RCA had no comment on reports that Justin Guarini, the second-place finalist for the first season of “American Idol,” has been dropped by the label. The eponymous debut album by Guarini — who is no longer listed on the RCA Web site — has sold 134,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.
By contrast, the debut from first-season “Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson, “Thankful,” has sold 1.7 million. Second-season finalist Clay Aiken’s “Measure of a Man” has sold 1.3 million since its release in October. Guarini did not appear on last week’s Fox “An American Idol Christmas” TV special, although he was initially announced as one of the performers.
“Currently, I am in the middle of renegotiating my contract with 19 Management, which also produces ‘American Idol’ and the ‘American Idol’ specials,” Guarini said in a statement. “Because of several unresolved issues, I elected not to host the ‘American Idol’ christmas special on Fox despite being asked to do so by them. I am grateful for all that ‘American Idol’ has done for me and look forward to resolving my differences with 19 Management and again being part of the ‘American Idol’ family.”
Guarini’s record-label woes aren’t the only problem facing the singer. As previously reported, on Nov. 7 he was sued for more than $100,000 by a Pennsylvania couple claiming injuries from a rear-end auto collision that Guarini was involved in last year.
The third season of “Idol” premieres Jan. 20, 2004. According to published reports, music producer Pete Waterman, a judge on the U.K.’s “Pop Idol,” is in discussions to join the show as a fourth judge alongside current “American Idol” judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. In an exclusive interview with Billboard.com, Cowell hinted that a fourth judge would be joining “American Idol,” but the show’s reps had no comment.
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