Kara DioGuardi

Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi (born December 9, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, and TV personality. She writes music primarily in the light pop-rock, dance, and R&B genres, and has worked with a host of successful artists, including many Grammy award winners, and is credited on over 120 album releases. She is also a judge on American Idol, having joined the show in its eighth season in 2009. One of the industry’s most highly sought after songwriters and producers, DioGuardi’s songs have appeared on more than 100 million records combined. She has been awarded 11 BMI Pop Awards for having co-written the most performed songs on the radio. She also won the 2003 BMI Cable Award for co-writing and performing, "Somethin' to Say", the theme to the now-canceled Lifetime Television series For the People, and the 2007 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year. She was also the 2007 SOCAN Award winner. In 2007, she was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the category of Song of the Year for her writing on the Belinda single, "Bella Traición" along with co-writers Belinda, Ben Moody, Nacho Peregrin and producer Mitch Allan. From her catalog of several hundred songs, over 279 have been released on major labels worldwide; and over 169 have appeared on multi-platinum selling albums. Over her career, she has had nearly 50 international charting singles, and her songs have helped propel 58 albums into the Top Ten of the Billboard 200. Her songs have been featured in major motion pictures, television shows, film soundtracks, and radio spots, as well as national and international commercial campaigns. DioGuardi's songs have been recorded by Grammy award winning artists such as Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Santana, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Pink, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwoord, and Marc Anthony. Scores of major recording artists including Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Jonas Brothers, Leona Lewis, Pussycat Dolls, Hannah Montana, Natasha Bedingfield, Puddle of Mudd, Theory of a Deadman, Daddy Yankee, Ashley Tisdale, Katharine McPhee, David Archuleta, Bo Bice, Clay Aiken, Jesse McCartney, Backstreet Boys, Ashlee Simpson, Hilary Duff, Cheetah Girls 3, Demi Lovato, Camp Rock, Jessica Simpson, Jewel and Nick Lachey have recorded and released Kara’s songs. DioGuardi has achieved equal success internationally with hit singles for artists such as Enrique Iglesias, Anastacia, Ricky Martin, Kylie Minogue, Diego, Belinda, RBD, Eros Ramazzotti, Delta Goodrem, Darius, Thalia, and Martine McCutcheon. Her collaborations include Justin Timberlake, Chad Kroeger, Timbaland, will.i.am, Polow Da Don, Marti Frederiksen, Dave Stewart, Brian Howes, John Fields, Danja, John Shanks, Greg Wells, Jeffrey Steele, Craig Wiseman, David Foster, David Hodges, Rodney Jerkins, Chris Tompkins, Future Cut, The Underdogs, Eman Kiriakou, and Mitch Allan. DioGuardi is also co-owner of Arthouse Entertainment, where she develops and mentors fellow hit writers, producers, and artists. Within only three years of its inception, the multi-award winning songstress and entrepreneur catapulted her company to the rank of #7 on Billboard’s chart of Top Ten national music publishers for three consecutive quarters. DioGuardi currently serves as Executive Vice President of Talent Development, Office of the Chairman for Warner Bros. Records, where she was appointed in 2008 Charting US Singles: “Play My Music” (Jonas Brothers) #20 BB Hot 100 #7 Hot Digital Songs “We Rock” (Camp Rock Cast) #33 BB Hot 100 # 1 Hot Singles Sales “Taking Chances” (Celine Dion) #6 Billboard Hot AC #35 Billboard Pop 100 #54 Billboard Hot 100 “Lost” (Faith Hill) #13 Billboard ac #61 Billboard Hot 100, #51 Billboard pop 100 “Baby Love” (Nicole Scherzinger) #50 Billboard POP 100 Airplay “Rich Girl” (Gwen Stefani) #3 billboard pop 100; #7 billboard hot 100; #4 top 40 “Ain’t No Other Man” (Christina Aguilera) #1 top 40; #4 billboard pop 100; #6 billboard hot 100; #1 billboard Dance “Walk Away” (Kelly Clarkson) #6 billboard pop 100; #12 billboard hot 100; #19 billboard AC “Beep” (Pussycat Dolls) #13 billboard hot 100 “I’m Feeling You” (Santana feat. Michelle Branch) #5 billboard AC; #53 billboard pop 100; #55 billboard hot 100 “With Love” (Hilary Duff) #17 Billboard pop 100; #24 Billboard Hot 100; #3 Hot Digital Airplay “Come Clean” (Hilary Duff) #9 top 40; #35 billboard hot 100 “L.O.V.E.” (Ashlee Simpson) #20 billboard pop 100; #22 billboard hot 100; Top ten airplay “Boyfriend” (Ashlee Simpson) #13 billboard pop 100; #19 billboard hot 100 Charting US Singles (cont’d): “Pieces of Me” (Ashlee Simpson) #5 billboard hot 100; #30 billboard AC “Shadow” (Ashlee Simpson) #57 billboard hot 100 “La La” (Ashlee Simpson) #6 billboard Dance; #86 billboard hot 100 “Escape” / “Escapar” (Enrique Iglesias) #12 billboard hot 100; #1 Billboard Dance; #2 Hot Latin; #25 Billboard AC “I Want You” (Paris) #7 mainstream / #22 Billboard Hot 100 “Be Good To Me” (Ashley Tisdale) #5 Billboard Pop 200, #1 Brazilian top 30 singles, “Bella Traicion” (Belinda) #11 Billboard Latin Tropical Airplay, #13 Billboard Latin Pop Airplay, #14 Billboard Hot Latin Songs “The Real Thing” (Bo Bice) #17 billboard AC; #33 billboard pop 100; #56 billboard hot 100 “Confessions of a Broken Heart” (Lindsay Lohan) #12 Billboard Pop 100; #57 billboard Hot 100 “The Way” (Clay Aiken) Top ten single Charting International Singles: “Taking Chances” (Celine Dion) Top 10 in 7 Countries / #1 Canadian Hot100 / #12 European Singles Chart / #26 World Singles “Sunshine” (Ricki-Lee Coulter) #1 Single in Australia “Ain’t No Other Man” (Christina Aguilera) Top 10 in 12 countries “Rich Girl” (Gwen Stefani) Top 10 in 12 countries “Beep” (Pussycat Dolls) Top 10 in 14 countries “I Don’t Need a Man” (Pussycat Dolls) #7 UK hit / Top 10 in 9 countries “Don’t Turn off the Lights” (Enrique Iglesias) #4 Australia hit “I Belong to You” (Anastacia & Eros Ramazzotti) #1 International hit “Spinning around” (Kylie Minogue) #1 UK & Australia hit / Top 10 in 10 countries “Walk Away” (Kelly Clarkson) Top 10 in 13 countries “Welcome to My Truth” (Anastacia) Top 10 in 4 countries “One Heart” (Celine Dion) #13 Canada hit “Predictable” (Delta Goodrem) #1 Australia hit “Not me, Not I” (Delta Goodrem) #1 Australia hit “Confessions of a Broken Heart” (Lindsay Lohan) #7 Australia hit “I’ve Got You” (Martine McCutcheon) #6 UK hit “Cry Baby Cry” (Santana) Top 100 UK hit “Someone’s Watching Over Me” (Hilary Duff) Top 40 Australia hit “Alguien Real” (Thalia) Top 20 in 5 countries “Kinda Love” (Darius) Top 10 UK Hit “Shut Up” (Kelly Osbourne) #3 UK hit / Top 20 Ireland & Norway Top Ten Albums: It Keeps Getting Better: A Decade of Hits (Christina Aguilera) 1 Song #9 BB 200 Funhouse (Pink) 1 Song #2 bb 200 David Archuleta (David Archuleta) 1 Song #2 BB 200 My Love: Essential Collection (Celine Dion) 1 Song #8 BB200 Don’t Forget (Demi Lovato) 2 Songs#2 BB 200/#2 Top Digital/# 1 Top Internet Sales Doll Domination (Pussycat Dolls) 2 Songs #4 BB200/ #3 Top Digital Camp Rock (Various Artists) 2 Songs #3 BB 200/ #2 Top Digital/ # 7 Top Internet Sales Taking Chances (Celine Dion) 3 Songs #1 European Album Charts / #3 Billboard 200 / Top 10 in 22 Countries Blackout (Britney Spears) 1 Song #2 Billboard 200 Unbreakable (Backstreet Boys) 1 song #7 Billboard 200 Spirit (Leona Lewis) 1 Song #6 European Hot 100 Albums Kidz Bop 12 (Various Artists) 1 song BB200 #7 Hannah Montana 2 (Hannah Montana) 1 song #1 Billboard 200 My December (Kelly Clarkson) 1 song #2 Billboard 200 / #1 Top Digital / #2 Top Internet / #5 European Top 100 El Cartel: The Big Boss (Daddy Yankee) 1 song #1 Top latin / #9 billboard 200 Best Damn Thing (Avril lavigne) 1 song #1 Billboard 200 / #1 European Top 100 / #1 Top Digital Album / Top ten in 31 Countries Taylor Hicks (Taylor hicks) 2 songs: 1 single #2 Billboard 200 / #2 Top Internet Headstrong (Ashley Tisdale) 1 single #5 Billboard 200 / #5 Top Internet Insomniac (Enrique iglesias) 3 songs #3 UK Top 200/ Top ten in 4 countries Love Angel Music Baby (Gwen Stefani) 1 single #2 Billboard 200 / Top ten in 9 countries 7mil sold / 3x Platinum Back to Basics (Christina Aguilera) 12 songs: 1 single #1 billboard 200 / #2 Top R&B Hip Hop 2x Platinum Top Ten Albums (cont’d): Breakaway (Kelly Clarkson) 6 songs: 1 single #3 billboard 200 / 11x Platinum One Heart (Celine Dion) 2 songs: 1 single #2 billboard 200 / Top ten in 29 countries 2x Platinum / #1 in 9 countries A New Day Has Come (Celine Dion) 2 songs #1 billboard 200 / 2x Platinum Goodbye Alice in Wonderland (Jewel) 1 single #8 billboard 200 All That I Am (Santana) 3 songs: 1 single #2 billboard 200 / Gold What’s Left of Me (Nick Lachey) 1 song #2 Billboard 200 / Gold In the Zone (Britney Spears) 1 song #1 debut billboard 200 / 2x Platinum Ultimate Kylie (Kylie Minogue) 1 single Top 10 in 5 countries PCD (Pussycat Dolls) 3 songs: 2 singles #3 billboard 200 / 6x Platinum Life (Ricky Martin) 1 song #6 Billboard 200 / #6 Top Internet Autobiography (Ashlee Simpson) 9 songs: 2 singles #1 billboard 200 for 3wks / 5mil sold / 3x Platinum I Am Me (Ashlee Simpson) 11 songs: 2 singles #1 billboard 200 / 2x Platinum Most Wanted (Hilary Duff) 1 song #1 billboard 200 / Platinum Metamorphosis (Hilary Duff) 2 songs #1 billboard 200 for 2 wks 5 Mil sold / 3x Platinum Hilary Duff (Hilary Duff) 5 songs #2 billboard 200 / 1.5Mil sold / Platinum Dignity (Hilary Duff) 12 Songs: 1 Single #3 Billboard 200 Escape (Enrique Iglesias) 7 songs #2 billboard 200 / 9mil+ sold / 3x Platinum Top Ten Albums (cont’d): Anastacia (Anastacia) 6 songs #1 European record / Top 5 in 16 countries / 9mil sold Pieces of a Dream (Anastacia) 2 songs: 1 single 4mil sold Irresistible (Jessica Simpson) 1 song #6 Billboard 200 / Gold Measure of a Man (Clay Aiken) 1 single #1 billboard 200 / 4mil sold / 3x Platinum Mended (Marc Anthony) 12 songs: 1 single #3 billboard 200 / 3x Platinum Thalia (Thalia) 2 singles #2 Top Latin / 3 Mil sold Now 23 (Various Artists) “Ain’t No Other Man” Christina Aguilera #1 Billboard 200/ 2x platinum Paris (Paris) 4 songs #6 Billboard 200 Innocent Eyes (Delta Goodrem) 1 single #1 Australia 2.5mil sold / 14x Platinum Australia Katharine McPhee (Katharine McPhee) 6 songs: 1 single #2 Billboard 200 Speak (Lindsay Lohan) 6 songs: 2 singles #4 billboard 200 / Platinum Take it all away (Ryan Cabrera) 1 single #6 billboard 200 2x Platinum / #1 in 9 countries You, Me & Us (Martine McCutcheon) 1 single #2 BB200 UK/ 2X Platinum The Real Thing (Bo Bice) 3 songs: 2 singles #4 billboard 200 / Gold Awards: BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2008 (“Ain’t No Other Man”, Christina Aguilera) SOCAN Pop AWARD- 2007 (“Walk Away”, Kelly Clarkson) TAXI Award---- 2007 Humanitarian of the Year BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2007 Songwriter Of The Year BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2007 (“I’m Feeling You”, Santana) BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2007 (“Walk Away”, Kelly Clarkson) BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2007 (“The Real Thing”, Bo Bice) BMI Pop Music Awards ----2006 (“Pieces of Me”, Ashlee Simpson) BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2006 (“Rich Girl”, Gwen Stefani) BMI Pop Music Awards ---- 2003 (“Escape”, Enrique Iglesias) BMI Top Ten Latin Award ---- 2003 (“Escapar”, Enrique Iglesias) BMI Film & TV Music Awards ---- 2003 ( For the People theme song) Campaigns & Themes: “Taking Chances” – Biggest Loser Promo Campaign “My Bra” – Lifetime Television’s breast cancer awareness campaign “With Love” – Elizabeth Arden “A Little Bit” – Bally’s Campaign “Good Day” – Extreme Makeover “I Will Remember You” – Will & Grace theme “Believe” – Biggest Loser theme “Believe” – Bell Canada Olympic Games Campaign “Autobiography” – Ashlee Simpson Show theme “Rich Girl” – Pepsi Campaign / Last Holiday “Supergirl” – Candies Campaign “One Heart” – Chrysler Campaign “Come Clean” – Laguna Beach and Newport Harbor theme Campaign “Don’t Turn Off the Lights” – Dorito’s Campaign “Brave New Girl” – Brave New Girl “I’m Ready” – Dell Campaign “La La” – Thermasilk Campaign Films & Soundtracks: Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Disney Pictures)- “Rich Girl” Get Smart (Warner Bros) --- “Aint No Other Man” Welcome Home Roscoe Jennings (Universal) --- “Aint No Other Man” Bring It On: In It To Win It (Universal) --- “Never Stop” Bring It On: In It To Win It (Universal) --- “Be Good To Me” Bratz (Lions Gate) --- “La La” Bring It On: All Or Nothing (Universal) --- “Rich Girl” Last Holiday (2006) --- "Rich Girl" Herbie Fully Loaded (2005) --- "First" Ice Princess (2005) --- "Reach" Raise Your Voice (2004) --- "Someone's Watching Over Me" And "Fly" A Cinderella Story (2004) --- "Now You Know" Scooby Doo 2 : Monsters Unleashed (2004) --- "The Way" Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004) --- "Ready" And "1-2-3" Read more on Last.fm. 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