Dillon James

S18 · Finale, 3rd–5th

Latest documented update, July 12, 2024

Dillon James, a season 18 finalist from Bakersfield, released the EP River Black on July 12, 2024. His first single on Buena Vista Records, Walking Man, came out on October 6, 2023, after a deal with UMG Nashville, Hollywood Records, and 19 Recordings reported on July 10, 2020. By April 2021 he had signed a management deal with The Core Entertainment.⁠[1][2][3]

Career

After the show

  1. May 29, 2020Hollywood Records and 19 Recordings released his performance single The Times They Are A Changin' on May 29, 2020.⁠[3]
  2. July 10, 2020On July 10, 2020, he announced a record deal with UMG Nashville, Hollywood Records, and 19 Recordings.⁠[2]
  3. October 6, 2023He released the single Walking Man on Buena Vista Records and 19 Recordings on October 6, 2023.⁠[3]
  4. March 8, 2024He released the single My Shadow on March 8, 2024.⁠[3]
  5. May 10, 2024He released the single Call Me Up on May 10, 2024.⁠[3]
  6. July 12, 2024He released the five-song EP River Black on July 12, 2024.⁠[3]

Discography

TitleTypeYearLabelRIAA certificationU.S. sales
River Black⁠[3]EP2024Buena Vista Records/19 Recordings

Awards

Checked October 8, 2026; none found.

Other activity

  • Before American Idol he appeared in Hallmark and Disney movies.⁠[2]
  • April 23, 2021By April 23, 2021, he had signed a management deal with The Core Entertainment. The announcement said he had moved to Nashville to work on a debut album.⁠[1]

Sources

5 sources

  1. American Idol 2020 Alum Dillon James Signs Management Deal — mjsbigblog, published April 24, 2021, updated May 3, 2021. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (6)
    • Press release: “Born and raised in Bakersfield, California”
    • Lead, post dated April 23, 2021: “signed a management deal with The Core Entertainment”
    • Article: “were the non-winners signed by 19 Records, American Idol’s recording arm”
    • Press release: “signed to Hollywood Records/Universal Nashville”
    • Lead: “signed a management deal with The Core Entertainment”
    • Press release: “moved to Music City to work on his debut album”
  2. American Idol's Dillon James Signs Record Deal with UMG Nashville — mjsbigblog, published July 10, 2020, updated July 17, 2020. News report. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (4)
    • Lead: “signed a major label record deal with UMG Nashville, Hollywood Records and 19 Recordings”
    • Lead: “UMG Nashville, Hollywood Records and 19 Recordings”
    • Instagram quote: “I JUST GOT A RECORD DEAL WITH @umgnashville @hollywoodrecords”
    • Background: “He managed to star in a couple of Hallmark/Disney movies.”
  3. Apple album lookup for artist 977830535 — Apple. Release database. Retrieved October 8, 2026.
    Cited parts (8)
    • Walking Man - Single: "releaseDate":"2023-10-06T07:00:00Z"
    • Walking Man - Single: "copyright":"℗ 2023 Buena Vista Records/19 Recordings"
    • River Black - EP: "releaseDate":"2024-07-12T07:00:00Z"
    • The Times They Are A Changin' (Performance Version) - Single: "releaseDate":"2020-05-29T07:00:00Z"
    • My Shadow - Single: "collectionName":"My Shadow - Single"
    • My Shadow - Single: "releaseDate":"2024-03-08T08:00:00Z"
    • Call Me Up - Single: "releaseDate":"2024-05-10T07:00:00Z"
    • River Black - EP: "collectionName":"River Black - EP"
  4. List of American Idol finalists — Wikipedia, updated June 10, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Contestants table, row Dillon James: Season 18, Place finish 3rd-5th
  5. American Idol season 18 — Wikipedia, updated July 21, 2026. Reference work (secondary). Retrieved October 6, 2026.
    Cited parts (1)
    • Top 5 – Finale (May 17) table; Elimination chart, row Dillon James: Pl. 3, 5/17 Finalist

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