Adam Lambert signs to 19/RCA

Adam Lambert at the 2009 Young Hollywood Awards

Credit: AP Photo/Dan Steinberg

Kris Allen won't be alone at 19 Recordings. Second place "American Idol" season eight finisher Adam Lambert has signed to 19 Recordings/RCA Records and will release his debut album this fall.

This shrugs off speculation - at least for a while -- that 27-year-old Lambert would ultimately be recruited as a new frontman for Queen, with whom he performed at the season finale.

The San Diego native will be prepping recording as he tours with the 2009 American Idol Summer Tour. He currently has two songs in The Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Mad World" and his version of "No Boundaries."

"I'm thrilled that we've come to a creative and collaborative partnership and look forward to developing a really exciting album," says Lambert in a statement. "We are 100% on the same page and are all anxiously awaiting the start of the recordings. It's going to be ridiculous! Get Ready!!!"

19 Entertainment, AI CEO Simon Fuller's imprint, has first dibs on any American Idol contestant, which then the company can license the recording rights to an appropriate label. RCA, Lambert's new label, is also home to other AI superstars Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry and David Cook, along with artists like Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews Band and Kings Of Leon.

In other Lambert news, the flamboyant singer addresses longtime speculation of his sexuality in the newest issue of Rolling Stone. "I don't think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I'm gay," he told the music magazine. He has revealed to other sources, too, that he had a crush on winner Kris Allen. Good luck on that tour, Adam.

Below are the full 2009 AI tour dates:

July 2009
5 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden Arena
7 - Tacoma, WA - Tacoma Dome
8 - Vancouver, British Columbia - General Motors Place
10 - Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
11 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena
12 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion at San Jose
14 - West Valley City, UT - The E Center
16 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
17 - Ontario, CA - Citizens Business Bank Arena
18 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Sports Arena
20 - Glendale, AZ - Jobing.com Arena
23 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
24 - Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
25 - North Little Rock, AR - Alltel Arena
26 - Memphis, TN - FedExForum
28 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
29 - Sunrise, FL - BankAtlantic Center
31 - Duluth, GA - The Arena at Gwinnett Center

August 2009
1 - Charlotte, NC - Time Warner Cable Arena
2 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
4 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
5 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena
7 - Atlantic City, NJ - Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
8 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
11 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
14 - Hamilton, Ontario - Copps Coliseum
15 - Rochester, NY - Blue Cross Arena
16 - Hartford, CT - XL Center
18 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden
19 - Albany, NY - Times Union Center
20 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
22 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
23 - Cleveland, OH - Wolstein Center
25 - Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center
26 - Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
28 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
29 - St Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
30 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center

September 2009
1 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
2 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
4 - Madison, WI - Alliant Energy Center Memorial Coliseum
5 - Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
6 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
8 - Reading, PA - Sovereign Center
9 - Wilke-Barre, PA - Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
10 - Bridgeport, CT - Arena at Harbor Yard
12 - Portland, ME - Cumberland County Civic Center
13 - Providence, RI - Dunkin' Donuts Center
14 - Syracuse, NY - War Memorial at Oncenter
15 - Manchester, NH - Verizon Wireless Arena

Katie Hasty
Managing Editor

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After five years as a columnist and editor at Billboard, Katie Hasty joined HitFix in 2009 for music and film reporting out of New York. The Midwest native has worked as a writer, music promoter and in A&R since 1999 and performs with her band Numbers And Letters.