What's good enough for one David is good enough for the other.
"American Idol" runner-up David Archuleta has inked a deal with 19 Recordings/ Jive Records, the same label that signed his onetime rival, David Cook.
Archuleta, 17 — who is rehearsing for the American Idols Live! Tour, which kicks off July 1 — said in a statement that he is excited to release his major-label debut later this year. "Signing a record contract with 19 Recordings/ Jive Records is truly a dream come true," he said. "Being a fan of 'American Idol' since season one and admiring the alumni, I am honored and humbled to be a part of that group. I'm really excited to start working on everything."
Though it will likely be five or six months before fans hear the debut from the scratchy-voiced crooner, Archuleta has already made a dent on the charts, with three songs on the Billboard Hot Digital Tracks chart this week: his covers of John Lennon's "Imagine" and Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" and the "Idol" finale ballad, "In This Moment."
If this year's pattern follows that of previous years, the Cook and Archuleta albums should drop in time for the holiday season, with the first official singles coming out in the late fall. "Idol" creator and 19 Entertainment CEO Simon Fuller said, "It was fascinating to watch David [Archuleta]'s journey through 'Idol.' He is a genuine pop star and is a gifted singer who instantly won over a huge audience when he first appeared on the show. Since then, he has dealt with the pressure and the high level of expectation with real fortitude; he's given us some of the best performances of the season. Without question, David Archuleta has a great future ahead of him."
Though it's too early to tell what kind of album Archie will make, "Idol" champ Cook has already said that he wants to do some of his own writing and put together a solid rock record, though, he warned, he's "not trying to be Daughtry."
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