• 'American Idol' finalist Josh Gracin recalled to Marine duty, leaves live tour

  July 2, 2003
  If music is in Joshua Gracin's future, Uncle Sam wants to reclaim his present. E! Online reports that Gracin, 22, the fourth-place finisher on Fox's American Idol this spring despite being on active duty in the U.S. Marines, has been recalled to his unit and will have to leave the upcoming live tour of Idol finalists.

• 'Idol' finalists Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard keep 1-2 slots on Billboard chart

  June 26, 2003
  Another week, another 1-2 finish. According to Billboard magazine, the two finalists from this spring's American Idol on Fox, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard, continue to hold the top 2 slots on both the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 Singles and Billboard/Nielsen SoundScan Hot 100 Single Sales charts. Clay's "This Is The Night" b/w "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on RCA Records holds on to the top spot and also holds #27 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Ruben's "Flying Without Wings" b/w "Superstar" on J Records (RCA's sister label) remains second and is #30 on the Adult Contemporary chart, while the song "Superstar" holds down #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart and #15 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

• 'American Idol 2' live tour outselling 'Idol 1' tour

  June 24, 2003
  According to Billboard, the tour featuring the stars of the second season of Fox's American Idol is outselling the tour that followed the first season. The tour featuring most of the Idol 2 finalists, including Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard (who currently have the top 2 singles in the U.S.), has completely sold out 23 of its 41 venues, and another 10 are close to sell-out level. By contrast, the tour following the first Idol, which featured Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini, sold out just 10 of its 30 venues, with just 10 more over 70% capacity.

• 'American Idol' finalists Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard grab top 2 spots on Billboard

  June 19, 2003
  Yesterday, we wondered how the new singles from 'American Idol' finalists Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard would chart with a full week of sales data. Today we know.

• 'American Idol' dominates U.S. singles sales charts

  June 18, 2003
  The American Idol phenomenon marches on. According to the Nielsen SoundScan singles charts, which are based on actual record sales in the U.S., three singles from Idol were in the top 20 for the week ending June 12. In first place, as it had been for at least the previous two weeks, was "God Bless the U.S.A." by the Idol second-season finalists. In sixth place was the Idol finalists' other single, "What the World Needs Now Is Love." Both of these singles appear on All-Time Classic American Love Songs, the compilation album featuring all the Idol finalists.

• 'American Idol' competition moves to record stores, as three CDs released today

  June 10, 2003
  The wait is over; let the real competition begin. Today, three of the last four American Idol finalists released CDs. Idol 2 winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken released CD singles, which were discussed here, and Idol 1 runner-up Justin Guarini released his first full-length album, cleverly entitled Justin Guarini.

• 'American Idol' spinoffs still dominate Amazon.com sales charts

  June 5, 2003
  Even though only two of the five are currently available, American Idol spinoff CDs continue to dominate the Amazon.com sales chart. Continuing in first place is Clay Aiken's RCA CD-single "This Is The Night," backed with the Simon and Garfunkel classic "Bridge Over Troubled Waters", scheduled for release on June 10. In fourth place, behind Clay, Metallica, and Led Zeppelin, is Ruben Studdard's Jive CD-single "Flying Without Wings," backed with the Carpenters' hit "Superstar", also scheduled for release on June 10.

• 'Idol' movie 'From Justin to Kelly' cancels press screenings; raising 'dud' talk

  June 4, 2003
  Overlooked in all the success of Fox's American Idol and the solo singing careers of Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken is the forthcoming movie From Justin to Kelly, starring the winner and runner-up from the first Idol (Clarkson and Justin Guarini). Maybe it's been overlooked for a reason.

• 'American Idol' voting overtaxed U.S. phone systems

  May 27, 2003
  The parallels with Florida 2000 continue to pile up regarding the American Idol finale vote. Now it's disenfranchisement.

• Did misdials cost Clay Aiken the title on 'American Idol'?

  May 27, 2003
  The American Idol finale voting saga reminds us more of the 2000 Florida presidential election fiasco every day. In an uncanny imitation of the "hanging chad" controversy that forced the Bush-Gore Florida vote count to the U.S. Supreme Court twice, the Associated Press reports that more people may have tried to vote for runner-up Clay Aiken than for winner Ruben Studdard ... but misdialed the number, so their votes weren't included in the final count.

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