Corey Clark - Album and Music Career

Album and Music Career

Clark, along with the other second season finalists, recorded RCA Records' The American Idol Season 2: All-time Classic Love Songs soundtrack. Their version of the song "What the World Needs Now is Love" debuted at number six on the Hot 100 singles sales Billboard Magazine Chart, beating out Jackie DeShannon's 1965 debut of the same song in at number seven. With singles charting at number one ("God Bless the U.S.A.") and number six ("What the World Needs Now is Love") that year, Clark and the rest of the second season cast became the first act since Nelly to place two titles in the top ten of BillBoards Hot 100 Singles sales. In the May 17, 2003 issue of Billboard Magazine the soundtrack attained Billboards Top Soundtrack number one spot, Billboards Top internet Album sales at number fourteen, The Billboard 200 hot shot debut at number two, and the single "God Bless the U.S.A." remained at number one for three weeks. The soundtrack sold more than 500,000 copies domestically, giving Clark and his fellow second season castmates Gold record status, as well as making them all number one artists on the Billboard Music Charts of May, 2003.

Clark's first album, Corey Clark, was released on June 21, 2005. Although the making of the album was highly publicized, the final product received minimal promotion or radio play. Despite high profile superstar featured guest spots from The Black Eyed Peas and Scott Storch, consumers were generally unaware that the album was released and available to the market. Clark claimed that radio conglomerate Clear Channel refused to play his record due to threats Clear Channel received that all American Idol promotional and advertising dollars would be pulled from any station playing Clark's record.

Clark signed a one album, press and distribution label imprint deal with Universal/Bungalo Records, making him the first American Idol contestant in history to release his own album under his own record company distributed by a major label. This helped him earn a larger share of the album royalties and profits, and made him a partner in the decision-making process into the creative development of the album.