This week’s Digital Tracks chart represents the first week that iTunes released American Idol sales data to SoundScan, and as a result it has an Idol quotient of 17.5%; season-seven winner David Cook placed 17 of his songs on last week’s chart (all in the top 100, with three in the top ten and the coronation song “The Time Of My Life” at No. 1 with 236,000 paid downloads), second-place finisher David Archuleta got 14 songs on the big board (his highest-placing song, at No. 23: “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” which was downloaded 51,000 times), and third-place runner-up Syesha Mercado didn’t sell enough of any tracks to crack the 200-song list. (So much for the strength-in-numbers of the Fanesha 300.) Jason Castro, Brooke White, and Michael Johns also cracked the digital-tracks top 200, and White’s pre-Idol album, the Billy Joel-cover-free Songs From The Attic, even managed to make the digital-albums chart, selling 1,900 copies. Chris Molanphy will have more on these numbers, and their impact on the big board, in tomorrow’s 100 & Single, but for now we’ve got sales totals after the jump.
1. David Cook, “Time Of My Life” (236,000 downloads)
7. David Cook, “Dream Big” (111,000 downloads)
9. David Cook, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (98,000 downloads)
14. David Cook, “The World I Know” (80,000 downloads)
18. David Cook, “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” (60,000 downloads)
21. David Cook, “Billie Jean” (56,000 downloads)
23. David Archuleta, “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” (51,000 downloads)
25. David Archuleta, “In This Moment” (49,000 downloads)
27. David Cook, “Always Be My Baby” (47,000 downloads)
30. David Cook, “Hello” (42,000 downloads)
36. David Archuleta, “Imagine” (39,000 downloads)
40. David Cook, “Music Of The Night” (36,000 downloads)
45. David Archuleta, “Imagine” (32,000 downloads)
52. David Cook, “Eleanor Rigby” (28,000 downloads)
60. David Cook, “I’m Alive” (25,000 downloads)
64. David Cook, “Little Sparrow” (24,000 downloads)
69. David Cook, “Hungry Like The Wolf” (23,000 downloads)
70. David Cook, “Innocent” (23,000 downloads)
80. Jason Castro, “Hallelujah” (19,000 downloads)
81. David Cook, “Day Tripper” (19,000 downloads)
83. David Archuleta, “Longer” (19,000 downloads)
89. David Cook, “All Right Now” (18,000 downloads)
94. David Archuleta, “Think Of Me” (18,000 downloads)
96. David Archuleta, “Angels” (17,000 downloads)
98. David Cook, “Happy Together” (17,000 downloads)
102. Jason Castro, “Over The Rainbow” (16,000 downloads)
106. David Archuleta, “When You Believe” (16,000 downloads)
109. David Archuleta, “Love Me Tender” (15,000 downloads)
123. David Archuleta, “The Long And Winding Road” (14,000 downloads)
131. Brooke White, “Let It Be” (12,000 downloads)
145. David Archuleta, “Sweet Caroline” (11,000 downloads)
153. David Archuleta, “You’re The Voice” (10,000 downloads)
161. David Archuleta, “Another Day In Paradise” (9,800 downloads)
171. Michael Johns, “Dream On” (9,100 downloads)
194. David Archuleta, “Smoky Mountain Memories” (8,300 downloads)
Some instant reactions:
Wasn’t “Dream On” the song that got Michael Johns tossed? Ironic that it’s now his best-selling track.
I’ve liked Brooke White all season, but I’d hardly call her “Let It Be” cover her highlight of the season. Then again, it appears that almost all of the best-selling contestants have a Lennon/McCartney track in here somewhere; so it’s probably just a familiarity thing.
I failed to mention this last week in “100 & Single”: I just learned from last weekend’s Billboard that the reason semi-obscure singer Kate Voegele is outselling Jason Castro with “Hallelujah” right now is she’s been featured repeatedly on One Tree Hill this season with that and other songs.
Its interesting to me that these singles were still selling so well, yet the tracks were pulled from iTunes. Perhaps a contractual/licensing deal where they could only be sold through the finale? Those tracks could be an annuity for sure. I have to admit I’ve purchased one or two of the studio versions that I couldn’t find via other methods. But then again I’ve become harmfully obsessed with David Cook’s gravel grumble.
@Chris Molanphy: Yeah, Kate Voegele was on half the episodes of OTH this season, singing a song or two in each - her Hallelujah gets added to the list of overly emotional uses of that song during some strange character turning point.
@Chris Molanphy: re: Kate Voegele. She seems to be getting a pretty big front-racks, deal-of-the-week promotional push, so the success of her cover isn’t all that surprising.
A couple more things:
- Out of all of Cook’s songs, “Time Of My Life” is the one that dominates the charts? Really? I can only assume it’s because of the size of the finale’s audience…
- If we needed more proof that Syesha has no fans - seriously, how did she make it to the top 3? Is there that large a contingent of people who really want to see her on Broadway but don’t want to buy any of her music? I’d be curious to see her vote totals…
I have no doubt if the other contestants songs had been allowed to stay on itunes along with the ‘top 3′ that Jason Castros chart #s would be much higher. Possibly equaling or besting Cooks.