Tidbits 3/13

• Lycos50 - Clay's up several spots to #16 this week. Clay's caption this week: "Claymates love him". Great job everyone!
  
• Beyond Wisconsin - This site has a timeline of the American Idol Runner-Ups and a place where you can leave your comments about which is the best. Great chance to tell the world that Clay is absolutely the best!
• MediaBase PR on the influence of American Idol on radio ... Clay is the #6 idol in terms of radio play.
  

  The winners of season one and four respectively, have racked up an impressive four million plus radio spins between them. Others who have become household names include Fantasia, Josh Gracin, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry and 2007 Oscar and Soul Train Award Winner, Jennifer Hudson.

• Story based on this PR: FMQB Radio Industry news: "Others who have become household names include Fantasia, Josh Gracin, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry and 2007 Oscar winner, Jennifer Hudson."
  
• The Scripps Howard News Service AI article from yesterday is now floating around various news outlets in syndication. You can read a copy of it here at the Charlotte Observer ...

  The recording sales of "Idol" winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson and runner-up Clay Aiken have soared. Former finalist Paris Bennett came to the red carpet last Thursday and said her album, "Princess P" (titled after her nickname), would be released in April.

• USA Today - an all-female Idol finale show down... the next Clay/Ruben? "A Melinda-LaKisha final could be Idol's biggest since Season 2's Ruben Studdard-Clay Aiken duel."
• EurWeb ... reasons we love American Idol -- giving the underdogs a chance ...

  Ruben Studdard and Jennifer Hudson would have been considered by record executives to be "fat;" Kelly Clarkson would have been deemed ordinary; the nerdy Clay Aiken wouldn't translate to chicks. Carrie Underwood would have been persuaded to sing anything but country. Taylor Hicks would have to lose the gray hair.

• Reality TV World - Mario Vasquez sued over alleged sexual allegations...

  Vazquez withdrew from the fourth season of Idol before the finals began for "personal reasons." Shortly thereafter, it was reported that Vazquez hired Jess Rosen, an Atlanta entertainment lawyer famous for extricating American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken from his Idol management contract last year, to represent him.

• Carolina On My Mind - another wonderful mix-matched post on the Clay's blog, NCAA basketball and the latest buzz in the Clay nation.
• There Was A Man - remembering AI2's memorable Top 12 show, 4 years ago last weekend.

  On March 11 and 12th, 2003 American Idol 2 aired it's Top 12 with a Motown theme. Lamont Dozier was a guest judge. Clay brought magic to American Idol that has not been there since. His voice and his personality melded to together for a Tour de Force to be reckoned with. The whole show had an innocence. A bunch of kids trying out for their dream. These days it's seasoned professional looking for their last chance break. Whatever happened on AI2, the manipulation and unfairness that went on, I will never regret the show that gave us Clay.