• 205 Flava claims secret payoffs to 'American Idol' winner Ruben Studdard

  August 6, 2003
  In response to a lawsuit filed by Ruben Studdard, the winner of the second edition of Fox's American Idol, the owners of Birmingham, Alabama clothing maker 205 Flava, Inc. have made explosive allegations about secret payoffs to Ruben. The Birmingham News reports that 205 Flava owners Willie and Frederick Jenkins allege that they paid Ruben at least $1,000 per week to wear their 205 jerseys, a clear violation of Idol rules if true.

• 'American Idol' winner Ruben Studdard sues maker of '205' jerseys

  August 1, 2003
  In a new development to a conflict that we first reported in June, the Associated Press reports that Ruben Studdard, the winner of Fox's second American Idol competition and a RIAA gold-record recipient, has filed a lawsuit against 205 Flava Inc., the manufacturers of the "205" jerseys that Ruben wore on Idol. In the lawsuit, Ruben asks for an injunction to stop the unauthorized use of his commercial image by the corporation, as well as a share of the profits generated from its prior unauthorized use.

• 'American Idol' runner-up Clay Aiken's single hits 8th week as #1 in sales - by 600 units

  July 30, 2003
  E! Online reports that "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night", the million-selling single from American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken, clung to first place on the U.S. Nielsen SoundScan charts for an eighth straight week in today's Top Singles Sales chart. Aiken's single, which was just certified platinum by the RIAA, beat out Korn's new single, "Did My Time," by a mere 600 copies sold.

• 'American Idol' winner Ruben Studdard receives gold single from RIAA

  July 29, 2003
  If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Ruben Studdard, the winner of Fox's second American Idol but a runner-up to fellow finalist Clay Aiken on the charts, became the fourth Idol recipient of a Record Industry Association of America ("RIAA") award. Ruben received a gold record, signifying 500,000 copies sold, for his debut single "Flying Without Wings" b/w "Superstar." As discussed in this story, Ruben joins Kelly Clarkson (the first Idol winner), Clay Aiken and the finalists from Idol 2 in selling over 500,000 copies of their debut singles.

• 'American Idol' finalist Clay Aiken awarded first platinum single of 2003

  July 29, 2003
  What do these people have in common: Elton John; Charlie Rich; Pink Floyd; Lee Ann Womack; Clay Aiken? If you answered "million-selling singles," move to the head of the class.

• Fox's 'American Idol' wins 'Program of the Year' from TV Critics Association

  July 24, 2003
  The Hollywood Reporter reports that Fox's American Idol was selected as "Program of the Year" at the 19th annual Television Critics Association ("TCA") Awards, held Saturday night in Los Angeles.

• 'American Idol' judge Randy Jackson has gastric bypass surgery

  July 19, 2003
  "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson, who in the past has been critical of less-than-svelte contestants on the FOX program and adviced them to lose some weight to improve their presentation, has apparently now decided to take his own advice... in a drastic manner.

• 'American Idol' judge Simon Cowell lands $2,000,000 book deal

  July 16, 2003
  When you're hot, you're hot, and right now Simon Cowell is on fire. Reuters reports that Cowell has just signed a $2 million deal with Random House for a book about the hit TV talent show.

• 'American Idol' finalists Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard have CDs delayed until September

  July 3, 2003
  MTV reports that the upcoming full-length CDs from American Idol winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken, both of which were scheduled to be released on August 19, have been delayed until September and will now be released at least a week apart.

• Clay Aiken falls from top spot on Billboard chart but remains top-selling single

  July 3, 2003
  The vague standards for the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart have finally caught up to American Idol finalist Clay Aiken. According to Billboard, Clay's CD single, "This Is The Night" b/w "Bridge Over Troubled Water" fell from first to third on the Hot 100 Singles this week, with Beyonce Knowles's "Crazy In Love" (which is not available as a CD single) taking over at #1. Clay's single retains the top spot on the Billboard/Nielsen SoundScan Hot 100 Singles Sales chart for the third week in a row, however.

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