my 5 cents worth:
This article was placed to get the crap and bad news out of the way, before announcing the supposed 'concept'. I fully expect the answer to Shirley's headline question to be NO.
It will not ONLY be covers. Because there probably will be some surprises that make the album somewhat sweet after all.
But if many of the tracks are covers, then they first had to bring the fandom and the media down and let them stew over those news for a while and when the dust had settled, the fandom and media will be able to embrace whatever positive news they spin out of this whole thing.
If RCA had dropped a press release about a cover album into an unprepared terrain, that album would fly about as high as a lead balloon. They had to go about it differently.I am though totally surprised that there is not a avalanche of online media quoting THR's article today. I guess, they are all a tad speechless too and are waiting to hear more.
As far as Shirley H. is concerned,
I don't understand the shoot the messenger mentality here. SH has made a career out of funneling information from management and 'leaking' it. And she has done a reliable and professional job at giving EXACTLY the information that is supposed to be given.RCA has probably chosen her exactly because she has credence with everyone including the fan base. The fact that she is also 'between jobs' while idol reshuffles their deck, is not really relevant to this topic at all. Sony has been the 'idol' record label for 9 years, including Adam's season and they signed many idol artists. For those years Shirley was not only reporting on the show, but also on music or other news related to these artists post-idol.
Of course she has a relationship with some people from Sony built up over many years. Why are people suggesting the opposite?Now we don't like the message, and all of a sudden SH is just gossip and just unreliable information? I don't care how many times it is repeated here, it is not going to make any more sense to me. I respect all your opinions, but I'm not willing to follow, sorry.
Adam's 'love doing covers' tweet was totally intended double speak, imo. So was his comment that he is listening to a ton of music right now. No kiddin, RCA's vaults are pretty deep.
Finally, I think that in NY last few weeks some things were moved forward, because the Adam pre-NY (in Pittsburgh) and post-NY (Orlando, SD, LA) are remarkably different people and now we see the information wheels starting to spin. My best guess is that Adam presented a concept and potential song short list for the album within the constraints RCA had placed on him, and the concept was approved. They put a plan together for the next phase and we now see that plan being put in motion. I think that we will hear something more and maybe even some dates pretty soon now. Obviously, if this is really a covers+ album, then it could still come out in 2013.
Things won't be quiet for long, I suspect. And I have no idea whether it has anything to do with Shosh, so I am not going to speculate on that.
And no, I don't think Adam was black-listed, nobody would dare to officially do that anymore, but I do believe he was indirectly discriminated against, because people assume his fan base is limited in diversity, contrary to the reality this branding article just alluded to. Also, because they fear he would turn other listeners away because they know he is controversial, and finally because they assume they have to fear their sponsors and don't want to touch that. There is always an easier non-controversial 'go-to' artist to play.It is not formalized or organized black-listing, but it is discrimination based on prejudice never-the-less.
Nothing is easy for Adam, but on the other hand he also does not fight alone, he has a fan base making his battle possible. And that one is coming out of left field for all those in the business too, be it in radio, the label itself, the media and probably also for Adam himself.
He put his cause bravely forward and found support in many circles nobody had thought of anywhere in the music world even as customers. Most people on this fan board probably qualify.
His journey is an amazing one, to say the least.
He will win in the most unconventional terms.
Bet he gets married first. 
