... but that the new single, "Invisible," will not be commercially relesed. Instead, like American Idol 1 winner Kelly Clarkson's second single, "Miss Independent," "Invisible" will be issued only in a promotional version for radio stations and other industry recipients.

• 'American Idol' finalist Kimberly Locke signs with Curb Records

  September 11, 2003
  Could the third time be a charm? Billboard reports that Kimberly Locke, who placed third on Fox's American Idol 2 this spring, will now become the third finalist to receive a recording contract. Kimberly has been signed by Nashville-based Curb Records and will once again compete with Idol winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken ... although now the battle will shift to the marketplace.

• 'Idol' judge Simon Cowell says Clay Aiken's success due solely to choice of song

  September 10, 2003
  The sniping from American Idol judge Simon Cowell toward Idol runner-up Clay Aiken may have begun during American Idol 2, but it clearly isn't over yet. Entertainment Weekly (subscription required) reports that Simon dismisses Clay's chart success compared to Idol winner Ruben Studdard -- and even his platinum single -- as merely a consequence of Clay's decision to cover Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

• Clay Aiken single spends 12 straight weeks as Canadian #1, 11th week as U.S. #1

  September 4, 2003
  Clay Aiken's single just won't fade away. The American Idol 2 runner-up's debut, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night," celebrates its 12th straight week at #1 on the Nielsen SoundScan Canadian Singles Sales chart, holding off the challenge from Hilary Duff's "So Yesterday" for the third straight week. In addition, Clay's single reclaimed first place from Hilary's single on the Nielsen SoundScan U.S. Singles Sales chart, its 11th week at #1 in its 13th week on the chart.

• Clay Aiken single spends 11th week at #1 in Canada but remains #2 in U.S.

  August 29, 2003
  Despite the ongoing battle in Canadian Idol, an American Idol still rules the singles charts north of the border. According to the Nielsen SoundScan Canadian Single Sales chart, American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken holds the #1 spot for the week ending August 24, the 11th straight week, with his single "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night."

• FOX drops 'American Juniors' from fall schedule

  August 29, 2003
  E! Online reports that, as we speculated earlier this week, Fox has dropped American Juniors from its fall 2003 schedule.

• Release dates set for CDs from 'American Idol' Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken

  August 21, 2003
  In the wake of Clay Aiken's single falling from the #1 slot in the U.S. after 10 weeks on top, the Associated Press reports that release dates have finally been set for the full-length CDs from Clay and his fellow American Idol 2 finalist Ruben Studdard. Both CDs were delayed from their original August 19 release date, probably because the success of Clay and Ruben's singles made album quality more important.

• Clay Aiken's single continues to hold #1 in Canada for 10th week

  August 21, 2003
  Nielsen SoundScan reports that, although American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken's single "Bridge Over Troubled Water" / "This Is The Night" dropped to second in the U.S. for the week ended August 17, it continues to hold the top spot north of the border for the 10th straight week. On the Canadian Singles Sales chart. Clay edged out Hilary Duff's "So Yesterday," reversing this week's U.S. chart positions.

MORE CLAY AIKEN NEWS