“American Idol” producers Core Media Group has acquired Eli Holzman’s Intellectual Property Corporation, the home of numerous series including A&E’s “Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath.”
Following the acquisition, Core Media will rebrand as Industrial Media. Holzman, who will continue as CEO of IPC, will also serve as CEO of the newly-named “super indie production group.” IPC’s president and co-founder, Aaron Saidman, will join Holzman at Industrial Media as its president, while also remaining in his current capacity as president of IPC.
The combined company puts more than 40 shows on over 20 networks including “So You Think You Can Dance,” “The Wall,” “90 Day Fiancé,” and Facebook Watch’s daily trivia competition “Confetti,” under one roof.
“Our partners at Crestview, Tennenbaum and UTA, and the CORE management team, especially Dennis Miller and CFO Scott Frosch, and UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer, have done a brilliant job re-fashioning their assets into a creative, nimble, powerfully resourced studio of the future,” said Holzman. “Adding IPC to this group and taking advantage of their extraordinary access to talent and capital is a marvelous opportunity for Aaron and me.
“Continuing to lead IPC now alongside the brilliant producers at the group companies will be a privilege. In this booming content marketplace, there has never been a greater need for a supplier like Industrial Media that can support exceptional filmmakers while delivering consistently and at the highest quality level for our buyers,” he said.
19 Entertainment, Sharp Entertainment, B-17 Entertainment, and B-17’s newly formed digital studio, Thumb Candy, along with the newly acquired IPC, will continue to operate independently, developing and producing for traditional network and cable entities as well as the burgeoning digital and SVOD marketplace. IPC’s president and co-founder, Aaron Saidman, will join Holzman at Industrial Media as its president, while also remaining in his current capacity as president of IPC.
“We have reorganized the company, re-invigorated franchises, and set the stage for a new chapter of growth for our assets and investments. Eli and his team are incredibly forward-thinking and possess all of the skills and vision needed to not only compete but thrive as they lead our business today and in the future marketplace,” added Dennis Miller, who served as Core’s executive chairman, and will stay on as chairman for Industrial Media.
14 Highest Selling 'American Idol' Alumni of All Time (Photos)
"American Idol" returns on March 11, and we couldn't be more excited. That's because it's the rare reality show that has actually produced some bona fide pop stars, hit-makers and even an Oscar winner. Whoever wins has a tough road getting there, and an even tougher climb up this ladder of the highest "Idol" alumni in album sales.
Carrie Underwood - 16.3 million albums sold in the U.S.
Underwood is the only solo country music star to have a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and 14 No. 1 hits on Billboard's country charts. Her last album, "Storyteller," came out in 2015, so by the time her next one drops, her lead may go up yet again.
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Kelly Clarkson - 14.2 million albums sold in the U.S.
Don't credit Clarkson with the head start just because she was the very first "Idol" winner. She's had five albums go platinum in her career. Her latest album, "Meaning of Life," arrived in October of 2017.
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Chris Daughtry - 7.35 million albums sold in the U.S.
Recording along with his band Daughtry, the Season 5 contestant's self-titled first album went quadruple platinum in 2006. Both that album and his follow-up "Leave This Town" hit No. 1 on Billboard's album charts. The band's fifth album is expected out this year.
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Clay Aiken - 5 million albums sold in the U.S.
The Season 2 runner-up has released two platinum albums and one gold -- and he ran for Congress in 2014.
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Fantasia Barrino - 3.3 million albums sold in the U.S.
The Season 3 winner had her 2004 song "I Believe" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and her last album came out in 2016.
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Ruben Studdard - 2.6 million albums sold
The Season 2 winner's debut album "Soulful" went platinum, followed by a gold album for "I Need an Angel" in 2004.
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Scotty McCreery - 2.1 million albums sold in the U.S.
The Season 10 winner's debut studio album, "Clear as Day," went platinum upon release. He also released a Christmas album that went gold.
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Kellie Pickler - 1.55 million albums sold in the U.S.
Pickler only finished in sixth place during Season 5, but she ranks eighth overall on this list. She now has her own reality show on CMT.
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David Cook - 1.5 million albums sold in the U.S.
The winner of Season 7 had his self-titled, debut album go platinum and peak at No. 3 on the album charts. Quite impressive for a pop rocker.
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Phillip Phillips - 1.4 million albums sold
The Season 11 winner has only released two albums, but his first, "The World From the Side of the Moon," went platinum.
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Jennifer Hudson - 1.4 million albums sold in the U.S.
Hudson has had two albums go gold, but she's the only "Idol" winner who knows what it's like to earn Oscar gold.
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Jordin Sparks - 1.3 million albums sold in the U.S.
The Season 6 winner's self-titled debut album went platinum in 2007.
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Adam Lambert - 1.2 million albums sold in the U.S.
The Season 8 runner-up has one gold album, his 2009 debut "For Your Entertainment," and has performed as the frontman for Queen.
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David Archuleta - 1.1 million albums sold in the U.S.
Archuleta was only 16 when he competed on "Idol," one of the youngest contestants in the show's history. His debut album in 2008 went gold and peaked at No. 2.
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These former contestants on Fox’s megahit reality franchise parlayed their TV time into serious album sales
"American Idol" returns on March 11, and we couldn't be more excited. That's because it's the rare reality show that has actually produced some bona fide pop stars, hit-makers and even an Oscar winner. Whoever wins has a tough road getting there, and an even tougher climb up this ladder of the highest "Idol" alumni in album sales.