Another Tip Sheet discovery; the only time I've "bent" my morality; after we put her on the Front Page (she was unsigned - like Alex Day, Ruens, Chumbas, Baha, Cubans, Orson etc) dozens of majors started chasing her including BMG to which I was a consultant. It was taking forever so I decided to put her on the cover again. Richard Griffiths (my boss) asked me not to. So I held off until she was signed three weeks later. To BMG!

A nation yawns.

Serious question JK, no sarcasm intended...

From your "insider" view, what was it about this average-looking girl with an ordinary voice that made the industry go beserk over her? I remember one of her tunes was being used as the theme to a successful US TV show (something to do with teenage aliens, can't remember the name), and another was the basis to Eminem's "Stan" (at the time he was probably the biggest star in the world), BEFORE SHE EVEN HAD A RECORD OF HER OWN OUT! That doesn't happen by accident, so someone clearly put a LOT of money into her development... so why did the big lottery finger come down and say "It's you!" to Dido and not someone else? Genuinely interested, it's perplexed me for years...

PS I know she became hugely successful and the plan paid off, but still...

My honest answer - I loved her track before Eminem sampled it - and think it worked superbly and launched him onto a higher level so, for me, a highly intelligent artistic and commercial decision (she was unsigned at the time - a very cool move from him). As for her I think she's very pretty and has a lovely, soft, beige style entirely her own - a bit like Sade (who I never quite "got"): you either get it or you don't, those very individual performers.

For some reason she struck a chord. It is perplexing in many ways, but I would hardly call her average looking. Not that Dido's looks had anything to with her sales. It's like Norah Jones selling 8M albums. I don't think the label saw that coming either, but Dido at 30M? Hype doesn't get an album to that number.

Now and then this happens. It's happened with Adele.

You just never know.

JK2006 wrote:
Richard Griffiths (my boss)...

Can't imagine you ever had a boss

I think Richard would agree with you!

In his new book, Clive Davis takes the credit for signing Dido:
"Dido, who I had personally signed after being alerted by Hosh Gureli and Peter Edge to her exceptional songwriting ability".

According to Clive's book, he takes credit for nearly every act that ever had a hit record.

Read Wayne Rosso's take on the book. Hilarious!