Clay Aiken may have been the runner up to Ruben Studdard in American Idol, but he beat Studdard where it counts: on the charts.

Aiken’s “This Is the Night”/”Bridge Over Troubled Water” sold 393,000 singles this week, easily beating Studdard’s “Flying Without Wings/Superstar,” which sold 286,000. In third place is the American Idol finalists singing “God Bless the U.S.A,” including Aiken and Studdard.

In comparison, Kelly Clarkson sold 236,000 copies of her debut single when it was released last fall, following her Idol win. Furthermore, singles usually debut on the charts selling about 5000 copies.

Full albums from both finalists are expected later this year.






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