AIKEN NEWS NETWORK OCTOBER 23

[clayMaine-iac]

This Week's Promosquad Top 20 Countdown

LW TW artist song
1 1 Clay Aiken Lover All Alone
2  2 Clay Aiken A Thousand Days
3  3 Clay Aiken Without You
4  4 Clay Aiken If You Don't Know Me By Now
7  5 Clay Aiken Lonely No More

PROMOSQUAD

[clayMaine-iac]

The top selling albums in Canada compiled from a national sample of retail store and mass merchants' reports collected, compiled, and provided by Nielsen SoundScan.  
 

15 OCTOBER, 2006 (FOR THE WEEK ENDING 19 OCTOBER, 2006)

Weeks on the Chart 2 Weeks Ago Last Week This Week Title Artist   ( Label )
4 12 27 38 THOUSAND DIFFERENT WAYS CLAY AIKEN   ( RCA )

JAM.CANOE

[clayMaine-iac]

Free tickets to winner of 'I love Clay Aiken' contest

October 21, 2006
Are you a registered-in-good-standing citizen of Clay Nation, the band of worldwide devotees who adore singer Clay Aiken and his music? Then you probably already know about the former "American Idol" celeb's concert in Waukegan on Dec. 1.
But in case you're worried about not getting a ticket to the Genesee Theatre event -- there are rumors of a sellout -- we have a deal for you.

We just happen to have two tickets and we're going to give them away.

All you have to do is tell us in 100 words or fewer why you, above all others in the world, deserve these tickets.

Send your entries to Clay Aiken Contest in care of the Lake County News-Sun, 2383 N. Delany Road, Waukegan, Ill. 60087 or e-mail your entry to IloveClay@scn1.com. Or drop off your entry at our office.

Make sure you list your name, address and telephone number and be prepared to pick up the winning tickets at The News-Sun the week before the concert.

We'll publish the winning entries and pictures of the winners on the morning of Nov. 25. Entries close on Nov. 22.

You're allowed multiple entries, but each one must be submitted separately.

The staff of pixies (and one old troll) at the "3 Things" department here at the News-Sun will be the sole judges.

SUBURBANCHICAGONEWS

[clayMaine-iac]

CLAY YOUTUBE

[clayMaine-iac]

F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre

CLAY AIKEN HOLIDAY CONCERT: Dec. 10, 7 p.m., $65/$55/$40

THETIMES-TRIBUNE

[clayMaine-iac]

And in the end
Seeing record superstores disappear leaves one fan with bittersweet memories
By Joan Anderman, Globe Staff  |  October 22, 2006

I had a dream, and it had nothing to do with civil rights. I wanted to work at a record store. Not some funky indie outpost but a giant retail behemoth where I could a) be in a room with more or less every album in the world, b) get a discount, and c) tell people what they should listen to. I started filling out job applications in ninth grade and pestered the store managers for years but never got the job.

Eventually I landed a newspaper gig with similar perks. But the death knell for the record superstore -- which sounded louder with the recent announcement that Tower Records is going out of business -- still stings.

Tower isn't cool. The lights are too bright, the product too mainstream, and the clientele is as likely to be shopping for the new Clay Aiken as a Velvet Underground bootleg.

BOSTON.COM

[clayMaine-iac]

At Halloween, we dressed up for success
By Kathleen Keating  |  October 22, 2006

My new department had a reputation for being a tight-knit competitive bunch and I was still struggling to accelerate that awkward transition from being the new kid to one of the gang. Having started my job in December, I had no frame of reference for what has become the biggest office holiday of the year: Halloween.

While I've always been a fan of candy, I made what I believed to be a very adult decision back in the seventh grade regarding Halloween: Costume competitions -- formally or informally judged -- were too stressful and I was better suited to handing out candy than to dressing up.(snip)

Fearing another public rejection, I kept what turned out to be the best idea to myself. It didn't stay hidden for very long once Sue read my notepad. In a matter of minutes, she was taking full credit for casting me in the role of Clay Aiken as we prepared to enter the competition as the American Idols Live Tour.

BOSTONWORKS

[clayMaine-iac]

From the Billboard Chart Beat Chat column:

Fred,

Love your column. I really enjoyed reading your piece about the Latin charts this week.

Last week, the single "Gallery" by Mario Vazquez reached No. 40 on The Billboard Hot 100. Doesn't that make Mario the first "American Idol" contestant, other than winners and runners-up, to have a top 40 hit?

Thanks,
 
Gabriel Duque
Miami Beach, Fla.

Dear Gabriel,

Since you wrote your e-mail, "Gallery" has taken another upward move, from 40-38. After a slow start, the single is shaping up to be a bona fide hit.

But Mario Vazquez is not the first "American Idol" contestant who was not a finalist or a runner-up to reach the top 40 of the Hot 100. True, most of the "Idol" kids who have charted in the top 40 finished in the top two on the series, including Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Fantasia, Diana DeGarmo, Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee.

But don't forget about season two's fourth-place finisher. Josh Gracin has turned into a country star, with a No. 1 hit on the Hot Country Songs chart to his credit. That chart-topper, "Nothin' to Lose," peaked at No. 39 on the Hot 100 dated March 19, 2005.

Vazquez does have claim to one first -- he is the first "American Idol" drop-out to have a hit on the Hot 100.

CHARTBEATCHAT

[clayMaine-iac]

Here's a poll where you get to "fill in the blanks": 

PEOPLE.AOL

[ANGELA]

GOOD MORNING DEANNA  & ALL ANN READERS   
DEANNA THANKS FOR THE NEWS.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT PROMOSSQUAD ACTUALLY DOES, & WHAT ROLE OR RELATIONSHIP IF ANY, DOES IT HAVE WITH RADIO PLAY?

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ANSWER.

HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE,
ANGELA

[clayMaine-iac]

Good Morning, Angela!

ANN readers

Here you go,
 

[paclayfan]

Read some comments to Ken Barnes blog.  I rarely respond to any critics, but I did this time.
( Throw tomatoes if you like   )

http://blogs.usatoday.com/listenup/2006/10/question_time.html#comments

Have a good day!
Deanna in PA

[lorraine]

GOOD BLUE MONDAY MORNING DEANNA AND FRIENDS.

I AM SO NOT READY FOR TODAY.

DEANNA - THANKS FOR THE NEWS AND MISSED YOU THIS WEEKEND.  WILL WE BE PUTTING UP THE NUMBERS FOR RUBEN'S SALES THIS WEEK.  JUST BEING CURIOUS.

HAVE A GOOD ONE AND WILL CHECK BACK LATER FOR UPDATES.

HUGS
RAINEY

[Marilyn]

I stated it before- I am appalled that people write in to critics, newspapers, etc- and state that Clay is leaving RCA and going with David Foster as if it was fact. Even though its a possiblity.................

WHAT IF HE ISNT??? WHAT IF HE IS STAYING WITH RCA BECAUSE OF HIS CONTRACT, ETC.?No one knows this for sure. Make comments about the song choices, make comments about his beautiful voice and what he did with the options he was given- yes "mandated".

Why do people have to keep telling everyone things of which they have no viable evidence- only the wishful speculation on fan boards and such? It cannot be good for Clay to have all this rumour abound- especially since the gnats grab everything and run with it. Some of this makes Clay look foolish IMO. And this may be why he hasn't blogged- because some people tear what he says all apart like rabid dogs. He has NEVER hinted that he is going with Foster or even leaving RCA. Do I want him to? Possibly- but I am not knowledgeable or informed enough to think that the decision would be a good one for him or his career. Only Clay and his management know that.

Its different to discuss and speculate on private boards- but to deliberately post something of which we have no knowledge whatsoever is abhorrent.

I wish that some of these posters would not grab at the lures sent out by questionable sources.

The above is my personal opinion and I am not attacking any one individual with my thoughts- just generalizing.

[NCSandhillsDeb]

Good Morning everyone!!!!!!

Thanks for all the news.

Debbie

[lolita]

Good morning everyone.

Thanks for the news and polls Deanna. I fill out Clay's name all the way.

have a wonderful day everyone.

lolita

[lovinclay]

I stated it before- I am appalled that people write in to critics, newspapers, etc- and state that Clay is leaving RCA and going with David Foster as if it was fact. Even though its a possiblity.................

WHAT IF HE ISNT??? WHAT IF HE IS STAYING WITH RCA BECAUSE OF HIS CONTRACT, ETC.?No one knows this for sure. Make comments about the song choices, make comments about his beautiful voice and what he did with the options he was given- yes "mandated".

Why do people have to keep telling everyone things of which they have no viable evidence- only the wishful speculation on fan boards and such? It cannot be good for Clay to have all this rumour abound- especially since the gnats grab everything and run with it. Some of this makes Clay look foolish IMO. And this may be why he hasn't blogged- because some people tear what he says all apart like rabid dogs. He has NEVER hinted that he is going with Foster or even leaving RCA. Do I want him to? Possibly- but I am not knowledgeable or informed enough to think that the decision would be a good one for him or his career. Only Clay and his management know that.

Its different to discuss and speculate on private boards- but to deliberately post something of which we have no knowledge whatsoever is abhorrent.

I wish that some of these posters would not grab at the lures sent out by questionable sources.

The above is my personal opinion and I am not attacking any one individual with my thoughts- just generalizing.

Thanks for posting that, Marilyn!  What gives anyone the right to say "Clay is leaving RCA and going with David Foster?"  This IS NOT FACT, and in reality, could hurt Clay greatly.  As far as any of us know, he is still under contract with RCA.  They are his boss until Clay tells us otherwise.  Why can't people let Clay handle his own business affairs?  To speculate on a message board is one thing.....we're all guilty of that, I think.  But to actually write to critics and newspapers is plain WRONG!  We have no right to do that.  NOT EVER! 

[GWENN]

I stated it before- I am appalled that people write in to critics, newspapers, etc- and state that Clay is leaving RCA and going with David Foster as if it was fact. Even though its a possiblity.................

WHAT IF HE ISNT??? WHAT IF HE IS STAYING WITH RCA BECAUSE OF HIS CONTRACT, ETC.?No one knows this for sure. Make comments about the song choices, make comments about his beautiful voice and what he did with the options he was given- yes "mandated".

Why do people have to keep telling everyone things of which they have no viable evidence- only the wishful speculation on fan boards and such? It cannot be good for Clay to have all this rumour abound- especially since the gnats grab everything and run with it. Some of this makes Clay look foolish IMO. And this may be why he hasn't blogged- because some people tear what he says all apart like rabid dogs. He has NEVER hinted that he is going with Foster or even leaving RCA. Do I want him to? Possibly- but I am not knowledgeable or informed enough to think that the decision would be a good one for him or his career. Only Clay and his management know that.

Its different to discuss and speculate on private boards- but to deliberately post something of which we have no knowledge whatsoever is abhorrent.

I wish that some of these posters would not grab at the lures sent out by questionable sources.

The above is my personal opinion and I am not attacking any one individual with my thoughts- just generalizing.

Thanks for posting that, Marilyn!  What gives anyone the right to say "Clay is leaving RCA and going with David Foster?"  This IS NOT FACT, and in reality, could hurt Clay greatly.  As far as any of us know, he is still under contract with RCA.  They are his boss until Clay tells us otherwise.  Why can't people let Clay handle his own business affairs?  To speculate on a message board is one thing.....we're all guilty of that, I think.  But to actually write to critics and newspapers is plain WRONG!  We have no right to do that.  NOT EVER! 

 

HONESTLY, I THINK THAT IS WHY CRITICS PAN CLAY SO MUCH.  I THINK IT IS US THEY ARE ANNOYED WITH AND NOT CLAY.

GWENN

[lorraine]

JUST CHECKING IN FOR ONE LAST HURRAH.  THANKS FOR THE NEWS DEANNA AND SEE YOU IN THE MORNING.

HUGS
RAINEY