Kris Allen Debuts in Midst of Big Artist CD Deluge

Kris Allen, the winner of American Idol Season 8, released his debut album on November 17, just two weeks after Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood released her third album. And if that wasn't enough American Idol competition, Adam Lambert drops his debut album on November 23, the day after he performs on the 2009 American Music Awards. If Kris Allen thought competing on American Idol was tough, he has now formally entered the music industry, which has no patience for artists who can't sell a record (CD). Although it is hoped Kris Allen doesn't become another Taylor Hicks, an American Idol winner fighting for every scrap of face time and CD sale, he just might. And it all begins and ends with CD sales...

Kris Allen released the first single, "Live Like You Were Dying," off his eponymous debut album in September and the acoustic guitar-driven tune has climbed into the Billboard Hot 100. After three weeks it ranks at #70 on the Hot 100 and #39 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart.

As for his main competition on American Idol, Adam Lambert has done nothing but create a buzz since auditioning on American Idol. His debut single, "For Your Entertainment," was Billboard's sixth highest jumper into the Hot 100, landing at #84 its first week on the chart, the same week Allen hit #70.

Although it was a good move not to release his album on the same day as Adam Lambert (which was said to have originally been the plan), Kris Allen's album sales might still be impacted and/or made to look minimal against the worldwide recording phenomenons Norah Jones, Leona Lewis, John Mayer, and Janet Jackson, not to mention the incomparable Paul McCartney -- all of whom released albums the same day. And that does not include albums already on the charts and upcoming, like Carrie Underwood's November 3 release and Bon Jovi's November 10 release, both of which have already placed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Along with Adam Lambert's upcoming "For Your Entertainment," Susan Boyle's first release, "I Dreamed A Dream," drops Monday as well.

But Kris Allen has battled what looked like overwhelming odds before. In his run to the winning position on American Idol, not many paid too much heed to the unassuming, good looking guy who did such wonderful arrangements with his musical renditions. In the end, Kris Allen's unassuming but confident manner paid off. When given the choice between a runaway vocal powerhouse (Adam Lambert), a sentimental favorite (Danny Gokey), and a quirky but talented teen (Allison Iraheta), the American Idol audience responded by choosing the quiet, unassuming guy. In fact, all odds had been on Adam Lambert and Danny Gokey battling it out in the American Idol finale from nearly the start of the competition. But Kris Allen prevailed.

He could very well do so again. But it is going to be tough...

Still, it doesn't hurt that he has friends like Chris Daughtry, with whom Allen co-wrote the song "Send Me All Your Angels" for his debut album (and which can only be found on the WalMart version of Kris Allen's debut album). That song, along with the #11 Kara DioGuardi penned "No Boundaries" and his too cool acoustic version of Kanye West's "Heartless," could drive his album sales into Christmas.

Kris Allen will be a presenter at the 2009 American Music Awards. His roommate during his run on American Idol, Adam Lambert, will be performing. Sometimes the music business just doesn't seem fair at all...

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Source:

Billboard.com
ABC.go.com