travbowman asked
Simon Fuller is no professional singer. He does not dance, and he doesn't play an instrument. Yet there he is -- collecting a fortune at the top of the pop charts. As creator of the 'American Idol' franchise, Fuller manages every aspect of the careers of Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Kelly Clarkson and all other instant 'Idol' celebrities. But Fuller earns far more than the typical 15 percent to 20 percent that most managers keep from their clients' gross earnings. As the 'American Idol' phenomenon launches its third season tonight on Fox, Fuller's franchise is raising questions about exploitation and the price of fame. Fuller says that as the primary imaginative force behind these artists, and the one with the connections to transform Clarkson from struggling Texas waitress to pop diva, he deserves a larger percentage of their earnings. 'If you think of Andrew Lloyd Webber, if he creates 'Phantom of the Opera' he owns it. He hires Michael Crawford to take the lead. Crawford doesn't get a cut of 'Phantom of the Opera,' and no one questions that,' Fuller said. 'My deals are the best in the world. I create 'Phantom of the Opera' and then say to Michael Crawford, 'Let's be 50-50 partners, or 60-40 -- whatever the deal is.'
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