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| Forbes / An American Idol , not so Idle 1/15/14 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 9 2014, 11:17 AM (130 Views) | |
| mouser | Mar 9 2014, 11:17 AM Post #1 |
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An American Idol, Not So Idle: Inside The World of Taylor Hicks By Zack O'Malley Greenberg credit to Denise TruscelloDusk is closing in on a winter weeknight, but Taylor Hicks’ work day is just beginning. The former American Idol champ is driving to his next gig, somewhere in the middle of Idaho, and his cell phone connection crackles as it tests the outer limits of its service range. Eventually, he’ll head back to Las Vegas, where he’s been playing well over 100 shows annually in recent years. That’s just part of his busy schedule. “I commute between L.A. and Nashville and Birmingham [and Vegas],” says the Alabama native. “It’s exhausting, but I love what I do. My work, to me, never gets old. … I’m coming up on a decade in show business, believe it or not, and I couldn’t be any prouder of that.” The hustle is paying off for Hicks, 37, who won Idol back in 2006. He pulled in $2.5 million last year, No. 7 among the show’s top-earning alumni. He may never reach the heights of Carrie Underwood ($31 million ), but he earned about the same as 2011 champ Scotty McCreery—and Hicks’ path offers fellow contestants a blueprint for a viable post-Idol career, if not quite the sort that earns you a role in a live adaptation of The Sound of Music. Hicks is the first and only Idol to land a residency in Las Vegas, where his soulful crooning and slightly-offbeat personality seem to be a hit with audiences. After starting out at Bally’s during the summer of 2012, he eventually moved to a larger, 200-seat room at Paris Las Vegas. He now plays there five nights a week, and FORBES estimates the shows accounted for nearly half of his annual earnings total. “It’s always good to come to the party first, in all different aspects, whether it be television or film or a Vegas residency,” says Hicks. “I think this is just one of those instances where the opportunity to be the first Idol to have a Vegas show was perfect fit.” The standing gig in Sin City is an extension of Hicks’ entrepreneurial side, something that’s not necessarily nurtured by a show whose goal is to prepackage photogenic music stars. When Arista dropped him in 2008, he founded record label Modern Whomp and released two albums in two years. The second sold over 50,000 copies—less than one-tenth of his self-titled major label debut—but still a respectable amount for an indie launch. Hicks also owns a handful of rental properties (“Some people get a kick out of Taylor Hicks being their landlord,” he says) and is part-owner of Saw’s Juke Joint, a Birmingham barbeque-and-blues bar. “The great thing about Taylor is he always is thinking about what’s next,” says Mat Adair, who represents Hicks at Paradigm Talent Agency. “He’s had a vision since before Idol, and Idol has given him the opportunity to follow it through. … He is never content to just coast—he is always in high gear, and always thinking of ways he can be doing more.” Lucrative live shows, a burgeoning restaurant chain and red state roots is a recipe for success that’s been perfected by another musician: Toby Keith, country’s top-earner, who appeared on the cover of FORBES earlier this year. The singer pulled in $65 million last year, pushing his career total past $500 million. That’s a different stratosphere from the one inhabited by Hicks, but the former Idol will be making additional moves in that direction with his next album, which is “on the soulful side of country,” he explains. He’ll likely release it later this year, independently. A successful launch could actually net him about as much as a modest major label release would have back when American Idol used to get a cut from Hicks’ work. Scotty McCreery said last year that he’d only pocket about one-fifth of his earnings once the show, various handlers and Uncle Sam took their percentages. Hicks, finally, is free and clear. He couldn’t give specifics on his old Idol deal, but regardless of how deep the show’s tentacles delved into his finances, he believes the experience was worth it. “Without a doubt,” he says, then laughs. “If it wasn’t for winning American Idol, I definitely wouldn’t be speaking to Forbes right now.” http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2014/01/15/an-american-idol-not-so-idle-inside-the-world-of-taylor-hicks/ |
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| mouser | Mar 9 2014, 11:18 AM Post #2 |
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AL.com Alabama's Taylor Hicks makes Forbes list of 'Top Earning American Idols 2013' (video) ![]() When Taylor Hicks isn't on stage in Las Vegas, he plays other concert dates, makes TV appearances, sings at sports events and generally works the celebrity circuit. In May, for example, he performed on a Southwest Airlines flight, as part of a "Live At 35 Travelin' Taylor Tour," co-sponsored by Taylor Guitars. (Taylor Hicks Facebook page) Mary Colurso January 16, 2014 0BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Hoover native Taylor Hicks bankrolled $2.5 million last year, according to Forbes, and that makes him one of "The Top Earning American Idols 2013." The business magazine released its list this week, tracking the earnings of 11 singers who've earned fame on the Fox reality series. Artists range from Carrie Underwood (No. 1, $31 million) to Katharine McPhee and Jennifer Hudson (tied for No. 10, $1 million.) Hicks comes in at No. 7, behind Scotty McCreery (No. 6, $3 million) and before Fantasia Barrino and Kellie Pickler (tied for No. 8, $1.5 million). The article by Zack O'Malley Greenburg cites Hicks' Las Vegas residency as a key factor, as along with his income from Saw's Juke Joint in Birmingham. (Hicks is a partner in the restaurant, 1115 Dunston Ave.) "The first and only Idol act with a Vegas residency, Hicks started out at Bally’s and moved to a bigger room at the Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino," Greenburg writes. "Season Five’s winner, who also co-owns a restaurant in his native Alabama, now plays five nights a week. Says Hicks: 'The platform of American Idol changed my life'.” 1 / 5 Perez Hilton, third from left, gets a little kicky with Taylor Hicks in Las Vegas. The gossip columnist and the singer seem right at home, surrounded by showgirls. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Hicks) Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com Figures for the singers' earnings are estimates, calculated "with the help of data from Pollstar Pro, the RIAA, Nielsen SoundScan as well as industry veterans, the musicians’ handlers and some of the artists themselves," the article says. "These numbers reflect pretax earnings from June 2012 through June 2013." Greenburg discusses Hicks' entrepreneurial side in another story, "An American Idol, Not So Idle: Inside The World of Taylor Hicks," and says the soul-pop singer has forged a viable career, post-"Idol," and created a game plan for other alumni to follow. "When Arista dropped him in 2008, he founded record label Modern Whomp and released two albums in two years," Greenberg writes. "The second sold over 50,000 copies—less than one-tenth of his self-titled major label debut—but still a respectable amount for an indie launch. Hicks also owns a handful of rental properties ('Some people get a kick out of Taylor Hicks being their landlord,' he says) and is part-owner of Saw’s Juke Joint, a Birmingham barbeque-and-blues bar." Clearly, Hicks has come a long way since his years as a struggling nightclub singer in Birmingham. His concert run continues at Napoleon's in the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Hicks also made his TV acting debut last year, with a role on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Here's the full list from Forbes: Carrie Underwood, $31 million. Kelly Clarkson, $7 million. Phillip Phillips, $5 million (tie). Adam Lambert, $5 million (tie). Chris Daughtry, $4 million. Scotty McCreery, $3 million. Taylor Hicks, $2.5 million. Fantasia Barrino, $1.5 million (tie). Kellie Pickler, $1.5 million (tie) Katharine McPhee, $1 million (tie) Jennifer Hudson, $1 million (tie) The Forbes articles were timed to coincide with the Season 13 launch of "American Idol" this week, Jan. 15-16 on Fox. http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/01/alabamas_taylor_hicks_among_to.html |
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credit to Denise Truscello




12:53 PM Jul 11