American Idol compilation series
The studio albums in the American Idol compilation series are compilations of songs by American Idol contestants normally released every year towards the end of the season or after the season has ended. For the first five seasons, the albums consist of cover songs from all the finalists of the season, and is released as CDs before the last episode by RCA Records. After season 5, such compilations were released only sporadically. Compilations for individual contestants were released digitally starting season 6. No compilations were released in season 7.
Starting season 10, compilation albums are released for sales on iTunes straight after the contestants' performances during the season. Sales figures are not released during the season for these album so all numbers are for sales after the season is over.
Albums
Season 1
After Idol's debut season, the top four finalists each recorded a version of the song in the event that they won; but only the winner released it as a single. The single was included in Clarkson's debut album Thankful.Season 2
In addition to the compilation album by season 2 contestants, a Christmas album American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics was released later in the year featuring recordings of Christmas songs by contestants from both season 1 and season 2. Both compilation albums were certified gold.| Year | Album title | Chart positions | Sales |
| 2003 | 2 | 648,000. | |
| 2003 | American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics | 28 |
After season two, the winner and runner-up each released simultaneously a single containing two songs of one original and one cover. The originals are "This is the Night" and "Flying Without Wings" ; and the covers are "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Superstar"
Season 3
After season three, the winner and runner-up each released a single containing three songs of which one was a rendition of "I Believe." Barrino's debut album, Free Yourself, included "I Believe" and "Summertime." DeGarmo's debut album, Blue Skies, included "Dreams" and "Don't Cry Out Loud."Season 4
After season four, the winner and runner-up each released a single for "Inside Your Heaven" and which included one cover song from the show, "Independence Day" and "Vehicle". Underwood's debut album Some Hearts also included "Inside Your Heaven" and achieved 7 times Platinum certification.Season 5
After season 5, winner Taylor Hicks and runner-up Katharine McPhee each released a single with an original song and a cover rendition. The original songs are "Do I Make You Proud" and "My Destiny". The covers are "Takin' It to the Streets" and "Over the Rainbow".Season 6
For the first time, the compilation album was made available as digital downloads only. Compilations of individual finalist's performances were also released. On the day after the season six finale, the winner Jordin Sparks and runner-up Blake Lewis released 5-song EPs exclusively to iTunes. Sparks's contained the winner's single, "This Is My Now", as well as four songs she performed on Idol: "I ", "A Broken Wing", "To Love Somebody" and "Wishing on a Star". Lewis's EP did not contain "This Is My Now", but instead all the songs on the EP were songs he performed on the show: "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Time Of The Season", "I Need To Know", "Love Song" and "When The Stars Go Blue". Compilations for other contestants were released to iTunes later a few weeks later, and it was also possible to download all the recordings this season as a collector's edition.| Year | Album title | Chart positions | Sales |
| 2007 | |||
| 2007 | Jordin Sparks EP | 2 | 49,000 |
| 2007 | Blake Lewis EP | 3 | 46,000 |
| 2007 | Melinda Doolittle EP | 3,400 | |
| 2007 | Chris Richardson EP | 900 | |
| 2007 | LaKisha Jones EP | 700 | |
| 2007 | Sanjaya Malakar EP | 600 | |
| 2007 | Phil Stacey EP | 500 | |
| 2007 | Haley Scarnato EP | 100 |
Both Jordin and Blake also released several other songs as singles. These studio-recorded tunes are available both on iTunes and americanidol.com. For Jordin Sparks, these singles were "If We Hold on Together", "You'll Never Walk Alone", "Rhythm is Gonna Get You", "On a Clear Day", and "Hey Baby". For Blake Lewis, these singles were "You Should Be Dancing", "Mack the Knife", "You Keep Me Hangin' On", "Imagine", and "This Love".
Season 8
After season 8, an album was released exclusively to Wal-Mart which contained songs from the show from various top ten finalists. The album included both Kris Allen's and Adam Lambert's version of "No Boundaries". Another Wal-Mart exclusive a 5-track EP was also later released with songs from the Top 4 finalists: Kris Allen and Danny Gokey's Renegade, Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert's Slow Ride, as well as Adam's Whole Lotta Love, Danny's What Hurts the Most and Kris' Ain't No Sunshine. On iTunes, digital albums of recordings from the two finalists were released.| Year | Album title | Chart positions | Sales |
| 2009 | American Idol Season 8 | 34 | 77,616 |
| 2009 | American Idol Season 8: The 5 Song EP | 17 | 57,176 |
| 2009 | Kris Allen, Season 8 Favorite Performances | 50 | 16,000 |
| 2009 | Adam Lambert, Season 8 Favorite Performances | 33 | 37,514 |
Season 9
Season 10
In this season compilation albums of studio recordings of all contestants' songs were released digitally on iTunes after the performances every week apart from top 3 and top 2. After the top 2 performances, compilations of 14 selected songs from the season by each of the two finalists were released on iTunes and in other retailers. Special five-song EPs from each of the Top 4 finalist were released for sale in Wal-Mart in June 28, 2011.| Year | Album title | Chart positions | Sales |
| 2011 | American Idol Top 13 Season 10 | ||
| 2011 | American Idol Top 12 Season 10 | ||
| 2011 | American Idol Top 11 Season 10 | ||
| 2011 | American Idol Top 11 Redux Season 10 | ||
| 2011 | American Idol Top 9 Season 10 | 9 | |
| 2011 | American Idol Top 8 Season 10 | ||
| 2011 | American Idol Top 7 Season 10 | ||
| 2011 | American Idol Top 6 Season 10 | ||
| 2011 | American Idol Top 5 Season 10 | ||
| 2011 | American Idol Top 4 Season 10 | ||
| 2011 | American Idol Season 10: Lauren Alaina | 42 | 17,000 |
| 2011 | American Idol Season 10: Scotty McCreery | 12 | 42,000 |
| 2011 | American Idol Season 10 Highlights EP: James Durbin | 31 | 71,000 |
| 2011 | American Idol Season 10 Highlights EP: Haley Reinhart | 37 | 59,000 |
| 2011 | American Idol Season 10 Highlights EP: Lauren Alaina | 24 | 85,000 |
| 2011 | American Idol Season 10 Highlights EP: Scotty McCreery | 10 | 201,000 |
Season 11
In this season compilation albums of studio recordings of all contestants' songs were released digitally to iTunes after the performances every week. After the Top 2 performances, compilations of 11 selected songs from the season by each of the two finalists were released. A compilation album by the Top 10 finalists and an EP from each of the Top 5 finalists was released for sale in Wal-Mart in July 3, 2012, and the Phillip Phillips' EP was released to other retailers on July 17, 2012 with one different track.| Year | Album title | Chart positions | Sales |
| 2012 | American Idol - Top 13 Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol Top 12 Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol: Top 10 - Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol, Season 11 - Top 9 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol Top 8 - Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol Top 7 – Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol Top 7 Now - Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol Top 7 Then - Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol Top 6: Music of Queen - Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol Top 6: Contestant's Choice - Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol - Songs of the Top 5 - Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol - Top 4 - Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol - Top 3 - Season 11 | ||
| 2012 | American Idol - Season Finale - Season 11 | 21 | 18,000 |
| 2012 | Jessica Sanchez: Journey to the Finale | 126 | 6,000 |
| 2012 | Phillip Phillips: Journey to the Finale | 11 | 45,000 |
| 2012 | American Idol Season 11 Duets and Trios Highlights | 161 | 3,000 |
| 2012 | American Idol Season 11 Top 10 Highlights | 127 | 4,000 |
| 2012 | American Idol Season 11 Highlights: Skylar Laine | 64 | 33,000 |
| 2012 | American Idol Season 11 Highlights: Hollie Cavanagh | 176 | 13,000 |
| 2012 | American Idol Season 11 Highlights: Joshua Ledet | 57 | 30,000 |
| 2012 | American Idol Season 11 Highlights: Jessica Sanchez | 77 | 15,000 |
| 2012 | American Idol Season 11 Highlights: Phillip Phillips | 25 | 82,000 |
Season 12
In this season compilation albums of studio recordings of all contestants' songs were released digitally to iTunes after the performances every week.| Year | Album title | Chart positions | Sales |
| 2013 | American Idol - Top 10 Season 12 | ||
| 2013 | American Idol: Top 9 Season 12 | ||
| 2013 | American Idol - Top 8 Season 12 | ||
| 2013 | American Idol - Top 7 Season 12 | ||
| 2013 | American Idol - Top 6 Season 12 | ||
| 2013 | American Idol - Top 5 Season 12 | ||
| 2013 | American Idol - Top 4 Season 12 | ||
| 2013 | American Idol - Top 4 Season 12 | ||
| 2013 | American Idol - Top 3 Season 12 | ||
| 2013 | American Idol - Top 2 Season 12 | ||
| 2013 | America Idol: Idols Singing Idols |