Kelly Clarkson – Creativity Faces Controversy

Thursday, June 28, 2007

American Idol and Grammy-award winner, Kelly Clarkson, is currently having some ups and downs in the recording industry.  The young star rose quickly to fame after capturing the first Idol crown in 2002, and winning two Grammy’s for her debut album, Thankful, and the second one, Breakaway, in 2006.  Kelly signed a huge contract with NASCAR in January of 2007, where she’ll be featured as spokesperson in all their television spots, at charitable events, and at the gala award dinner in December. 

The young star is receiving some unfavorable publicity, however, as the press is reporting declining sales and controversy over her latest album, My December, just released this past Tuesday.  Ms Clarkson chose to use her own people as co-writers this time, rather than keeping writer Max Martin who played a major part in the success of Kelly’s Since U Been Gone, along with hits by other pop artists including Britney Spears and ‘N Sync.  Not only have sales fallen, we hear that her manager, Jeff Kwatinetz, and Clive Davis, manager of the RCA label she records under, have both left.  Kelly’s arena tour has also been cancelled due to lagging ticket sales.  When the latest single, Never Again, failed to hit number 10 on the Billboard charts, people began to wonder if Kelly’s rise to stardom was short lived. 

Tom Poleman, operations manger of the top 40 radio station Z100 in NYC, expressed his disappointment at the time when hearing the song.  Radio stations and fans, however, remain solidly behind her, believing that the album will sell no matter who writes it, simply because of Kelly’s talent and her personal appeal.  We have to wonder though if the words to the songs in My December are too angry and bitter, lacking the magic of the ones in Kelly’s previous hits.  After all, in the long run, it doesn’t matter as much in the record business how well you’re liked, as how many records will sell.