Ayla Brown, The "Forward" Era

[dsm112]

This is straight from the NCAA bylaws manual...

It is not permissible for an institution to permit (e.g., through a written agreement with a third-party) the sale of student-athlete photographs by an individual or agency for private use. The misuse of a student-athlete's picture in this manner continues to be a violation of Bylaw 12.5.2.1.
It is not permissible for an athlete to self promote any product whatsoever.
can't perform solo appearances.
can not say anything about his or her website site, myspace, or any mention of where sales of a commercial product are located, or any reference to the product
can not announce appearances
can only answer general questions.
all appearances and or interviews must be approved by the NCAA by-laws commision & compliance department, and have an NCAA mediator present at all radio, and or television interviews. the athlete is not allowed to promote the outside product in any way, shape or form, but may be allowed to answer general questions. Bylaw 12.5.2.1.1

The specific activity or project in which the student-athlete participates does not involve cospon-
sorship, advertisement or promotion by a commercial agency other than through the reproduction
of the sponsoring company’s officially registered regular trademark or logo on printed materials
such as pictures, posters or calendars. The company’s emblem, name, address and telephone num-
ber may be included with the trademark or logo. Personal names, messages and slogans (other
than an officially registered trademark) are prohibited; (Revised: 1/11/89, 1/10/91)

The name or picture of a student-athlete with remaining eligibility may not appear on an institu-
tion’s printed promotional item (e.g., poster, calendar) that includes a reproduction of a product
with which a commercial entity is associated if the commercial entity’s officially registered regular
trademark or logo also appears on the item; (Adopted: 11/12/97)

12.5.1.3 Continuation of Modeling and Other Nonathletically Related Promotional Activities after
Enrollment. If an individual accepts remuneration for or permits the use of his or her name or pic-
ture to advertise or promote the sale or use of a commercial product or service prior to enrollment
in a member institution, continued remuneration for the use of the individual’s name or picture
(under the same or similar circumstances) after enrollment is permitted without jeopardizing his
or her eligibility to participate in intercollegiate athletics only if all of the following conditions
apply: (Revised: 1/14/97, 3/10/04)
(a) The individual’s involvement in this type of activity was initiated prior to his or her enrollment in
a member institution;
(b) The individual became involved in such activities for reasons independent of athletics ability;
© No reference is made in these activities to the individual’s name or involvement in intercollegiate
athletics;
(d) The individual does not endorse the commercial product; and (Revised: 3/10/04)
(e) The individual’s remuneration under such circumstances is at a rate commensurate with the indi-
vidual’s skills and experience as a model or performer and is not based in any way upon the indi-
vidual’s athletics ability or reputation.

12.5.1.8 Promotion by Third Party of Highlight Film, Videotape or Media Guide. Any party other
than the institution or a student-athlete (e.g., a distribution company) may sell and distribute an
institutional highlight film or videotape or an institutional or conference media guide that contains
the names and pictures of enrolled student-athletes only if: (Revised: 1/16/93)
(a) The institution specifically designates any agency that is authorized to receive orders for the film,
videotape or media guide; (Revised: 1/16/93)
(b) Sales and distribution activities have the written approval of the institution’s athletics director;
© The distribution company or a retail store is precluded from using the name or picture of an
enrolled student-athlete in any poster or other advertisement to promote the sale or distribution of
the film or media guide; and (Revised: 1/16/93)
(d) There is no indication in the makeup or wording of the advertisement that the squad members,
individually or collectively, or the institution endorses the product or services of the advertiser.

12.5.1.10.1 Sale and Distribution of Promotional Items. Promotional items (e.g., posters,
postcards, film, videotapes) bearing the name or picture of a student-athlete and related to these events may be sold or distributed by the national or international sports governing body, no student or athlete may promote tyhe product in any way.

As noted in Bylaw 12.5.1.1.3.1. Promotional items may include a corporate sponsor’s trademark
or logo but not a reproduction of the product with which the business is associated. The name
or picture of the student-athlete may not be utilized by the distribution company or retail store on any advertisement to promote the sale or distribution of the commercial item. (Adopted:
1/10/92; Revised: 1/16/93, 1/11/94 effective 8/1/94)

[SHOOTER]

That sucks!

[dsm112]

Ayla debuted at #10 on Billboard's 'Top Heatseakers (Northeast)' chart this week. So it's good to see she made it on to Billboard somewhere despite the dismal sales.

[HellonUrth]

Cheer up! She debuted at #1 on Billboard's 'Artists Named Ayla Brown' chart this week.

No offense to Ayla, I'm just ragging on Billboard here. They have more charts than Carters have pills!

[jdanton2]

what i think is Ayla might have known she was going to be restricted in being able to promote the cd right but wanted to make a cd for the fans who supported her on the show .i guess there were about 300 of them.

[dsm112]

^Or at least 300 who could actually find it in stores :(

mikers said:

Cheer up! She debuted at #1 on Billboard's 'Artists Named Ayla Brown' chart this week.

No offense to Ayla, I'm just ragging on Billboard here. They have more charts than Carters have pills!

I didn't even know there was such a chart. Do you know what 'heatseakers' even means?

[skol]

I believe in Ayla's case, it's someone wishing to come in from the stinging, bitter cold of failure.

[jdanton2]

the good news for Ayla is her sales only dropped 1/3 .the bad news at 300 anything less is not good news and it ended up selling 200 copies in week 2.


blogs.usatoday.com/idolchatter/

> Ayla Brown: Sold 200 copies of Forward album, compared to 300 the previous week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. At the risk of sounding repetitive, yikes.

Posted at 05:00 PM/ET, November 01, 2006 in Idol sales

[dsm112]

^Well, considering it still is not in many big box stores and it has no airplay whatsoever, I'm not surprised. Plans are coming together behind the scenes. There are a bunch of radio events in the works, magazine articles, and more. So I am confident we will be seeing increases in the near future.

skol said:

I believe in Ayla's case, it's someone wishing to come in from the stinging, bitter cold of failure.

Keep showing your maturity, Jilly ;)

[skol]

dsm112 said:

Keep showing your maturity, Jilly ;)

Um, yeah. ???

But you are right. I should save the joking for more light-hearted subject matter, like someone's struggle with drug addiction. If only I were grown up enough.

[dsm112]

Ayla sang the National Anthem at the season opener for the Boston Celtics tonight. The pregame show was emotional, as longtime Celtics figured Red Auerbach passed away this past weekend.

[dsm112]

The Boston College Lady Eagles' home opener was today. They beat the Sacred Heart Pioneers 68-46. Ayla scored 11 points and played about half the game, which is great for a freshman.

[XXIX]

LOL@the fact we are discussing her college career and not her music "career"... ::sigh::

[dsm112]

alex81979 said:

Not too shabby, even though it was Sacred Heart.  I wanna see what she does against ohio state.


Of course the extreme irony here is that her album is called Forward, and she's listed as a guard.    LOL

Yeah she's listed as guard, but she does play forward as well. Actually, she played forward today come to think of it.

[dsm112]

Two articles from today's Boston Herald...

'Idol' chatter: This girl can play: BC’s Brown hitting the right notes on basketball court
By Karen Guregian
Boston Herald General Sports Reporter and Columnist
Thursday, November 30, 2006 - Updated: 01:51 AM EST

Ayla Brown is not afraid to get dirty. In basketball-speak, that means diving for loose balls and fighting for rebounds. When you’re a forward playing in the low post, it means muscling opposing players, gaining leverage, boxing out, doing whatever it takes to get the ball.
Eagle Idol
Making music the NCAA way
Video: Ayla Brown: On the court, on the stage
    Watching Brown play for Boston College is like watching a human torpedo. It’s like she’s been shot out of a submarine launcher. With her long brown ponytail flying behind her, she whips around the court at warp speed, and anyone in her path is in danger of being blown away.
    For lack of a better description, she is so un-“American Idol”-like on the court. Even the most dedicated viewers of the show, who came to know her during the last “Idol” go-round, would have a tough time picking her out of the Eagles lineup at first glance.
    The most telling clue that Brown once rubbed shoulders with Ryan Seacrest?
    She’s the only player in maroon and gold quietly singing “Go Boston” as she delivers lay-ups during warm-ups, while the band plays the Eagles’ theme song from the sidelines.
    A star at Noble & Greenhough High School, and the sixth-leading scorer in Massachusetts prep history with 2,358 career points, Brown committed early to BC. And yet, after all the “American Idol” hoopla, after she finished 13th, impressing judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul with her voice and work ethic, people on the outside wondered where hoop would fit in her life.
    They also wondered if the 18-year-old Wrentham native could cut it on the Division 1 level, particularly after she had a taste of Hollywood, and recorded her first CD.
    Brown has provided a very good answer. While it’s still early in the season, it’s pretty obvious she belongs. Seven games in, there’s no need to poll the audience: The “Idol” can play ball.
    ‘Freshman 15,’ please
    At the moment, she comes off the bench for BC coach Cathy Inglese and gives the Eagles an instant jolt of energy. She’s constantly in motion, moving around the offensive zone, providing for her team what former Celtic John Havilcek used to do for his. While she was recruited to play as a guard or small forward, she’s been forced to play power forward, thanks to injuries to the team. But she’s responded. In her second game, she scored 17 points against Delaware. In all, she’s averaging 8.9 points per game, and 6.3 rebounds.
    “My biggest thing always in recruiting kids is their attitude. And she has a great attitude,” Inglese said. “She is someone who I think is very committed. I think she loves basketball. I think she’s someone who is goal-oriented and wants to be very, very successful, and I think she works for that.
    “She had a lot of things going on in the summer, but at the same time, she came back in shape, ready to go. I know she has high goals and high expectations for herself. She’s someone who puts the effort in. She doesn’t just talk about it.”
    Brown is not someone to be told she can’t, because she will. After all, her parents named her after the lead character in the novel “Clan of the Cave Bear.”
    “It’s about a woman who lived in a man’s world back in the cave man days,” Ayla said of the book. “She basically saved her tribe, and gains the respect of all the men.”
    Think this version of Ayla won’t want to add weight to her willowly, model-like frame? Bulk up to take on the taller, bruising forwards she’s going to face down the road in Atlantic Coast Conference games?
    Think again.
    She’s already added six pounds to her “Idol” frame, and hopes to stack on a few more before the year’s out.
    “I know it needs to be done. I’m trying so hard,” Brown said. “I take weight-gain shakes. I gained about six pounds since the summer, which is pretty good. My goal was 15. It’ll happen eventually. I’m trying to gain muscle.”
    Adjusting to new Heights
    Brown admits the transition was tough at first. She had trouble juggling the demands of her five classes with the demands of college hoop. Initially, she didn’t know when to fit lunch into the workload.
    But now she’s settled in. She’s adjusted to the lifestyle. As for her teammates, they’ve accepted her. They don’t see her as some up-and-coming songstress or starlet who’s along for the ride.
    “She’s really humble and mature,” said BC captain Sarah Marshall. “She knows how to handle the success, and the press that comes with it. She likes to deflect all of it. She wants more emphasis on the team than herself.”
    According to Inglese, Brown did have something to prove initially. She had to remind everyone about her dedication to basketball, even though many of the players had known Ayla from playing pick-up games, and from seeing her at home games in previous years.
    “Our players have known her. But I think with the ‘Idol’ stuff, and how busy she was, I think they wondered, ‘OK, is this going to change with Ayla?’ Is the singing going to become more important?’ ” Inglese said. “I think it ran by the kids’ heads for a while, but they knew her before her ‘Idol’ exposure. They knew what she was about, and I think that helped.”
    Brown says she really doesn’t talk about her fame with her teammates. Beyond trying to include the players in meeting many of the young groupies who now attend Eagles games, armed with posters and other goodies to have autographed, it’s pretty much basketball talk, 24-7, with the girls. Brown also said the attention she receives hasn’t made her feel awkward, or triggered any issues of jealousy. After all, Brown is getting more ink these days than the team as a whole.
    “When I’m here at Boston College, I’m strictly a basketball player and a student athlete. That’s the extent of what I am here,” Brown said. “I don’t sing really anymore, because I’m in season. I made a promise to myself, to my coaches, my teammates, that I would be there for them regardless of what I was doing outside of school. They realize that, and they’ve been so supportive. They acknowledge the fact I’m here for the basketball, and to help them win.”
    As Inglese pointed out, Brown was an athlete first. In fact, Ayla, not-so-long ago, played Pop Warner football in Wrentham from 7th-9th grade.
    “It was a good experience for her,” said Ayla’s father, state Senator Scott Brown, of the football. “It enabled her to play (basketball) like she plays. With toughness, I mean. She plays like a guy.”
    During Tuesday’s 64-58 win over Fairfield, Brown, who scored 8 points with 10 rebounds in 33 minutes, needed to be patched up after diving for a few loose balls.
    “It’s very funny to think that I lived that (“American Idol”) life for a while. Because I was always a basketball player and one of those muscle-type girls before “American Idol” even started,” Ayla said. “So when that started, I pretty much had to transform myself into the glamour role. So it was pretty funny.”
    Best of both worlds
    State Senator Brown has been moonlighting as his daughter’s manager, trying to keep her affairs in order. He’s been working hand-in-hand with Inglese and BC’s compliance office to make sure Ayla doesn’t break any rules and jeopardize her eligibility.
    “She’s still getting offers to sing and perform, which she can do,” Brown said. “We just need to get permission from the coach, and she’s been wonderful, and clearance from the compliance office, and they’ve been great. We’ve been following the guidelines.”
    Ayla sang the national anthem at the Celtics home opener last month. She needed to get documentation and permission before setting foot in the TD Banknorth Garden.
    “Right now, I have a request that I just faxed over to compliance,” Brown said. “People want Ayla to donate t-shirts and CDs and stuff like that for their charity group. . . . As long as we document it, and let them know what it’s for, where the proceeds are going, and how the proceeds are being used, they’re very understanding. It’s been pretty wonderful, I have to admit.”
    Brown had to miss one game last week, a double-overtime loss to Ohio State, because of an injury. She turned an ankle in practice, and was on crutches for three days, but returned to action Friday against Central Connecticut. She hasn’t been quite the human torpedo, losing a bit of her foot speed since her return while wearing an ankle brace, but she is still effective defending under the basket.
    “I love both things with all my heart. As long as I’m able to do them. And it’s made me who I am,” Brown said. “It makes me complete when I can faithfully say I’m a singer and a basketball player at the same time. It’s not one overshadowing the other, because I’ve loved both since I was a baby.”
    Her teammates do enjoy the occasional unscripted moment, when Ayla will exercise those golden pipes.
    “One time I walked in the locker room, and the shower was on. I heard Ayla belting it out like she was at home in her bathroom,” Marshall said with a laugh. “She’s an awesome singer. I love hearing her sing.”
    Where will Brown be 10 years from now? What will she be doing after college?
    Her dad sees her playing in the WNBA.
    Ayla?
    “I want to do a lot of things. I’m majoring in communications. I’d like to be a sports broadcaster or in entertainment at some point in my life,” she said. Her mother Gail Huff is a Channel 5 news reporter. “But I’d really like to continue singing and see where I can get with that. I know that won’t last my whole life, but I guess I’ll take it one year at a time.”

Source

Making music the NCAA way
By Karen Guregian
Boston Herald General Sports Reporter and Columnist
Thursday, November 30, 2006 - Updated: 02:23 AM EST

Prior to officially enrolling at Boston College, Ayla Brown hurriedly whipped together her debut CD, “Forward.”
Eagle Idol
Video: Ayla Brown: On the court, on the stage
    Remarkably, she put together the 10-song disc in a little more than a week. But there’s more. She actually recorded enough music for a second CD, which is tentatively set to be released early next summer.
    Only, there’s one rather sizeable glitch. Thanks to NCAA compliance rules, the record company can’t use her name, or image on the CD.
    “That’s where it’s at right now,” said Jim McGregor, who produced the first CD. “The NCAA won’t let us put her picture or her name on the CD. So we’re not really sure what to call it.”
    As it is, Brown can’t even promote her current CD. Once her hoop season is over, the rules are a bit more relaxed, but at the moment she has to keep her distance from it. The Browns understand the guidelines are in place essentially to protect the athlete and the school.
    “Since the second album was also recorded prior to her enrollment, we might be able to figure something out,” said state Senator Scott Brown, who is Ayla’s father and manager. “As long as we’re in communication with the compliance people, and being honest and open with them, I think it might be possible to work out some parameters.”
    Prior to attending classes, Ayla was in the recording studio. The need for speed was imperative given compliance considerations. She only had a brief window between the time her “American Idol” contract expired and when she enrolled at Boston College on Sept. 4. Like a true athlete, she responded to the pressure, recording enough music to fill up two CDs, while also recording three Christmas songs.
    “It was pretty insane,”said McGregor. “Usually, a vocalist will take a week for one track. We did 19 songs in 8 days. Then, we had to turn it into the NCAA before she started school. But that’s all in accordance with the by-laws.”
    Brown didn’t get a big-name record label. Under NCAA guidelines, she can’t promote her music. She can’t have signings, appearances, nothing even remotely associated with pushing the product. But Double Deal records still picked up the contract, and they’ve sold 1,285 copies of the CD, 3,386 copies of a two-song single (with “Know You Better” and “I Quit”) and they’ve had 760 iTunes downloads.
    “She brought some ambition and energy here when she came to record,” said McGregor, who is based in upstate New York. “We really put the girl through the ringer, and she held out. She did great in the studio.”
    Said Brown, who has written some of the songs and lyrics: “It was really exciting. The adrenaline rush of being in the studio and knowing you had to get all that done in two weeks. I pretty much sang until I couldn’t anymore. I think even with all the time constrictions, we came out with a great product.”

Source

Ayla's article in the December issue of Boston magazine...

Everybody’s All-American
Idol star Ayla Brown benches the music to make her college hardwood debut.

By Anthony Costanzo

Ayla Brown loves a good challenge. Not only did the Wrentham native beat the odds to reach the doorstep of the American Idol finals last spring, but she also landed a record deal and then cranked out a debut album, Forward, in only two weeks—wrapping the recording sessions just in time for her first day at Boston College.

Promoting the disc is made tricky by what she’s up to this winter: launching a college basketball career (the NCAA frowns on student-athletes making money as pop stars). So while Brown won’t be doing the record-store circuit, Eagles fans are thrilled to finally welcome her to Conte Forum. The two-time Massachusetts player of the year had colleges wooing her since eighth grade; she committed to BC at 15. “I’ve been building up to this point for years,” she says. “Now it’s rise or fall.”

Originally published in Boston Magazine, December 2006.

Source
Montage from BostonHerald.com

[dsm112]

Ayla will be writing a weekly column on the sixth season of American Idol for the Boston Herald. The column will recap the previous week's episodes and Ayla will offer personal insight on the show. The first installment appeared in today's issue, which is posted in its entirety below.

Hollywood week auditions mix pressure and pleasure
By Ayla Brown/ Idol Thoughts
Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - Updated: 04:54 PM EST

It’s hard to imagine it was exactly a year ago that I was a part of the Hollywood rounds of "American Idol." There were so many great, exciting and nerve-wracking parts to that week. I met numerous nice, talented people who took my breath away when they sang. I remember listening to Chris Daughtry, a finalist last season, sing "The First Cut is the Deepest." Almost everyone’s jaws dropped in awe. I also remember when I sat next to Katharine McPhee before the last day of auditions in Hollywood Week and asked her advice about my song choice.

What people may not know, however, was that rehearsing with a group of strangers was by far the most difficult part of Hollywood Week. Not only did we have to agree on a song, we had to add harmonies and choreography to stand out in front of the harsh judges. I was in a group with three other ladies, two who advanced to another round. Because we spent a long time rehearsing the night before, our performance stood out from the other performers who hadn’t put as much time into it. Throughout the entire week, it was mentally strenuous realizing that my future rested in the hands of other people.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the dreadful Hollywood Week, there is absolutely no way for a performer to prepare for the experience. As I sat in the Orpheum Theatre trying to think of the ways I could prepare, I realized having thick skin was half the battle.

Despite all that, Hollywood Week is fun, too. Not everyone cries on television the way the show makes it seem.

Because "American Idol" is one of the most popular shows on television, the public yearns to know who the finalists will be. Keep an eye out for these contestants during Hollywood Week. The camera tends to focus on the talent producers believe will make the Top 24. Also, look for the contestants who stand out vocally in the group auditions because those individuals usually go far.

Source.

An article on Ayla's post-"Idol" life was also featured in today's Herald.

’American’ experience: Hub’s Ayla Brown shares how ’Idol’ changed her life
By Lauren Beckham Falcone
Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - Updated: 04:54 PM EST

Whether on the basketball court or onstage, Ayla Brown has always been a strong competitor.

But her "American Idol" experience made her a fierce one.

"I have a tough skin now," said the Boston College freshman as she talked about her experiences last year in front of "Idol" judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. "It was a completely life-changing experience for me."

Brown, 18, said the minute she stepped off the plane in Los Angeles for the Hollywood tryouts she knew she was part of something big.

"I was in the airport and some guy came up to me and said, ’Aren’t you the state senator’s daughter?’ and not in a nice way," said Brown, whose father is Sen. Scott Brown (R-Wrentham) and mother is Gail Huff, a reporter with WCVB (Ch. 5).

"The public criticism was unreal. People would call and ask me if I’d seen what people were saying about me on the Internet. But it makes you stronger."
Brown, who grew up in Wrentham, was a senior at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham when she jetted off to Hollywood. She was cut just before the top-12 lineup was announced when her rendition of Natasha Bedingfield’s "Unwritten" failed to wow audiences.
"I wouldn’t change singing that song," she said. "I got to sing that song at the Kiss-108 concert in front of Bedingfield, so I was thankful for that."
After her elimination, Brown graduated from high school, performed all over the state and cut her first CD, "Forward," in only a week.
"But seriously, one of my favorite things I did was perform at a Girl Scouts meeting," she said. "They were all singing karaoke and I got up with them. It was so much fun. And performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the July 4th Pops was the best thing I have ever done. Even better than ’American Idol.’ "
Another bonus from Brown’s "Idol" experience is it transformed her into a public speaker, something she wasn’t comfortable with before performing on TV.
"I have no problem speaking for a half hour or 45 minutes," she said. "Before, I would never dream of doing something like that."
That confidence might lead to a career in television.
"I’m studying communications," she said. "Dream jobs? A sportscaster for ESPN or an entertainment reporter."
For now, she’s busy playing and studying.
"My downtime, I sleep," she said. "And my boyfriend is here at BC playing baseball. We met in high school, and he was so supportive during ’Idol.’ He really understands me."
Brown still keeps in touch with some former "Idol"-mates, as well.
"I talk to Ace (Young), Paris (Bennett) and Mandisa," she said. "I just bought Katharine McPhee’s new CD. The critics panned it, but I think it’s good. Catchy."
As for the judges, she wishes she knew more about them, but she pretty much saw what the audience saw.
"Ryan Seacrest was my favorite of the whole crew," she said. "He was really personable."
And while she didn’t go as far as she would have liked on the show, she took going home in stride.
"I was glad my parents were with me in Hollywood," she said. "I was 17, so I needed a guardian and that was good, because the music business messes with your head. I just think me not going further on ’Idol’ was God telling me that for now, I was supposed to play basketball."
She survived auditions in Boston and Hollywood. She performed live in front of millions of people. And she endured the judgments of Randy, Paula and Simon.
Now Boston’s own Season 5 "American Idol" contestant, Ayla Brown, is the Herald’s new "Idol" expert. Check out her new column, "Idol Thoughts," every Tuesday in the Edge.

Source.

Ayla was also featured on the front page of the Herald today.

[SHOOTER]

LOL

[JORDAN]

<.

[dsm112]

According to FMQB, "Forward" (which went for adds earlier this month) was the #1 most-added song on its ACQB chart this week, and Radio & Records has it as the fourth-most added song at AC for the week (tied with "Far Away").

www.fmqb.com/ac.asp

www.radioandrecords.com/Formats/Charts/AC_Chart.asp

[dsm112]

Yep, probably 5 or 6 times. I saw her 18-point scoring game too, which was cool. They had a disappointing season, though (maybe next year).

[dsm112]

Haha, that's true. They lost a lot of talent with Ress, Dorsey and Marshall. I think Ayla will be able to take charge without a problem. And she averaged just over 8 points per game so with more playtime she should be able to work up her stats.

[sunpeach]

I wish her much success- it's good to see a semi-finalist not letting not getting in the TOP 12 cut short their dreams. Okay- she didn't sell alot- but at least she put herself out there and TRIED. That's still better than doing nothing. I think Cervantes once said "If I did not succeed, at least I died in the pursuit."

[dsm112]

"Forward" is at #39 on FMQB's ACQB Top 40 chart this week. It's also tied with Kelly Clarkson's "Never Again" and Kelly Sweet's "Raincoat" as the third-most added single at AC according to FMQB.

FMQB's Most-Added (ACQB)

ACQB Top 40

[dsm112]

"Forward" was a countdown extra on Kiss 108's Top 30 Countdown this past week. First two pop spins! (the countdown reruns Sunday nights).

[dsm112]

Ayla was interviewed on her thoughts on Season 6 of American Idol and the finale.

TUESDAY MAY 22, 2007 Last modified: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 12:12 AM EDT

Ayla reveals her 'Idol' predictions

BY LAUREN CARTER/FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE

If you want to spend some alone time tonight or Wednesday night, don't prop yourself near a television; you'll likely be one of a crowd gathered to watch the final two episodes of "American Idol," TV's highest rated show even after six seasons of suspense-filled competition.

With the field narrowed to just two contestants the suspense is higher than ever, which should explain why the finale is two hours long, despite the fact that it takes about 10 seconds to announce this year's winner.

Still standing in the search for a superstar are 17-year-old Jordin Sparks and 25-year-old Blake Lewis, who sports highlights and a talent to beat box.

The Sun Chronicle spoke to Ayla Brown of Wrentham, last year's local "American Idol" contestant and 13th place finisher, about who will win, who will sell records and how long "Idol" can last:

SC: Are you surprised about the final two contestants?

AB: I'm a little surprised about Blake, just because I think he has such a cool thing going for him with the beat boxing, but I didn't think it would get him into the final two. I think he has a great career ahead of him, but in terms of picking him as the next "American Idol," I find it a little harder to do that. I'm really glad Jordin is in the final two. And Melinda (Doolittle), I was (surprised she got voted off) in terms of her talent, but demographically, the people who watch "American Idol" are usually people like Blake and Jordin, and want someone young and hip to win the competition.

SC: What do you see as Jordin and Blake's strengths and weaknesses?

AB: I think they're both talented in completely different ways. In terms of singing I feel as though Jordin has a wider range of vocal skills and she can do a lot with her voice, whereas I think Blake is just a completely different vibe that America is fascinated with, kind of like Taylor Hicks.

SC: What type of song should the contestants sing for their final performance?

AB: Blake should sing something that incorporates beat boxing, because that's what's getting him further along in the competition and that's what everyone seems to really enjoy. Jordin will hopefully choose a younger song than what she's been doing in the past because Simon keeps commenting on that … maybe something by Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera or Mariah Carey.

SC: Who do you think will win?

AB: I'm leaning more toward (Jordin) just based on popularity. Based on people I've talked to who watch the show, everyone just seems to say Jordin…She's so young and "American Idol" hasn't had a young winner yet, so I think she has a really good shot at being successful.

SC: Who do you think will have the more successful recording career?

AB: Probably Blake, because he can do reggae and he can do the whole beat boxing thing. I could see him doing that whole contemporary vibe sort of thing and being extremely successful with it. (Jordin) would be successful too. However, we've seen singers like her in the past.

SC: Which contestants do you think should have advanced further in the competition?

AB: I was disappointed that Stephanie Edwards didn't get put into the top 12, and Sabrina Sloan. I think those two were ones that America really got wrong in the earlier competitions, and I feel like if they had gotten in it would have been a different story.

SC: Who will likely have the most successful career out of the Top 12?

AB: I think Chris Richardson will end up being pretty successful just because all the females seem to really, really like him. He's kind of like the next Justin Timberlake … And I don't want to say Sanjaya (Malakar), but somehow I think Sanjaya's going to come out and be really successful. People can't get enough of him.

SC: How long do you think the show can remain a ratings juggernaut?

AB: Everyone that I talk to, honestly, every single person watches it and none of them seem to be sick of it, and they've been watching it since season one. Based on trends that are happening with voting, people want different (types of contestants) in the competition and that's why they're voting for Sanjaya and Blake and Taylor Hicks. So I don't know if people are rebelling or just want someone obscure and unseen. But honestly I can't see "American Idol" fading out anytime soon.

SC: What is the likelihood of season six contestants releasing albums?

AB: I'm curious to see how many release albums this year. It just seems as though season five had so many talented people that had the ability to release an album because they were just popular or talented enough. (Bucky Covington, Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry and Katharine McPhee have all released relatively high-profile albums since last season).

SC: What are you thoughts on your own album, "Forward," (released last October)?

AB: I'm just so thankful to have the opportunity, and that someone saw the potential in me to make an album, because not all the people in the world get the ability to have that happen to them, so it's really a good feeling.

(Incidentally, Brown's single "Forward" has been getting airplay on local radio stations as well as stations in states as far away as Colorado, Hawaii and Florida. Brown heard her song on the radio for the first time when she was moving out of her dorm room at Boston College, where she just finished her freshman year. "It was really funny because it was like ending a whole freshman year but hopefully starting a new one," she said.

Her album is available at local outlets as well as online through her MySpace page at www.myspace.com/aylabrown.)

SC: What would happen if any of the "American Idol" judges changed?

AB: I think if there were judge changes, people wouldn't watch it. And because it's such a popular television show, I don't think "Idol" would take that chance.

SC: What will America do once "Idol" ends?

AB: Honestly I have no idea. It's one of the sadder parts of my year. At least I kind of kept myself busy when the show was over (last year) and I still was able to go and perform. But for the general public, I think they have a really hard time with it. I think TV is also trying to find other ways to make up for it like "Dancing with the Stars" and "America's Got Talent." But nothing compares to "Idol."

Source.

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Ayla will be appearing as a judge on My TV's revival of Community Auditions, a talent competition, starting with tomorrow's episode. It will air Sundays at 7:30 PM. To check to see if you get the network, see here.

Also, "Forward" advances 22-20 on this week's ACQB chart.

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Ayla performed with Nick Pedro at the Jimmy Fund's Scooper Bowl at City Hall Plaza in Boston yesterday.



You can see more photos of her from the event here. You can watch video of Ayla's five performances here.

Also, "Forward" advances 20-18 on FMQB's ACQB chart this week.

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Here's an article from Billboard...

'Idol' #13 Ayla Brown Juggles Vocals, Hoops
Ayla Brown
June 13, 2007, 4:45 PM ET
Jill Menze, N.Y.
She may have missed making it into the top 12 on season four of "American Idol" by one spot, but former contestant Ayla Brown has still managed to stay in the public eye over the past year. Eighteen-year-old Brown has done a number of live performances in support of her debut album, "Forward," which was released last October via Double Deal Brand Records, and she is also a prominent member of Boston College's women's basketball team.

"It's really important to me to be able to sing as well as play basketball," says the Wrentham, Mass., native. She adds that although she wasn't one of the 12 finalists on "Idol," she's pleased with how everything turned out. "At first I was devastated because I didn't know where my life, musically, would lead me. I thought, 'I'm gonna go play basketball now; there's going to be no music in my life.' I really just thought that I wasn't ready for it. But after 'Idol,' I was offered [the chance] to make a CD, and I saw that as a door opening up. Thank goodness I took it, and now I'm able to do both."

"Forward" features songs penned by Diane Warren, Tommy Sims and David Eriksen, among others. Brown co-wrote two songs, "Thanks to You" and "Falling Into You." The album's initial singles, "Know You Better" and "I Quit," were released in September, and the current single, "Forward," is at mainstream AC radio now.

"I love this song," Brown says of the title track. "Mostly because of the bridge -- it comes in with this full chorus of people. It becomes almost this gospel sound." She adds that when performing for a middle school-aged crowd, she always includes the song "Love You Better" because "guys and girls love to get up and dance to that one."

Not only does she want to get tweens out on the dance floor, Brown hopes she serves as a role model to her audience as well. "A lot of younger artists are making bad decisions with their lifestyles," she says. "I really want to be one of those people who says, you can play sports, you can sing, you can be a good student, and no one is going to punish you for it."

This summer, Brown will make a number of public appearances, some of which will feature performances by fellow Massachusetts "Idol" contestant Nick Pedro. The two recently shared the stage at the Jimmy Fund's Scooper Bowl in Boston on June 6.

While there's no set timetable on a follow-up album, Brown says she wants to contribute more as a songwriter the next time around. "At first I didn't really know what the [songwriting] process was about," she admits. "I'd always been a basketball player growing up. But through the process, through 'American Idol,' I learned so much and what you can contribute."

Source.

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Ayla recently recorded an unplugged version of her song "Falling Into You." It is available as a free download on her Last.FM.

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Ayla has two songs ("Grown-Up Christmas List" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree") featured on American Christmas, which is now on iTunes.