http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20675378,00.html

Kelly Clarkson; Clive Davis

KEVIN MAZUR/WIREIMAGE; DAN HALLMAN/INVISION/AP

here are her full comments

So I just heard Clive Davis is releasing a memoir and spreading false information about me and my music. I refuse to be bullied and I just have to clear up his memory lapses and misinformation for myself and for my fans. It feels like a violation. Growing up is awesome because you learn you don’t have to cower to anyone – even Clive Davis.

First, he says I burst into “hysterical sobbing” in his office when he demanded Since You Been Gone be on my album. Not true at all. His stories and songs are mixed up. I did want more guitars added to the original demo and Clive did not. Max, Luke and I still fought for the bigger sound and we prevailed and I couldn’t be more proud of the life of that song. I resent him dampening that song in any way.

But, yes, I did cry in his office once. I cried after I played him a song I had written about my life called “Because Of You.” I cried because he hated it and told me verbatim that I was a “sh*tty writer who should be grateful for the gifts that he bestows upon me.” He continued on about how the song didn’t rhyme and how I should just shut up and sing. This was devastating coming from a man who I, as a young girl, considered a musical hero and was so honored to work with.
But I continued to fight for the song and the label relented. And it became a worldwide hit. He didn’t include that in the book.

He also goes on to say My December wasn’t successful because I co-penned the album and it didn’t have “pop hits”. Well, first let me say, I’ve co-penned many of my “pop hits.” Secondly, My December went platinum (It sold 20,000 less than All I Ever Wanted which followed My December.) Hardly a huge failure. Never Again, the ONLY single they released in the US from that record was a Top 10 hit. I am very proud of that and I have my fans to thank. But, again, what’s most interesting about his story is what he leaves out: He doesn’t mention how he stood up in front of his company at a convention and belittled me and my music and completely sabotaged the entire project. It never had a chance to reach it’s full potential. My December was an album I needed to make for myself for many reasons and the fact that I was so completely disregarded and disrespected was so disheartening, there really aren’t words to explain….

Anyway, I love my job. I love my music. I love my fans. I love my label and all of my professional relationships… now. And I am grateful for Clive for teaching me to know the difference.

Cheers to another amazing year! And, as always, thanks for listening!

KC

Good for Kelly! Standing up and being heard. These record execs don't have anything on their mind but $$$$ not artist creativity.

Some people were wondering if she's going to be blackbailed for speaking out.

babybugz said:

Some people were wondering if she's going to be blackbailed for speaking out.

You know what's telling: that label execs can talk about its artists but for some reason they don't understand it when an artist talks about them as if they're supposed to always kiss their feet.

Timmy84 said:

babybugz said:

Some people were wondering if she's going to be blackbailed for speaking out.

You know what's telling: that label execs can talk about its artists but for some reason they don't understand it when an artist talks about them as if they're supposed to always kiss their feet.

Timmy84 said:

babybugz said:

Some people were wondering if she's going to be blackbailed for speaking out.

You know what's telling: that label execs can talk about its artists but for some reason they don't understand it when an artist talks about them as if they're supposed to always kiss their feet.

The artists are controlled. They feel you want to be in this industry you have to do what they say.

As anyone who has read "The Soundtrack of My Life" knows, I think Kelly Clarkson is a tremendous vocal talent and performer. In the book, I provide an in-depth look at our years together during which we shared major multi-platinum success, as well as a few creative differences. I am truly very sorry that she has decided to take issue with what I know to be an accurate depiction of our time together. Before the book was published, I had every fact checked with five independent individuals who were present on a daily basis throughout it all. The chapter as it is written was thoroughly verified by each and every one of them. I stand by the chapter as written in my book. At the same time I wish, and will always wish, Kelly's talent and her career to soar to ever new heights.

-Clive Davis

babybugz said:

Timmy84 said:

You know what's telling: that label execs can talk about its artists but for some reason they don't understand it when an artist talks about them as if they're supposed to always kiss their feet.

The artists are controlled. They feel you want to be in this industry you have to do what they say.

Yeah I see. That's why there's always few unconventional artists as it is who don't play the game. They were always a dime a dozen...

babybugz said:

As anyone who has read "The Soundtrack of My Life" knows, I think Kelly Clarkson is a tremendous vocal talent and performer. In the book, I provide an in-depth look at our years together during which we shared major multi-platinum success, as well as a few creative differences. I am truly very sorry that she has decided to take issue with what I know to be an accurate depiction of our time together. Before the book was published, I had every fact checked with five independent individuals who were present on a daily basis throughout it all. The chapter as it is written was thoroughly verified by each and every one of them. I stand by the chapter as written in my book. At the same time I wish, and will always wish, Kelly's talent and her career to soar to ever new heights.

-Clive Davis

Whatever you say Clive... whatever you say...

babybugz said:

As anyone who has read "The Soundtrack of My Life" knows, I think Kelly Clarkson is a tremendous vocal talent and performer. In the book, I provide an in-depth look at our years together during which we shared major multi-platinum success, as well as a few creative differences. I am truly very sorry that she has decided to take issue with what I know to be an accurate depiction of our time together. Before the book was published, I had every fact checked with five independent individuals who were present on a daily basis throughout it all. The chapter as it is written was thoroughly verified by each and every one of them. I stand by the chapter as written in my book. At the same time I wish, and will always wish, Kelly's talent and her career to soar to ever new heights.

-Clive Davis

I believe Kelly's story.

Cinny said:

babybugz said:

As anyone who has read "The Soundtrack of My Life" knows, I think Kelly Clarkson is a tremendous vocal talent and performer. In the book, I provide an in-depth look at our years together during which we shared major multi-platinum success, as well as a few creative differences. I am truly very sorry that she has decided to take issue with what I know to be an accurate depiction of our time together. Before the book was published, I had every fact checked with five independent individuals who were present on a daily basis throughout it all. The chapter as it is written was thoroughly verified by each and every one of them. I stand by the chapter as written in my book. At the same time I wish, and will always wish, Kelly's talent and her career to soar to ever new heights.

-Clive Davis

I believe Kelly's story.

Me too.

Clive - let's just say you are correct in your retelling of said events. To what end? Self aggrandizement is an ugly look for anyone, but one you sport without fail. Why would you want to portray Kelly Clarkson in a demeaning light when you "wish, and will always wish, Kelly's talent and her career to soar to ever new heights." Clive, a great line in literature seems written just for you. "The lady doth protest too much, mehtinks." - Bill

The Simpsons is on in the background as I type this and Homer has just yelled - "Karma is a bitch, Karma." It will be interesting to see if there are others stepping up to address what you pander in this book.

Kelly has been getting support from artists on twitter etc.. I believe her. I don't know much about clive but his actions during whitney's death made me side eye him very hard.

[Edited 2/19/13 21:07pm]

He doesn’t mention how he stood up in front of his company at a convention and belittled me and my music and completely sabotaged the entire project. (My December)

I am surprised Kelly volunteered this part. THAT takes balls, but Clive didn't seem to deny it happened either, in his rebuttal.

babybugz said:

Kelly has been getting support from artists on twitter etc.. I believe her. I don't know much about clive but his actions during whitney's death made me side eye him very hard.

[Edited 2/19/13 21:07pm]

He got the side eye from me once Phyllis Hyman's friends talked about how he kept her from doing anything really artistic... after the situation with Whitney, I know he ain't no different from other label execs that probably think their artists provide more profit dead than alive.

Cinny said:

He doesn’t mention how he stood up in front of his company at a convention and belittled me and my music and completely sabotaged the entire project. (My December)

I am surprised Kelly volunteered this part. THAT takes balls, but Clive didn't seem to deny it happened either, in his rebuttal.

Kelly is very outspoken. I think she had shaded American Idol at one point (which wasn't a good look).. not sure if this was around the time of My December, but I didn't hear about her for a while after that.

Clive has always been sleezy. No big surprise. I believe Kelly and kuddos for her standing up to this skeezy geezer.

babybugz said:

Some people were wondering if she's going to be blackbailed for speaking out.

No. Because she's still making a lot of people money. If she wasn't, it might be a different story.

And I agree, good for her. Clive has helped a lot of artists, but he's also strong armed a lot of them along the way. He is, after all, a music business executive. In the end, he will always be about the bottom line.

Cerebus said:

babybugz said:

Some people were wondering if she's going to be blackbailed for speaking out.

No. Because she's still making a lot of people money. If she wasn't, it might be a different story.

And I agree, good for her. Clive has helped a lot of artists, but he's also strong armed a lot of them along the way. He is, after all, a music business executive. In the end, he will always be about the bottom line.

Totally. Just follow the money....

Yeah, Kelly shaded AI and Cowell jumped all over her. She backed down and appeared on the show. I think this was a few years after she had won-no later than 2006, I don't think. How old is Kelly?

scriptgirl said:

Yeah, Kelly shaded AI and Cowell jumped all over her. She backed down and appeared on the show. I think this was a few years after she had won-no later than 2006, I don't think. How old is Kelly?

30. She'll be 31 later this year (forgot the month).

She's a taurus, so I think her bday is in may

i agree wit her speaking out on her struggles wit clive and setting it straight but i think it was a dumb bitch move when she dissed american idol .ummmm gal thats what made u who u are if it wasnt 4 that show u would still be a waitress with a dream. it kills me when people do shit like that ummm ok u talented and all but we cant do coulda moments cuz your circumstance is american idol. same with how people from prince camp talk shit about him true u think u a mega talent and all but it was prince that introduced u 2 the world point blank and 9 periods

Eh, not a fan of Kelly, so I couldn't care less if this is true or not.

I would expect nothing less, from one of the biggest Queen's, in the business...(and I am not talking about, Kelly.)

Notice that Clive refers to her as a tremendous "vocal talent and performer" - - obviously he isn't denying that he called her a "shitty songwriter". I'm sure those 5 independent verifiers are completely objective in their recollection of events. It's more like "Yes, Clive. Yeah, you're right Clive". Whatever. I completely believe Kelly's sequence of events. It would be easy for her collaborators on "Since U Been Gone" to back her up, and Clive's disparaging remarks about "My December" were widely reported at the time - - and they did, in fact, cast a pall on the potential success of that album because it was widely viewed as a commercial dud even before it hit.

I applaud Kelly for standing up to the corporate machinery and those God-complex suits who like to sit around and honor themselves with giant circle jerks while they've allowed their industry to essentially burn to the ground. Look at sales figures, shall we? Maybe it's execs like Clive who need to be examining their own faults more closely rather than publicly trying to embarrass and diss an artist for no reason.

[Edited 2/20/13 5:58am]