“American Idol” Promo Poster Season 10 Debuts As Album Sales Plummet For Reigning Champ

On Wednesday, FOX released the first promotional poster as talent show fans inch towards the 10th season premiere of American Idol. Judges Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, and Kara DioGuardi had bid farewell to the singing competition, and new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez are featured alongside returning pundit Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest, beneath the “Every Superstar Begins With a Dream…”

American Idol premieres Wednesday, Jan. 19 on FOX.

It’s Do-or-Die time for the once surefire ratings winner. Idol bosses and 19 Recordings/RCA were dealt a humiliating blow when American Idol Season 9 champ Lee DeWyze released his debut album to mixed reviews and the lowest opening numbers in the show’s history.

The recording, Live It Up, sold a paltry 39,000 copies in its first week of release. The second week numbers were even more disappointing: The former paintshop clerk moved just 13,000 discs. Even Season 8 winner Kris Allen sold 80,000 out the starting gate!

“It’s a bitter disappointment for Lee,” a well-placed DeWyze pal dished to The National Enquirer. “He co-wrote all but one of the songs on Live It Up, so it’s very much his own record. Lee put his heart and soul into it. For Live It Up to be such a dud…that’s really got to hurt.”

Lee’s label, 19 Entertainment/RCA, seems to have all but given up improving sales.

“There doesn’t seem to be any promotion or marketing for it. There’s virtually no advertising. How can people know about it if they don’t know it’s out there?”