David Archuleta Lands Record Deal

AMERICAN IDOL runner-up DAVID ARCHULETA is set to release an album later this year (08) after signing a major record deal - even though he failed to win the U.S. TV show.

Archuleta was widely tipped to come out triumphant on the TV talent competition, but he eventually lost by a landslide 12 million votes to opponent David Cook in the final episode last month (May08).

The 17-year-old's contract with 19 Recordings/Jive Records mirrors the paths of former 'Idol' stars Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson and Clay Aiken, who all lost in past seasons but have successfully launched careers in the film, music and theatre arenas.

In a statement released Thursday (05Jun08), series creator Simon Fuller says: "It was fascinating to watch David's journey through 'Idol'. He is a genuine pop star, and is a gifted singer."

Daughtry managed to achieve the best-selling album in the U.S. in 2007, while Hudson won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in the same year for her role in Dreamgirls. Aiken finished a four-month stint on Broadway last month (May08) playing Sir Robin in Monty Python's Spamalot.