Forbes Magazine has released a top ten list of the American Idol alums who have garnered the most bucks over the past year. Forbes' "rankings of the top-earning American Idol alums are based on earnings from album sales, concerts, endorsements and other income from May 2009 through April 2010."
Forbes reporter Dirk Smillie notes that "the pop music market, now saturated with close to 100 of the show's alums, is showing signs of Idol fatigue. Earnings by some of Idol's top vocalists have nosedived over the past year. The show that reshaped television and the music business just isn't minting cash for its stars like it once did."
No. 10: Kris Allen
$672,000
No. 9: Clay Aiken
$800,000
No. 8: David Archuleta
$1.4 million
No. 7: Jordin Sparks
$1.8 million
No. 6: Jennifer Hudson
$2 million
No. 5: David Cook
$2.3 million
No. 4: Kellie Pickler
$4.3 million
No. 3: Chris Daughtry
$5.4 million
No. 2: Carrie Underwood
$7 million
No. 1: Kelly Clarkson
$8 million
There are definitely some surprises on this list. Kellie Pickler # 4? Really? Wow, those red high heels and certain "enhancements" shall we say are definitely paying off. Original Idol Kelly Clarkson continues to rule the charts almost 10 years after her triumph on the original incarnation of the show, which is truly remarkable.
It will be interesting to see which of these stars will fade away and who will continue to shine in the years to come.
Stay tuned!
What happene with mister Adam Lambert ????
ReplyDeleteIt's true that Adam Lambert has sold twice as many albums as Kris Allen. But Lambert does not write or produce any of his songs, and he does not make a lot of money through CD sales because he's just the performer. Allen also landed some key Ford commercials, which pay a pretty decent sum.
ReplyDeleteIf Lambert's tour, which is just beginning, does well, he should make the list next year.