Clay Aiken Moves On

Well, well. Some significant developments in Clay Aiken's career! The fans had noticed for quite a while now that Clay had been disappearing from RCA's website. Then there was the fact that his official website with RCA was shut down and visitors were being redirected to his fan club website. So, it came as no surprise when the gossip sites belatedly picked up on it and when Clay finally acknowledged exclusively to PEOPLE that he and RCA have parted ways:

The rumors started when his likeness was removed from his record's Web site and now Clay Aiken is setting the record straight: the former American Idol has parted ways with RCA Records, Aiken's rep has confirmed exclusively to PEOPLE.

"We were unable to come to terms in a recent contract negotiation, and decided that it was best to move on," the rep, Cindi Berger, said Friday.

As a whole, I think the fans are rather relieved that this has happened. It has been apparent for a long time that RCA has not fully supported Clay. And I suspect that has been an underlying issue from the beginning. There have been a couple of blogs out that refer back to a 2003 article in TIME magazine that I think addresses the crux of the problems between Clay and RCA. You can read more about it here:

• Clay Aiken News Network: Clay Aiken - It's a Revolution
• mj'sblog: From Day One RCA Did Not Get Clay Aiken

Even though quite a number of bloggers are interpreting this parting of ways as RCA "dropping" Clay, I think that it is much more likely from the way the statement to PEOPLE was made that Clay walked away. Here are some blogs you will want to check out that express some interesting thoughts about it:

• The ConCLAYve: Come Sail Away
• Carolina On My Mind: Clay Aiken Leaves RCA Label
• Poolparty: Clay Aiken and RCA Agree to Part Ways While Claymates & Nipper Play Nice
• Idol Chit-Chat: Clay Aiken and RCA Part Ways

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