global travel: 'American Idol' Alum Crystal Bowersox Dropped By Label

Saturday, October 22, 2011

'American Idol' Alum Crystal Bowersox Dropped By Label

Another season-niner, champ Lee DeWyze, was just dropped by his label too.
By Gil Kaufman

Crystal Bowersox
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images

Season nine is turning out to be the waterloo of "American Idol." Following the report that winner Lee DeWyze had been dropped from his major-label deal after one poorly selling album, news broke Thursday that dreadlocked runner-up Crystal Bowersox had flown the coop as well.

Bowersox, whose major-label debut, Farmer's Daughter, was greeted with solid reviews and sold more than 205,000 copies, has split with her label, Sony Music's Jive Records, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Sony recently shuttered the long-running Jive imprint as part of a consolidation, absorbing much of its roster into RCA Records. Spokespeople for Sony and 19 Entertainment could not be reached for comment at press time.

Bowersox, the gritty Ohio native whose bluesy growl and humble persona made her a fan favorite and front-runner during her "Idol" run, released her debut in December 2010. In addition to being label-less, Bowersox's contract with 19 Recordings has also expired, which means she's free to pursue a new deal. (DeWyze reportedly remains signed to the 19 roster.)

The singer was philosophical about the major-label split in an interview with TVline.com, saying she expects her next album to be an independent release. "I'm not worried about where I'm gonna be," Bowersox said. "I'm gonna be making music, if it's on my own label or if it's with somebody else. I'd love to work with ATO, Dave Matthews' label. We'll see what happens." She said she's already got a "bunch" of songs written for her next effort and is sifting through them now to see what will make the cut, aiming for a late spring, early summer 2012 release.

DeWyze and Bowersox own the dubious distinction of being the lowest-selling pair of "Idol" finalists, as well as the ones who lost their major-label deals the fastest. Former Illinois paint-store clerk DeWyze never caught on with the "Idol"-music-buying public, shifting just 168,000 copies of his debut, Live It Up, which made it the poorest-selling debut from an "Idol" winner on record.

In the meantime, Bowersox will make her acting debut next week when she appears on the ABC crime series "Body of Proof." Her character, imprisoned felon and drug user Zoe Brant, will be the lead suspect in a murder investigation, following a death of "an expert equestrienne who [runs] a vocational program for inmates" at the prison where she is incarcerated.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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