Kelly Clarkson or Fantasia?

[Jaffas85]

Which new album from these two do you see selling better when they are released towards the end of this year?

With production from Missy Elliot, Kayne West and R.Kelly I think that Fantasia will be producing singles more likely to be Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 therefore that may boost her sales.

[bluenote]

Kelly Klarkson will sell more. Fantasia has no hype around her right now. Now that AI is over...no1 really cares about her. Ruben and Clay both had more anticipation for their albums. I think the novolty of American Idol is wearing off. The only thing saving Kelly right now is "break away." She has a hit single and it will lead to anticipation for her album. Fantasia doesnt have a true radio hit, and it is uncertain how radio will actually embrace her. The Urban AC crowd hasnt even embraced "i believe" and if you cant get alot of love from Urban AC then thats not the best sign for her.

[Pink Champagne Ricochet]

I'm not even sure that Fantasia's album will end up being released this year. It'll probably end up getting pushed back. Clive Davis loves her, so i'm sure she'll get the radio support she needs and yes, she'll fit in to the more popular formats today. However, her voice is definitely an acquired taste, which could scare off some. And she doesn't seem to have as much built-in fan support. "I Believe" sold less than "A Moment Like This" first week, despite Fantasia's season of American Idol having double the viewers of Kelly's. To date, Fantasia's single has sold less than "This Is The Night" by Clay Aiken did first week.
Kelly is writing and producing most of her album, which is supposed to have a more rocky and soul feel than Thankful. "Breakaway" is supposed to be an anomaly in her new sound. She's definitely got some fans, counting myself among them. All I know is that i'll be buying Kelly's album but won't be picking up Fantasia's.

Ruben Studdard is coming out with a gospel album, supposedly on the same day as Fantasia's current set date. Not to mention Aiken's Christmas set.

[KikiMets]

splitchick, the rumored dates I've seen are October 12 for Ruben's gospel album, October 26 for Kelly's album and November 2 for Clay's Christmas album. Unless Fantasia has been doing a lot of recording during the AI3 tour, there's no way her album will be ready by October.

While I wasn't really a fan of Fantasia's AI performances, I'm interested in hearing her studio material (I had read that she was planning to work with Missy, but I had no idea about Kanye. R. Kelly, on the other hand, I hope she doesn't work with, unless she wants to sing an inspirational ballad that's worse than I Believe). As if the avatar didn't give it away, I'm definitely looking forward to Kelly's album. I can't wait to hear the song she did with Bloodshy & Avant or the ones she wrote with Ben Moody.

[bluenote]

KikiMets said:

I can't wait to hear the song she did with Bloodshy & Avant.

WHAT!!! Im really excited to hear that! they are the creators of "TOXIC"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jaffas85]

I read that Fantasia's album will be released in late November.

[Sean]

Fantasia, I hope!

[strong4PMB!]

Kelly will sell more. I'll be picking up both eventually.

[JCMF3]

From shear talent, Kelly Clarkson will sell more.

From popularity, Kelly will still have the edge. Let's face it - the winners of this year's AI have had less "hype" following their win than the previous two years winners and even runner-ups. Honestly, in the months following AI1, I heard more about Justin Guarini than I have heard of Fantasia in the past few months.

[Jaffas85]

So what platinum status do you all think the Kelly and Fantasia albums will reach?

And just for the hell of it how well do you think a Latoya London album would sell *assuming J Records will sign her and promote her well*.

[bluenote]

Jaffas85 said:

So what platinum status do you all think the Kelly and Fantasia albums will reach?

And just for the hell of it how well do you think a Latoya London album would sell *assuming J Records will sign her and promote her well*.

Kelly will probably go platinum eventually. It all depends on her 1st single. If she gets a big hit then she could do really well . To do better then platinum she will need consistant hits from the album and i dont see that coming from her honestly. I can see her with a decent hit for the 1st single like "miss independant" and the rest of her singles performing the way "low" and "the trouble with love ". But with her fans, she should have a nice 1st week and eventually go platinum but im not expecting doble platinum success from her at this point.



Fantasia.......I cant call it. I think she will likely go gold. Her voie is annoying and like some1 said she has NO hype now. and i think most people recorgnize that she has no hype or anticipation. It doesnt look like radio will embrace her. the urban audience showed her support and voted forher to win but now that the show is over...no1 cares. Like i said earlier, "i believe" not being at Least a hit on UrbanAC brigs concern to the future of Fantasia. But we have yet to hear anything that she has to offer as far as her album goes. Im not betting my money that Missy will bring her a hit....her voice is just so thin and It just doesnt fit into todays market. I cant imagine her singing a R. Kelly club song, so i dont know what her niche will be in this business??? She is young but looks old, young people are not really feeling her, I have no idea who they are going to even market her towards.

Latoya London has a future with Urban Ac. But not a multi platinum or platinum selling artist.

[chebingeo]

JCMF3 said:

From shear talent, Kelly Clarkson will sell more.

[Evergreen]

Just looking at the status of the industry, I give the edge to Fantasia.

[irice22]

Kelly Clarkson will sell more.

[Brethren]

I would want Kelly to sell more. But Fantasia has multi format appeal.

[Pet Shop Boy]

I think Fantasia will flop. AI is worn out now. They'll watch it, but the end result is meaningless. It happened with the UK winner.....

[strong4PMB!]

Jaffas85 said:

And just for the hell of it how well do you think a Latoya London album would sell *assuming J Records will sign her and promote her well*.

I don't know. 100,000. 200,000, if she's lucky.

[Bob]

BlueNote said:

Kelly Klarkson will sell more.  Fantasia has no hype around her right now.  Now that AI is over...no1 really cares about her.  Ruben and Clay both had more anticipation for their albums. I think the novolty of American Idol is wearing off.  The only thing saving Kelly right now is "break away." She has a hit single and it will lead to anticipation for her album.  Fantasia doesnt have a true radio hit, and it is uncertain how radio will actually embrace her.  The Urban AC crowd hasnt even embraced "i believe" and if you cant get alot of love from Urban AC then thats not the best sign for her.

garbage, fantasia is in the same position as kelly was before "miss independent", except AI had much higher ratings for fantasia.

we really have to reserve judgement till we hear some of the material, b/c it could literally go either way: fantasia could sell the most or the least of any of the top 4 contestants from all 3 years.

[singingsparrow]

I'm betting on Kelly Clarkson here.

Both I predict will have less than exciting debuts of new material.

However, Kelly has airplay to her advantage right now. Plus, being the original winner of American Idol, it will solidify her over all other American Idol winners, for being the original champion alone. And when you're the "original" of something, it's usually a guarantee you'll last the longest.

I just don't see much in Fantasia. She has great vocals but I don't see much else. She'll likely suffer the same fate as Ruben Studdard I predict, who, despite winning American Idol, will slip from the radar, possibly even face obscurity in the next few years.

Sincerely,
Noah Eaton

[43dudleyvillas]

KikiMets said:

splitchick, the rumored dates I've seen are October 12 for Ruben's gospel album, October 26 for Kelly's album and November 2 for Clay's Christmas album. Unless Fantasia has been doing a lot of recording during the AI3 tour, there's no way her album will be ready by October.

About a week or so ago, there was an article in the Birmingham Post-Herald that quoted a J Records spokesperson as saying that both Ruben's gospel album and Fanty's debut album would be out on 16 November.  The spokesperson also indicated, with a straight face, that the two "just happened" to be scheduled for release on the same date.  Yes, I'm sure that's just a coincidence, and cross-promotion was never their intention. 

I don't see that 16 November release date panning out for Fanty, though.  Even if her album is ready by then, I think the release date will get moved for strategic reasons.  She'll get run over by the other new releases on 16 November.  23 November would be better for her, even with U2 and J-Lo releasing an album that day.  I can see J waiting until December, as they did for Ruben, to get her a #1 debut.

I agree with BlueNote that "Breakaway" may be a real career-saver for Kelly, giving her enough momentum on radio that radio will be more open to the first single off her next album, even if it is in a different vein than "Breakaway."  Between the two, I think Fantasia is the more interesting singer/artist, but prefer the richness of Kelly's voice.  I think that Kelly's next album will probably sell more in the long run.

It's going to be interesting to see how Kelly's album stacks up, commercially and critically, against the new albums from Vanessa Carlton, Gwen Stefani, Joss Stone and (as much as I hate to include her) Hilary Duff.  I think Fanty will have an easier time than Kelly standing out, but it remains to be seen whether that helps her.

[benmcd2000]

Bob said:

garbage, fantasia is in the same position as kelly was before "miss independent", except AI had much higher ratings for fantasia.

we really have to reserve judgement till we hear some of the material, b/c it could literally go either way: fantasia could sell the most or the least of any of the top 4 contestants from all 3 years.

The only difference is when Kelly came out, she was the only Idol out there....now Fantasia is one of many past Idol contestants looking to break radio.

Out of all of them, Kelly Clarkson is most likely to break the “Idol Curse” and become a staple at her targeted format. (CHR-Pop) Fantasia is more likely to follow in Ruben’s footsteps and do well over at urban radio.

[KikiMets]

43dudleyvillas said:

About a week or so ago, there was an article in the Birmingham Post-Herald that quoted a J Records spokesperson as saying that both Ruben's gospel album and Fanty's debut album would be out on 16 November.  The spokesperson also indicated, with a straight face, that the two "just happened" to be scheduled for release on the same date.  Yes, I'm sure that's just a coincidence, and cross-promotion was never their intention. 

Sadly, with 19/RCA/J's track record in dealing with the releases of AI alums, I can almost believe that the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. It would be sheer madness to release either album on November 16 with the huge releases already scheduled for that date (although since Ruben's album is more of a niche release, it's not quite as stupid as a debut album coming out on that day), but then again, we're talking about a label that doesn't shoot the video for the first single until the week after the album is released.

[jimmy74747]

Kelly will sell more
Kelly will have more Top 40 support
I will buy Kelly's and not Fantasia's.

However, Clay Aiken's Christmas CD will have the biggest first week sales of them all.

[tidetoit]

There have been some interesting answers to the original question.  Some of them ignore the obvious facts:
Kelly Clarkson has a very large fanbase domestically and one that is growing quickly internationally.  Kellys first album may not have been your cup of tea but at least it was "real tea" and is double platinum with a major grammy nomination in the best female vocalist category.  Seems many have forgotten that?  Kelly wrote the music and lyrics for most of 2 of the tracks on "Thankful": "Thankful" and "You Thought Wrong".  She wrote the music and lyrics for the bridge to "Miss Independent" and co-wrote the lyrics and music for "The Trouble With Love Is".  In Kellys recent interviews on Z100 in NY, WBLI in NY, WPLJ in NY, Z100 in Portland, and others Kelly has stated RCA is giveing her unprecedented control over production of this album--shes already recorded over 25 tracks and she wrote or co-wrote almost all of them according to Kelly herself and the "Ask Jess" column on her best friends website.  She says many of the songs she wrote will make the album and that it has taken a much "rock"-ier turn.  Her suppporting cast of--co-writers, musicians, and producers like Ben Moody, Rhett Lawrence, David Hodges, the "Swedish Mafia", and others seems to be a stellar all out effort by RCA.  I think underestimating Kelly Clarkson is a big mistake. 

"Breakaway" is evidence of one very important fact most here have not mentioned.  Its a silly kids Disney movie soundtrack song--Avrils version was so weak she couldn't even put it on her own album--and she wrote it.  Kelly put a "real" voice and her interpretation under its wings and its soaring into the top 20 at CHR and Hot AC with big bullets.  I think Kellys new CD will be the most interesting--versatile set released in years and it will sell-sell-sell.

Fantasia?  Fantasia who?

[reception]

For now it seems Kelly is more popular. Fantasia just needs to release another single. ???