Not that you needed any more evidence that American Idol’s actual results are mostly meaningless, but here goes anyway: 19 Recordings (a division of 19 Entertainment, the company responsible for Idol) has signed contracts with winner Kris Allen, runner-up Adam Lambert, and, now, fourth-place finisher Allison Iraheta (her debut will be released by Jive Records, whose hilarious roster also includes R. Kelly, Chris Brown, and David Archuleta). Still without a deal, though, is third-place contestant Danny Gokey, the churchgoing Milwaukee widower best remembered as the guy who deafened you with his ear-drum–rupturing performance of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.” A month ago, he announced plans to make a “soulful album with rhythm and blues mixed with salsa and merengue beats,” so we applaud 19 Recordings for their apparent commitment to not letting us hear it.
Even For a Fourth-Place ‘Idol,’ An Album Deal [ArtsBeat/NYT]
