Clay Mentions 1/6

Clay mention -- article about upcoming CD releases.

Lean months in music world
Mike Bell
Calgary Sun
January 6, 2006

"There's a headline for your article," said a record company publicist earlier this week, "Music industry gives up."

Well, we hope anyway, because while many of the labels' new release schedules contain some big names in that month (March), most of the discs aren't yet titled, which could make them even more tentative than most.

Still, should all go according to plan, March 7 will deliver new ones from Van Morrison, 3LW, Keshia Chante, Evanescence, Chingy, The Vines and lil' Idol moppet Kalan Porter.

And if you're good, maybe May and June will bring studio recordings from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Too Short, Velvet Revolver, Tool, Alan Jackson, Clay Aiken, Billy Talent, Christina Aguilera, Eamon, Kenny Chesney, Chantal Kreviazuk and Justin Timberlake.

ASCAP article about Desmond Child who co-wrote Invisible and other songs off MOAM.

Desmond Child

In January of 2000, Child combined his hitmaking skills and experience with those of Winston Simone and David Simoné as the three song men formed Deston Songs. While still in its infancy, the publishing company started notching up hits, including the Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out" and the above-mentioned "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely." Since those auspicious beginnings, Deston has gone on to score smashes with artists as varied as 50 Cent, Celine Dion, LeAnn Rimes, Clay Aiken (whose recording of "This Is the Night" was the biggest single of 2003) and Diana DeGarmo (whose "Dreams" was the second biggest single of 2004).

Now, nearly 20 years after beginning his long-term relationship with the number one in that New Jersey basement, Child remains as in-demand as ever; the latest clients of this perennially hot property include LeAnn Rimes, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Diana DeGarmo, Jesse McCartney, Hilary Duff, Joss Stone and his old pals Bon Jovi. His singular achievements as a songwriter, producer and music publisher make Desmond Child one of the most inventive and successful hitmakers in pop history.

American Idol article mention.

'Idol' season four: Country vs. rock 'n' roll
MSNBC

Many of the other finalists haven't had time to record and produce a record, particularly since they were touring as a group last summer. Since the show, though, many have made various media appearances, and a few have continued to nurture their Clay-like followings.

Still, it was Carrie Underwood, the winner of "American Idol 4," who sold more copies of the single in its first week. She was only the third artist in the chart's history to debut at number one -- and other two, Clay Aiken and Fantasia, were "Idol' runners-up and winners respectively. Unlike those two, however, Carrie took home the prize after never ending up in the bottom three, so she was never threatened with elimination. Her fans have kept her successful; last fall, her first album, "Some Hearts," debuted at number two, with more copies sold than either Fantasia or Kelly Clarkson sold in their first weeks. Carrie's album went platinum a month later, and by mid-December, had sold almost 1.5 million copies. Also in December, she won three Billboard music awards.