"Live It Up" Doesn't Live Up to Expectations

Back before Black Friday Lee DeWyze, the winner of last season’s American Idol, debuted his first album, “Live It Up.” If you missed buying a copy of the CD then you weren’t alone because according to Neilsen Soundscan DeWyze had the absolute worst sales numbers ever for an American Idol winner.

“Live It Up” only sold 39,000 units in its first week making it the worst debut by an Idol winner - ever. By comparison, Kris Allen sold 80,000 copies the year before and David Cook sold 280,000 the year before that. To find the best sales record you’d have to go all the way back to 2003 when Clay Aiken sold 613,000 as the runner-up.

Lee isn't only the lowest-selling winner, but he's also lower than any runner-up, beating Diana DeGarmo by 8,000 less albums sold. In any typical week DeWyze may have made the Billboard top 10, but considering the competitive debuts; Susan Boyle, Rihanna, Josh Groban, Kid Rock, Rascal Flats, Keith Urban and Nelly, I suppose ending the week at #19 isn’t all that bad.

Next up on the block, Crystal Bowersox – the runner up to Lee DeWyze debuts her first album, "Farmer's Daughter" on December 14. "Farmer's Daughter" will feature eight songs written by Crystal as well as a track written by Kara DioGuardi and Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, a Buffalo Springfield cover, and "Mason", a song written by Crystal and her husband Brian.