June 19, 2009 09:16 PM ET
It looks like Adam Lambert’s debut album may not be released on 19 Recordings/RCA after all. Sources confirm to Billboard.com that an album’s worth of tracks Lambert co-wrote and recorded before “Idol” will be released in the summer by Hi Fi Recordings and Wilshire Records. Entitled “On With The Show,” the album is slated for release in the summer, months before Lambert’s debut on 19/RCA is expected to drop.
Lambert’s first single, “Want,” is streaming now on the Hi Fi Recordings official website, and according to the company’s CEO John Hecker, the rest of the tracks will sound similar. “The music’s amazing,” says Hecker. “There are some uptempo [songs], there’s some that rock a little more, and there are some songs on the same tip as “Want. It’s a real album that’s coming out, not just a conglomerate of a bunch of songs. This is all original material — as a matter of fact, Adam wrote a lot of it.”
According to Hi Fi, Lambert co-wrote the material that will appear on the album and even made a trip to the Wilshire Records studio in Los Angeles as recently as May 2009 to hear it. “He was in the Wilshire Records studio right before the finale actually, and he was blown away by the material.”
Hi Fi Recordings did not notify 19 Entertainment about its intent to release Lambert’s debut album before announcing the news on Friday afternoon. “I bet they know now,” Hecker says.
Later, Lambert issued a statement through 19. “Back in 2005 when I was a struggling artist, I was hired as a studio singer to lend my vocals to tracks written by someone else,” he said. “I was broke at the time and this was my chance to make a few bucks, so I jumped at the opportunity to record for my first time in a professional studio. The work I did back then in no way reflects the music I am currently in the studio working on. I’m thrilled to be working with some of today’s hottest songwriters and producers and can’t wait for people to hear what my music really sounds like.
As reported earlier, Lambert is working with Lady GaGa producer RedOne and with ex-Evanesence songwriter David Hodges.
Adam Lambert’s “Want” was produced by L.A. based New Zealand expat Malcolm Welsford, a principal at Wilshire Records, and features additional production by Mark Endert, who has produced or co-produced several Hot 100 hits including Maroon5’s “Makes Me Wonder,” Vertical Horizon’s “Everything You Want” and “I Don’t Want To Be” by Gavin DeGraw. Endert declined to comment, while his manager at Nettwerk, Alia Fahlborg, admitted that they knew it would be controversial. “He’s very proud of the work he did,” she said.
Welsford does not have a listed number, nor does Wilshire Records. His LinkedIn profile lists an additional company, Wilshire Publishing, and claims Adam Lambert as part of its roster. Welsford was unreachable for comment.
When pressed for more information on the terms of Lambert’s non-exclusive agreement with Wilshire Records and whether or not the singer will see any compensation from the album, Hecker responded, “I don’t really want to talk about the nuts and bolts of the business deal…but I can tell you that Adam will share in the success.”
Hecker says he was approached by Wilshire Records about releasing Lambert’s material soon after the singer made his first appearance on “Idol” in January 2009. “When they first discussed it with me I was really hesitant, because usually when there’s music that’s been recorded earlier, the stuff isn’t so good. This stuff is unbelievable. We saw that it was the right thing for fans to hear this music. We’re doing everything on the highest level, from the mixes to how we’re promoting it.”
Hi Fi Recordings is the label home of Melinda Doolitle, who finished third on Season 6 of “American Idol” and was a favorite contestant of Simon Cowell. But Hecker says that he’s never been in touch with 19 Entertainment about striking a deal with a top “Idol” alum. “It wasn’t relevant,” he insists. Since jumping into the music business in 1995, Hecker signed the band U.K. band Spacehog as well as Avril Lavigne, who was on his imprint through Arista
The CEO says he’s “100%” confident that his company has the legal right to debut its Adam Lambert album before 19/RCA does theirs. “We would never put anything out that wasn’t fully owned by the parties involved with all the rights secured. We were really careful.”
“I’m working [Adam's] brand with as much care as anybody could,” adds Hecker. “I do not want to hurt this guy, I want this guy to be as huge as he should be, and I think this music is only going to help.”
Possibly Related Posts:
- Scotty McCreery Beats Everyone Since Season 7
- Adam Lambert Recommends LSD. What?
- Adam Lambert: Listen Up Jackass!
- Adam Lambert’s Antics Ruined The AMAs For Other Artists
- Idols on the PopScene in 2009
Adam lambert is an outstanding talent, incredible singing range, and is recognized by the entire music industry as a fantastic singer.
Martha the entire Music industry? I think you need to give that statement a second thought. Oh and scroll up to read Karm`s post. There is nothing heroic or courageous about the way Adam is leading his life. He is not a role model for me or my children and never will be.
i love Adam. I love his singing. I wish everythng good for him. he is good-hearted, that is what counts.glambert forever
I forgot what I meant to add. I found out that kris Allen and Matt Giraud had released albums prior to American Idol. They were saying not to bother with them, wait for their new stull. Whereas, Adam never made a CD for release, he sang a song for a demo a couple years prior to idol and Hifi is now releasing it as a song made for a single. Adam also, a couple years ago,sang in some sessions, and now, HI Fi put them all together and is releasing them as an album. Adam is currently actually singing and recording his own choices, his own music with the actual intention of being released in the Fall. It will be released by RCA 19Entertainment. it will be great. Adam will be highly successful in his career. He is immensely talented.
Adam lambert is an outstanding talent, incredible singing range, and is recognized by the entire music industry as a fantastic singer. He is creative, self confident, personable, intelligent,articulate,courageou,honest and i admire and respect him greatly. i realize there are bigot and jealous people trying to convince me otherwise, but I won’t turn away from love and light for anyone.
Jake said “I know little about Adam and a.lot about Idol, these kids are pawns, the show is scum.”
You got that right!
The song sucks, but wait…Adam doesn’t want us to buy his own music. He wants everyone to wait until his sophomore CD comes out with RCA. Lady GaGa move over, Adam wants to steal your thunder.
Karma, love your comment… yeah great role model he is…NOT.
We know AI/19 has no ethical standards and now surprise surprise we discover their pick as the winner this year has none either. Mr. Lambert is not only is a druggie, but will use anyone and anything to advance his career. Please keep your kiddies away as this is not someone to look up to. Wow, it’s very sad.
Hmmmm…..he seems to be a poser….I think Idol was a set up for him. He was pre selected for the show. Anyway his music is not my style. I suppose people who listen to club music will like it. I am not into that stuff.
” Being out of the closet, going back into the closet to win a game show and then coming back out of the closet (kind of – please see bi-curious comment above) on the cover of a national magazine (which he berated others for doing). ”
Karma: while I understand where you’re coming at and agree with much of what you say, as to the “in and closet” issue, I truly believe this was Idol’s publicity stunt, an idea they had when they first recruited him.
As brilliant as this stunt was, it’s the most offensive thing they have ever done as it marginalizes the journey of those who truly struggled.
I know little about Adam and a.lot about Idol, these kids are pawns, the show is scum.
You honestly think Idol doesn’t know what they’re doing?
Hi-Fi Recordings was formed in conjunction with Arista, Arista is Part of RCA music group.
Now tell me who didn’t already know about this?
The 19 machine has enough power to SPIN this as a cheap cash in. Watch them as they turn this story around to benifit them.
We’ve seen it before, one site picks it up changing a few words, then to another site, changing more of the story….by the time you read it again 19 will have done their job.
Amazing what you can do when you own the press.
I’ve been on the internet following this story and, after reading various comments I feel the need to respond.
I see people comment that Adam Lambert is sweet, wholesome, humble and an amazing role model. I feel the need to have my say:
Adam’s so sweet!! What’s sweet about him? The fact that he drinks to excess and then makes out with whoever happens to be in the bar? or was it the comment about not sticking it into women – that was definitely sweet and charming.
Adam’s so wholesome!! What’s wholesome about him? The drinking or the drug use? The drag? The grabbing his crotch and exposing himself on stage – that was definitely wholesome.
Adam’s so humble!! What’s so humble about him? He’s already calling himself a rock star and let’s not forget that he’s bi-curious and he’ll stick it into some “lucky” lady if he gets drunk enough. He’s bashed a TRUE Rock Legend’s singing (he should be lucky to have 1/16th of Gene Simmons’ success) – definitely humble
Adam’s a role model! A role model for what? Cruising bars, getting drunk, taking drugs?? Being out of the closet, going back into the closet to win a game show and then coming back out of the closet (kind of – please see bi-curious comment above) on the cover of a national magazine (which he berated others for doing). Now we get to throw lying and misrepresentation into the mix – yeah, some role model.
I say if you like his talent than enjoy his talent – but please, do not make him out to be something he is obviously not. These were HIS WORDS and HIS ACTIONS, not anything anyone made up.
He’s not much to look at without the guy liner and make up, is he?
And the song makes me ‘want’ some real singing – this one is atrocious.
This is sooo interesting.
So Adam says some bullcrap about 2005 and a starving artist and lending backup vocals. When ACTUALLY, he recorded this more like 2007-2008. And he has the lead vocals not backup vocals. Sounds like a LIE to me.
Then the record company says Adam knew about it and went to their offices to hear it in May 2009. Wow……………
Then Adam comments about the music on this “new CD”……… implying that he doesn’t like this music he recorded. Interesting. He does this pop sound record and then sells himself as a rocker on AI. Now he needs to do rocker type music for these fans who are expecting it. His statement implies that the music he is going to record for RCA is “the real Adam sound” but…………..he really just wants a career. He wants to make money. He’ll sell out to anyone for anything. He will make all kinds of excuses when all he really is, is a liar and poser.
I bet AI/19/RCA are PISSED!!! I say good for them. They pimped this guy. They should have done more research on this struggling singer.
Take AI back to it’s roots with girl and boy next door contestants. People who NEVER would get a record contract because they have been plucked from obscurity. That was when it was fun. Now AI just picks a person to pimp and later we find out that this person isn’t a non-professional.
What’s he smoking there?
The plot thickens! Fascinating. Lambert even made a trip to the recording studio in May of 2009 – can’t be too much of a surprise to him! and what’s this about 2005? What does that have to do with anything? This is better than a soap opera!