In today's music world in order to have any impact there has to be a huge media blitz. We just had the biggest sales week of 2007 because Kanye West went head to head with 50 Cent and Kenny Chesney. It's just the beginning of the big releases scheduled for this fall that should carry over into huge sales through the end of the holiday season.
Kelly Clarkson was supposed to be the leader of the pack, but her album, My December, has turned out to be a sales disappointment and is gonna need a miracle to show signs of life in December 2007. Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis have been pretty quiet all summer, but they are hoping to make a big impact in the midst of all the other releases they will be competing against. While no new beats have leaked from Blake yet, Jordin's new single, Tattoo, has been out for a month now. I am happy to report that every time I get in my car and listen to B96 they have been playing it. It's a catchy little song, but it isn't a stand-out instant smash. It's growth in airplay has been gradual thus far and it is at #40 this week on the POP Airplay chart. So far I haven't seen a video for it on MTV's TRL yet or on VH1's top 20 countdown.
Carrie Underwood is still making an impact with her phenomenal release from 2005, Some Hearts, and the numerous singles that have come from it. Even so, her highly anticipated follow up will be in stores on October 23rd. It's called Carnival Ride and the first single, So Small, has already hit #17 on the Billboard HOT 100. There's nothing small about the supreme Miss American Idol's talent or career.
I will be in line at my favorite music store to buy Carrie's, Jordin's and Blake's new releases. They aren't in competition with each other as far as I'm concerned, but I'm predicting that Carrie is heading toward her highest one week sales numbers so far.
In addition to supporting my favorite Miss American Idol's this season, no doubt about it, the most highly anticipated upcoming release has got to be the Sweet Soul Odyssey that is is the follow-up to the best selling album of 2005. Mariah Carey has set the standard that any American Idol would strive to live up to. It's been over two years since Mariah released The Emancipation of Mimi and I have started the countdown to December 4th 2007 when we can finally enjoy her new material.
