Making it her own

[rmd1064]

Still strange, is this option was pretty much a guarantee to lose money, unless they were hoping that an idol performance and Conan performance (when the album wasn't even out...) would boom sales.

The whole thing is so strange. You have a gorgeous, talented and popular singer who releases what some have called one of the best Idol CDs ever released. With glowing reviews from NY Times, USA Today, LA Times, etc along with all the people's reviews on Amazon and Itunes.

You release one single--"Free" a 4+ minute, midtempo, piano song about a break up with no real hook. Other songs from the CD are so good that they are featured widely on ABC, ESPN and other media outlets.

Yet, another single is never released.

You have already invested time and money on the release of the CD. Why not at least give it a chance? Throw one more single out there, "Oh My" or "Undone"...see if it builds an audience. Who knows? What is there to lose?

And, as noted by others, no real promotion or marketing of her groundbreaking appearance at Lollapalooza or Carnegie Hall. Nothing, nada...

Here is my theory: When the first week sales only hit about 20K, I think the decision was made shortly after that to let her wind down and move on from her.

If you look at the artists on the Interscope label (Aerosmith, Lady Gaga, U2, No Doubt, BlackEyedPeas, Madonna), Haley is unfortunately very small potatoes and even if another single did double or triple her sales, it was not worth it in their eyes.

Other Idols from her season have been successful: Scotty has moved over a million CDs and Lauren Alaina I believe over 300K. Country audiences still buy CDs! And now, on the horizon is Jessica Sanchez who they may launch in 2013.

So Haley just did not fit in the picture or their plans. As someone noted, Interscope is NOT the label for young artist development. Unless you catch fire right away and are a huge seller out of the gate, they don’t keep you around.

Maybe there was an option given to Haley about "Undone" and she did not want that song to be her breakthrough hit. She did not want to have to sing that song over and over and over. That song is just not her---. But, I find hard to believe she would throw away a whole record deal with one of the biggest players in the industry because of a difference of opinion on her direction. But maybe that happened...who knows.

But as noted, the whole thing is just so strange and puzzling. There is probably more to the story...maybe we will find out in the future. (sorry for the long post...)