Just in time for the new season of Idol, here comes Chris Daughtry to bite the hand that fed him. Read the full post.
Jan 16
2008
10:18 PM ET
Is 'American Idol' losing its starmaking power?
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I’ll say it for the millionth time: It doesn’t matter what you look like or how well you sing, it comes down to the quality of the songs an artist records. Daughtry would be in the same boat as Bo Bice or Taylor Hicks if he didn’t have great tunes.
Let’s look at the facts:
Season 1: Kelly Clarkson won and is still the most successful of the AI winners.
Season 2: Ruben won; but Clay sold more CDs. Ruben got dropped from his label after three CDs.
Season 3: Jennifer Hudson lost, but won a Globe and an Oscar. Winner Fantasia did okay in CD sales but did better on Broadway.
Season 4: Carrie won and still selling well, even if Faith Hill is not happy.
Season 5: Chris Daughtry lost but sold more CDs than winner Taylor Hicks, who soon got dropped by his label.
Season 6: Talentless Sanjaya overstayed his welcome. Melinda (who should’ve won) got voted off, Jordin Sparks (who did win) releases an underwhelming CD.
In a nutshell, AI is losing its luster. So what can save AI? Here’s some suggestions:
1) Stop airing the auditions. We don’t need to hear more William Hungs or Sanjayas.
2) Fix the voting system. One vote per household. And vote based on talent ONLY.
3) Record labels need to let the winners grow as artists.
The problem with American Idol is that its biggest share of voters is pre-adolescent girls. Nothing is gonna change.
It is COMPLETELY losing it’s clout and star making power. All in the name of TV Ratings….They should follow the example set by the UK version, “Pop Idol”. The Brits were the ones who started the whole thing, yet there has only been 2 seasons of “Pop Idol”, because they didn’t want to sap out the talent pool….. If any one of the final 6 on AI can land a record deal, what’s the point? Only the winners should land record deals, not anyone in the final 10. This show is a total has-been and I really hope nobody on this show ever sells more than 100 albums again….They have saturated the market in the name of TV ratings!!!
People have their favorite Idol contestants — but they are all just standing on stage singing. When the same contestants have to compete with Christina and Beyonce who have the singing, dancing, and (let’s face it) are much prettier than Idol contestants, they pale in comparison. I hate to be mean, but it’s about image.
John:
Morrissette was popular in Canada BEFORE the United States. She first broke through with a stint on the CTV children’s program “You Can’t Do That On Television!”. After that, she became a Canadian pop star. She could have made it without Star Search.
It is not just about what singers are on the program it is about the music in general. What sells? Right now teen dance pop (Cyrus), and adult altrock (Daughtry) seem to be the most successful markets for music. If this was 1992, grundge. A market study needs to be done to determine which artist an style would be the most effective money maker.
Its not losing it’s luster – it’s called American IDOL, not IdolS. None of these people would have done ANYTHING w/o AI. They cant make people buy albums.
Stephanie:
Check your facts. Yes, Alanis was on You can’t do that on TV, but her showing on Star Search led to her signing her first record deal IN CANADA, which came after the star search appearance. She released two albums before the hit “Jagged Little Pill.”
Chris Daughtry is not biting the “hand that feeds him.” He is right. Idol is not knocking it out of the park anymore. Simon wanted Ruben to win and look what happened: Ruben gained about fifty pounds instead of losing fifty. His album, sadly, was the pits, especially 2004; what a disaster. Jordin Sparks can sing but needs better material. Kelly, Clay, Chris, and Carrie are the best by far to come out of Idol.
I don’t think that American Idol is really losing its “star making” power. Its not up to the show to decide who will sell records. Its US, the fans who dictate what type of music will sell. To be honest, American Idol hasn’t really had any spectacular singers on the show lately. Everyone on the show lately sounds like someone else and they have no personality, there simply there to be molded into whatever image future record labels want to mold them into to sell more records.
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