• Clay Aiken's #1 streak comes to an end in both U.S. and Canada

  September 18, 2003
  It took a King to do it, but Clay Aiken's streak of weeks with the top selling single in either the U.S. or Canada on the Nielsen SoundScan charts has finally come to an end. Clay, the runner-up on American Idol 2, watched his platinum single, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night," drop to second on the U.S. Singles Sales chart and to third on the Canadian Singles Sales chart for the week ended Sept. 14, as the remixed Elvis Presley single "Rubberneckin'" jumped ahead of Clay on both charts upon its release.

• 'American Idol 3' adds audition sites in San Francisco and Honolulu

  September 12, 2003
  The Associated Press reports that Fox's American Idol 3 has added two new audition sites for the month of September: San Francisco, California and Honolulu, Hawaii.

• Clay Aiken logs 13th straight week atop Canada singles sales and 12th week in US

  September 12, 2003
  Is 13 unlucky? Nielsen SoundScan reports that American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken's debut single "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night" has now spent 13 straight weeks atop the Canadian Singles Sales chart, placing #1 again in the week ended September 7. In addition, the single recorded its 12th week -- and second straight -- atop the U.S. SIngles Sales chart.

• New Clay Aiken 'Invisible' single to be issued by RCA as promo-only

  September 11, 2003
  Billboard reports that RCA Records has selected a second single for American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken ... but that the new single, "Invisible," will not be commercially relesed. Instead, like American Idol 1 winner Kelly Clarkson's second single, "Miss Independent," "Invisible" will be issued only in a promotional version for radio stations and other industry recipients.

• 'American Idol' finalist Kimberly Locke signs with Curb Records

  September 11, 2003
  Could the third time be a charm? Billboard reports that Kimberly Locke, who placed third on Fox's American Idol 2 this spring, will now become the third finalist to receive a recording contract. Kimberly has been signed by Nashville-based Curb Records and will once again compete with Idol winner Ruben Studdard and runner-up Clay Aiken ... although now the battle will shift to the marketplace.

• 'Idol' judge Simon Cowell says Clay Aiken's success due solely to choice of song

  September 10, 2003
  The sniping from American Idol judge Simon Cowell toward Idol runner-up Clay Aiken may have begun during American Idol 2, but it clearly isn't over yet. Entertainment Weekly (subscription required) reports that Simon dismisses Clay's chart success compared to Idol winner Ruben Studdard -- and even his platinum single -- as merely a consequence of Clay's decision to cover Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

• 'American Idol' bans songs from performance due to rights and overuse concerns

  September 5, 2003
  Don't look for the next Bruce Springsteen on the next American Idol. The Associated Press reports that Idol has banned certain songs, including ones by Springsteen, Mariah Carey, James Taylor and Carly Simon, from being performed during auditions or on the show.

• Clay Aiken single spends 12 straight weeks as Canadian #1, 11th week as U.S. #1

  September 4, 2003
  Clay Aiken's single just won't fade away. The American Idol 2 runner-up's debut, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night," celebrates its 12th straight week at #1 on the Nielsen SoundScan Canadian Singles Sales chart, holding off the challenge from Hilary Duff's "So Yesterday" for the third straight week. In addition, Clay's single reclaimed first place from Hilary's single on the Nielsen SoundScan U.S. Singles Sales chart, its 11th week at #1 in its 13th week on the chart.

• 'Idol' finalists Justin Guarini and Julia DeMato will sing at 9/11 benefit skate

  September 4, 2003
  Billboard reports that American Idol finalists Justin Guarini, the season 1 runner up, and Julia DeMato, from season 2, will perform at the second annual "Stars, Stripes & Skates Icetravaganza," Sept. 7 in Uniondale, N.Y. The skating show, hosted by former Olympic figure skating silver and bronze medalist Nancy Kerrigan and actor (and former NYC firefighter) Steve Buscemi, will benefit the Coalition of 9-11 Families and the 9/11 Families Give Back Fund.

• Clay Aiken single spends 11th week at #1 in Canada but remains #2 in U.S.

  August 29, 2003
  Despite the ongoing battle in Canadian Idol, an American Idol still rules the singles charts north of the border. According to the Nielsen SoundScan Canadian Single Sales chart, American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken holds the #1 spot for the week ending August 24, the 11th straight week, with his single "Bridge Over Troubled Water" b/w "This Is The Night."

MORE AMERICAN IDOL NEWS