Kris Allen Stumbles With Debut Album Sales

Filed under: American Idol, John Mayer, Music News

Kris Allen may be an “American Idol” winner, but fans didn’t vote him to No. 1. this week, according to Billboard.

The Season 8 victor’s debut album sold a disappointing 80,000 in its first week, the weakest debut of any “Idol” winner, landing it at No. 11.

In fact, another “Idol” winner, Carrie Underwood, outsold him with sales of her third album, “Play On.” The album sold 86,000 copies, pushing it past the half-million mark overall. It was released on November 3.

And Kris’ runner-up, Adam Lambert, is poised to make a much bigger splash with his own debut, “For Your Entertainment.” The album is reportedly on its way to a 225,000-selling release following the star’s controversial performance on last weekend’s “American Music Awards.”

John Mayer earned the week’s No. 1 album with “Battle Studies,” which sold 286,000 copies.

Is anyone shocked or surprised? I don’t think it was a guarded secret that Kris wouldn’t have those out of the box explosive sales that other idols have had. However, I’m not so sure that’s a bad thing. Usually artists that explode on the scene don’t have lasting power and the ones that build slowly do.

Kris is a good solid dude and I wish him the best. They don’t get any classier!

[Image via WENN.]

Posted in: November 30, 2009 at 9:16 am