Idolator

Just in time for the seventh-season kickoff of American Idol comes word that Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks and Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard have been dropped from J Records thanks to lackluster album sales. (Studdard is still represented by Idol creators 19 Management.) Meanwhile, Season 5 third-place finisher Chris Daughtry continues to steamroll over the top-40 playlists and big-box music sections of America. Why is this making me wonder if fans of the upcoming season's contestants will withhold their votes en masse in the show's second-to-last week? More »

It's another slow week for new music, with holiday releases (from the likes of Sarah McLachlan and Twisted Sister) elbowing past the 8,294th Aerosmith cash-in compilation for prime rack space at the shops. We've already told you about Diddy's Press Play; after the jump, you can find out more about new releases from JoJo, Ruben Studdard, Shiny Toy Guns, and Xzibit. More »