He's been out much longer
and he's signed to a smaller company.
I've posted this before, but it applies, Like things in nature, smaller things are weaker but faster, bigger things are stronger but slower. What James has achieved has been mostly due to his volition.
He probably knew the work and touring he was going to need to do to convince everybody that he belonged, and he dove in head first. His success was not due to publicity generated by his record company, necessarily.
Also, and Haley's fans and her critics can agree on this, she is wheeling out a very unique sound, one that doesn't have a built in fan base, like metal or pop.
Just like her turn on Idol, she was hard to pin down what her 'sound' is. Go back to the early times she herself describes her sound on Idol, and it is pretty much the exact description she gives today. Haley's always known her sound, 'we' are just slow to recognise it.
We are so used to her sound, it's convincing those who don't know her sound that's the trick. People tend to follow and want the comfort of something familiar, and Haley's music is not 'typical.
I think the strategy is to grow her fan base, a long term strategy.
Interscope saw her talent and, except for the lack of an 'all in' mentality in promotion, has treated Haley very well, especially in letting her have that much control of her product....
BTW I'm really happy and proud of what James has done, it's not a comparison, contrast thing with me. He had all sorts of potential pitfalls he could have tripped on, but he navigated them well, and is 'self made'. Haley, Casey and James have done amazing jobs with their debut albums (I don't listen to country so can't speak on Scotty and Lauren, but know they have done tremendously well too)
I posted this question at IDF
@ 1:30 when she refers to
"Oh My" needing a little more "Ooomph" I wonder if she's referring to them 'reworking' the single in studio...or I wonder if she means, the live performance needs more "Ooomph"?
No way she should have only 44,000 in sales at this point.
What ever it is, we're moving into a new direction, finally!