Pop mogul Fuller to manage American Idols
Media and pop mogul Simon Fuller is set to rake in more millions after adding the two finalists of hit show American Idol to his books today.
The man who steered the Spice Girls to fame has signed up the winner Kelly Clarkson, 20, and runner-up Justin Guarini, 23, to his 19 management firm.
On top of performing to 15 million viewers on the show, cocktail waitress Clarkson is guaranteed maximum exposure after being asked to sing the US National Anthem at the September 11 memorial concert.
Fuller is already estimated to be worth £50m (€79m) after his foray into TV creating the hit show Pop Idol and selling the format around the world. Yesterday it was announced that it has been sold to Beirut-based channel, Future TV, which will audition throughout the Middle East.
The American Idol show has already given the pop hopefuls huge exposure, which is expected to pave the way for the sort of success which Will Young, Gareth Gates and Darius Danesh have had in the UK, where they have clocked up five number one singles between them.
Further success is expected after Will Young was given exposure in the US performing on the final of American Idol.
It was a nerve racking occasion for him, he said.
“It felt like I was doing another audition,” Young revealed after duetting with Clarkson.
Fuller hailed the success of the US version of the show today and said: “American Idol has been a massive event that has captured the whole of America.
“It’s incredibly satisfying to have that kind of impact with a British show in a country that is the home of television.”
And he was touched that Clarkson was to perform in Washington to mark the September 11 attacks.
He said: “September 11 is the most significant day for the American public and Kelly has been asked to sing the National Anthem, representing the feeling of the nation. It’s a great honour for her to perform.”
There are now plans for American Idol 2 for which British judge Simon Cowell is again in the running.
During UK Pop Idol he became renowned for his barbed comments aimed at contestants and he did the same in the US version, regularly clashing with fellow judge Paula Abdul.
