Ciara Says Online Post About Label Woes 'Came From A Real Place'

Ciara took to her Facebook page last week to address fans and ask her label, Jive Records, to release her after two lackluster albums. When MTV News caught up with the R&B singer recently, we asked about the headline-making post.

"My letter was a message to my fans, and it came from a real place and I just wanted my fans to know where I was," she explained.

The 25-year-old singer, who has had chart-topping hits such as "Goodies" and "1,2 Step," wrote in the post, titled "My Time to Speak": "It is true that I have asked and I pray that my label will release me. I have had some great times and success with my label, but sometimes like all great things, it's at that point where I feel we don't share the same views on who I am as an artist."

She called her last two efforts with the label -- Fantasy Ride and Basic Instinct, which, in its first week on the Billboard albums chart, debuted at #44, moving just 37,000 copies -- "frustrating" because she was allegedly all but ignored by label execs.

Ciara then told her Facebook fans that she spent "tens of thousands" of her own money to promote her latest single, "Gimme Dat," and "more than one hundred thousand dollars" to get the subsequent music video made.

In one final plea, the multiple Grammy nominee wrote, "I have so much of me as an artist I still want to give to the world and my fans, A release would allow me to go be creative with people who care and understand me as an artist. In a short time, I will be able to bring to you a new music energy and a visual excitement! Thank you so much for standing by me through the good, bad, and the confusion. I love you all."

Jive Records has yet to comment on the Facebook post.

Despite her concerns about what comes next, Ciara confirmed to MTV News, "I am still going to be doing shows, of course." Late Tuesday night, the singer posted a video of a recent performance, tweeting, "I live for moments like this! Love my Fans! http://tinyurl.com/476mwef Its a #CiaraMovement baby!!"

Ciara reiterated, as she did in her Facebook post, that she was going to make her fans, shows and "having fun" her top priorities, while allowing everything else regarding her future in music to "fall in place the way it's supposed to."

Do you think it was a good move for Ciara to address her label woes with Jive on Facebook? Let us know in the comments!

View the original article here

Read more...

David Archuleta Dropped by Record Label

'American Idol' season 7 runner-up David Archuleta is facing a major setback in his once-promising post-'AI' career.

The 20-year-old's bad news went public yesterday, according to the Los Angeles Times: Jive Records says they've dropped the singer from the label after three years, with a company spokesperson confirming, "David was released from our roster."

Archuleta was just 16 when he lost 'Idol' (bested by David Cook), but he won countless fans who adored his sweet smile and formidable vocal skill. Still, the record business is all about numbers: Archuleta's 2008 self-titled debut, featuring the hit single 'Crush,' was certified platinum and sold almost a million copies worldwide. Yet that may get chalked up to beginner's luck, as his sophomore studio album has struggled to rack up 60,000 in sales since its release a few months ago.

The young crooner, while upbeat about his new album, also told PopEater at the time that he'd enjoy going to college someday. Think that will be his next move? No reaction yet from Archuleta's camp about the sudden about-face from his once supportive label, or what's next for the singer.

Earlier this week, just a day before the world learned he was parting ways with Jive, Archleta tweeted a cryptic message about moving forward with his career: "Decisions. They are scary things before knowing what could happen after you make them, but I'm excited for what the future holds."

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=691977&pid=691976&uts=1273167996http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/music/?s_channel=us.musicpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swfGabourey Sidibe attends The American Cancer Society's Choose You luncheon on May 5th in New York City.oKExp.start("popeater3-popeater_music_popscene");

View the original article here

Read more...

David Archuleta Dropped By Record Label

He had the looks, the humility and the vocal talent that made many think a life of superstardom was all but guaranteed. But just three years after David Archuleta charmed audiences as the runner-up on the seventh season of "American Idol," the 20-year-old performer has been dropped by Jive Records, his label since 2008, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Hot on the heels of his appearance on "Idol" and buoyed by the popularity of his single "Crush," Archuleta's self-titled debut album sold more than 750,000 copies in America and nearly a million worldwide, rocketing the crooner to #2 on the Billboard 200.

His second, and newest, album has failed to ignite, however. Released on October 5, 2010, The Other Side of Down has stalled at just over 60,000 units.

It's a certain setback, but if the younger Archuleta has anything to say about it, not a permanent one.

"I hope to always be myself, except more mature and knowing more," Archuleta said in an interview with MTV News in 2008. "Hopefully I'll still be making music five years from now. I don't want to give it up. I want to continue on with it, and if there's a chance to make more albums, I definitely want to do that."

Despite being pegged early as the eventual winner, Archuleta lost in the season-seven finale of "American Idol" to David Cook. He received 44 percent of more than 97 million votes.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

View the original article here

Read more...