From Today's Billboard:

Jive Records executive Jeff Fenster, who was tasked with overseeing all American Idol alums' albums for the label, is leaving his post as senior vp A&R, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. It's rumored that he'll make a move to Warner Bros. Records, which has recently installed a new management team headed by award-winning producer Rob Cavallo.

 Fenster exits his second stint at Jive Records. He first went to work at the label in 1992 and was an integral member in the formation of its first A&R team. Jive would later become home to artists like Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys, after which Fenster left to join Island Def Jam Records as head of A&R. There, he worked with the likes of Hoobastank, Sum 41, Fall Out Boy and, for a short and acrimonious stint, Hanson. His relationship with the three brothers was painfully documented in the film <I>Strong Enough to Break</I>, which chronicled the making of Hanson's third album, supervised by Fenster. During the three-year recording process, he rejected some 80 songs, and after a string of collaborations failed to impress, he eventually stopped taking the band's phone calls. The movie has since inspired a fan-formed Facebook group called "I Detest Jeff Fenster."

In 2004, Fenster returned to the Sony fold to work at Arista Records and rejoined Jive in 2006. Under his watch, several Idol graduates have seen significant sales, including Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks, Season 7 runner-up David Archuleta (at least on his 2008 debut) and Season 8 winner Kris Allen, while others, like Season 8's Allison Iraheta, have found commercial success more elusive. His latest project, the debut album of Season 9's Crystal Bowersox, dubbed Farmer's Daughter, is expected to have a strong first week, according to early retail estimates.

 Fenster's departure follows the recent announcement that Barry Weiss, chairman/CEO of RCA/Jive Label Group, will leave Sony for Universal Music Group at the end of his contract in April.

Well, now we know WHY no American Idol alum have been able to have hits the past three years or so...Mr. "I Wouldn't know a hit if it bit me in the crotch" was in charge of them... I mean, the man PASSED on the most perfect pop song ever recorded IMHO - how can ANYONE hear "Underneath" and say it doesn't have hit potential? The man was a first class idiot...good riddance to him on AI!

No big surprise he's heading to WB - that's the label that his "good buddy" Lyor Cohen has virtually destroyed since taking it over several years ago...

Cass - check out this line from the article:

Now I’m told by a source who knows such things that Jackson wrote a song for Hanson. He simply never gave it to them. And the demo went into a drawer.

Michael frequenly worked on songs for other artists during his creative periods, but they didn't always get the songs delivered. I have no doubt that this song, once I heard it, was probably really was meant for Hanson - I can definately see them doing this song, and Tay's vocals on it, around the This Time Around time...

Friedman may not be the most knowledgable about Hanson, but he knows many Jackson camp people, and I have no doubt he's correct on this one...

But this time, it was mostly in a positive vein...sort of...see below:

Yes, it ’tis true.

Try and recall 1999. Hanson was the ruling pop group, sort of three Biebers, if you will.

Michael Jackson was writing songs slowly for the album that became “Invincible.”

Now I’m told by a source who knows such things that Jackson wrote a song for Hanson. He simply never gave it to them. And the demo went into a drawer.

“I Like The Way You Love Me” turns up for real, for the first time, on the “Michael” album coming out on Tuesday. A prior version had floated around among Jackson fans, but the new one was produced and remixed for the new album.

Michael, according to my source, had the idea for Hanson. He wrote the song but never got around to sending it to them, I am told. Maybe they can record it now.

Ok, could have done without the Bieber crack (Sorry, I can't STAND JB except for Somebody To Love, and that's only because Usher is singing with him). He has a copy of Michael's version of the song on the site, and I have to say, It is exactly the type of song that would have been great for the boys circa 1999-2000 - and still today.

Here's the link:

http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/12/10/michael-jackson-wrote-song-on-new-album-for-hanson

Not a horrible fan at all. Madam.

Friedman has been a gossip columnist for almost 30 years, and while he's fine at movie and TV gossip, he seems to be completely clueless about anything that is dated after 1980 or so. People are correct - he doesn't think sometimes before he says and does things. Case in point - he was fired from FoxNews.com's 411 column for reviewing the still-unfinished Wolverine movie on a bootleg he downloaded...and he admitted it in his column...even though Fox was the movie's parent company. And then he was clueless about WHY they fired him..

Thanks to all for Shoutin' It Out and letting Friedmann know he was wrong - you don't diss my boyz and get away with it...heh heh heh...

In one of his regular Showbiz 411 columns slamming Justin Bieber, gossip troll Roger Friedmann decided to take a swipe at the boys:

"From Leif Garrett to Bobby Sherman to Fabian, etc there have always been teen pop stars. Remember the Jonas Brothers? Or Hansen? These are the acts for whom state fairs are produced. Let’s love the Bieb while we can. Five years from now, the lawsuits over money lost, etc. will make excellent stories."

What a jerk. I left him a comment telling him how wrong he is - suggest you do the same - let's follow the word and "Shout It Out"!

http://www.showbiz411.com/2010/08/31/justin-bieber-exclusive-photos-from-movie-shoot

Comments can be left at the bottom - but they're moderated, so it might not get published, but at least Friedmann reads them...and i've been going around and around with him for a long long time...

Cheers!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I featured "Thinkin' 'Bout Somethin'" as TKR's daily Song Of The Day on Tuesday, to mark the release of Shout It Out. Please come check it out and let me know what you think!

http://popcornnroses.typepad.com/radiotcs_song_of_the_day/2010/06/june-8-2010-thinkin-bout-somethin-by-hanson.html

Cheers!

Well, it's up to we fans to make it right, and I'm doing my part!

"Thinkin' 'Bout Somethin'" is this week's highest debuting song on the TKR TOP 50!

http://popcornnroses.com/radiotc/currentchart.html

And the skinny on this week's chart is in my weekly Chart Attack column -

http://popcornnroses.com/radiotc/ca050110.html

Since the TKR Top 50 chart reports for both Beyond Radio and Top Hits Online, we hopefully will see some action there.

I'll also be featuring Hanson as an Artist Spotlight in the near future - so tell your friends and other Hanson fans to drop by and check it out! The More the Merrier!

TC Kirkham

http://thekirkhamreport.com

a member of the Popcorn N Roses Network

Hey all!

The Kirkham Report, my music site, has named "Thinkin' 'Bout Somethin'" the top Buzz Cut of the week. Check out what I have to say on the site!

http://popcornnroses.com/radiotc/bc041710.html

I love the video - best video in years, guys!  Congrats!  Let's take it back to radio this summer!