I think that when fans say, ‘I just want him/her to be able to play music and earn a living at it,’  we both mean it and don’t mean it, if you know what I mean, lol. On the one hand, that was really all that DC ever said he wanted, just to be able to support himself with his music. ‘Don’t make me get a real job, Mom!’  On the other hand, he is an ambitious man, and I am ambitious for him. There’s probably some invisible point of success that will allow him, musically, to live long and prosper. I hope your idol gets to that point, too.

I do know what you mean. And thanks for your good wishes for Adam. I was a DC fan last year but his album was not for me. I still like & respect him though and am happy for his success. He’s a classy guy.

WOW! Posts like this makes me LMFAO!

I didn’t know that all the viewers are supposed to be experts in predicting who will sell records while watching the show which was largely pimped and manipulated for good TV and should vote based on that!!! Hello, what happens to everybody opinion is subjective!!! Beauty is in the eyes of beholders!!!

Having said that, I’m trying hard to keep my expectations for Adam’s career low, but it’s not easy. I just find him so talented, so exciting and so charismatic that I want the world to experience his fabulousness. lol

Although My Idol is a different one, I know whereof you speak. When we love somebody, and think they’re deserving, we want the world to love them, too. Or, at least I do.

In regard to DC, I have to keep reminding myself how grateful he genuinely seems to be for the success he’s had so far thanks to Idol, and how far he has come since his Tulsa days. (It would probably be a lot easier to keep that in mind–and feel at peace about whatever happens–if I didn’t read Idol blogs, lol.)

I think that when fans say, “I just want him/her to be able to play music and earn a living at it,” we both mean it and don’t mean it, if you know what I mean, lol. On the one hand, that was really all that DC ever said he wanted, just to be able to support himself with his music. “Don’t make me get a real job, Mom!” On the other hand, he is an ambitious man, and I am ambitious for him. There’s probably some invisible point of success that will allow him, musically, to live long and prosper. I hope your idol gets to that point, too.

Read the post I answered and the responding post. We are talking about a type of music and whether some ‘types’  sell better than others.
I in no way believe that Kris is in the same league as John Mayer or Norah Jones. That includes playing instruments, songwriting, vocals, and performing skills.’ 

So you do not believe that Kris is in the same leaque as John Mayer or Norah Jones but you expect him to have their types of debut numbers. Thank God there is somebody like Jon Bon Jovi who is more understanding’ ¦

Once again-go back and read my entire post and the part of the post I quoted. We were NOT discussing Kris having the same types of numbers as Norah Jones and John Mayer. We were discussing if their “type of music” is popular and sells albums. I don’t know why this is hard to understand.

So, in conclusion-I don’t believe Kris is anywhere in the same league as these two and I never thought Kris would come close to their first week sales numbers.

I vote for the singers who entertain me the most. The End. It’s not a ‘joke’ , but it’s not that serious, either

But the sad part is that many many people inside the bubble, and those who aren’t, don’t see it that way. Of course, the whole show is a cheap “joke”, it’s a damn reality kareoke contest. (But, to its credit it has given some people with great skills the opportunity to have their musical ability showcased).

My point isn’t about how Idol viewers vote…my point is that there is a perception out in the real world about idol. And the perception seems to be that Idol fans really believe they are “discovering” a new and great talent. And when that person faces the real world and they don’t deliver the goods based on the perception they and the show face some realism issues. I know the show is a fucked up mess…but your common layman doesn’t know that. He only knows the kool-aid that the show is selling.

PLEASE don’t post links to Amazon or iTunes in these threads! It discourages peeps from linking through my affiliate links.

One of the problems in the bubble is that it tends to denigrate any degree of success that isn’t huge. In any given endeavor, only a tiny few’“if any’“ can realistically be expected to hit big. Not everybody gets to be CEO.

This is true. If a performer doesn’t become an overnight sensation he/she is labeled a failure by some Idol-watchers. Probably quite a few former contestants feel fortunate that they have a viable career and are able to do what they love – make music. Not everyone needs (or wants) to be a superstar.

This is where I think the show did Adam no favors by touting him as potentially being the next international superstar. Who can live up to that hype? So if he has moderate success he will be called a failure by people within the Idol bubble – specifically fans of the others. I prefer having lower expectations and then being pleasantly surprised if those expectations are exceeded.

Having said that, I’m trying hard to keep my expectations for Adam’s career low, but it’s not easy. I just find him so talented, so exciting and so charismatic that I want the world to experience his fabulousness. lol

One of the problems in the bubble is that it tends to denigrate any degree of success that isn’t huge. In any given endeavor, only a tiny few–if any– can realistically be expected to hit big. Not everybody gets to be CEO.

Idol has given a lot of its contestants careers to one degree or another. I view the Idol machine as being pretty good at being a kind of entertainment world employment agency.

The winner, based on this statement, is just a reflection of the ‘joke’  that is played by the viewers and voters of American Idol onto the general public that is ‘hyped’  by the show itself to believe that America is finding the next great pop superstar.

It’s not my job to play A&R for TPTB. It’s a television show. They present 12 contestants. I vote for the singers who entertain me the most. The End. It’s not a “joke”, but it’s not that serious, either.

I can’t vote based on what I think their recording career will be like in the future, because at that point, I have no idea what it might sound like.

Yes, this too.

The audience for WWFM really puts it in the Top 50 chart already.

Sometimes the winner doesn’t sell the most the first week. It’s happened before S2, S5 and now S8. It’s not that rare and yet the show manages to deal with it.

Apparently idol needs more female winners for this not to happen…

Statements like this are exactly why the general public has a hard time accepting any Idol into the real world of the music industry’ ¦and probably the biggest reason that the ‘winner’  may have a real problem in the real world.

Eh, most winners (and then some non winners) are doing and have done quite well in the real world. Of course there are people who won’t listen to them cause they come from reality TV. But most ears could care less about it. Plus, the industry has given many awards to idol contestans, so that’s also not a problem.
I think it’s natural if people won’t blindly buy anything from their favorite. Covers and original songs are different things. It only makes those viewers more sane.

Avalanch @Mobile Alabama

I’m a DC fan, no question, but I have to admit to not listening to every link people post. This, however, is very, very nice, and happily the audience let him do the singing. Glad I clicked on it because now I’m going to download it for the old Ipod.

I love how he says, standing out there alone, that he feels like it’s Top Five and that’s not a good thing. (For a rocker, who put up with a cheesy contest in order to get that big break, DC sure reflects back a lot. Ha.) Also, I love the little surprise on his face at the echo effect. Guess someone from the band/crew was playing around.

In S7, they started selling on iTunes during the season (and it took them a while to plug all the loopholes that fans kept finding to see how Idols were doing compared to each other). But, for weeks with multiple songs, they only sold one version. By S8, they have it down to a science offering both performance and studio versions for pretty much everyone and hawking videos.

And, my heart breaks a little thinking of this. They would’ve made a lot more money.

Statements like this are exactly why the general public has a hard time accepting any Idol into the real world of the music industry’ ¦and probably the biggest reason that the ‘winner’  may have a real problem in the real world.

It’s a TV talent show. That’s how they work. Every week, Ryan asks me to vote for who I don’t want to see in the bottom. That’s what I do. He’s not asking me to vote for who I think can sell CD’s in the real world.

After the show, my loyalty to them is basically up. In order for me to buy their music, they need to make it good. I’m not obligated to buy based on my vote, and I’m not buying crap just to “support” anyone. There are plenty of AI contestants whose post AI cd was so shitty there wasn’t a chance in hell I’d pay money for it. Even if I did vote for them. And, I don’t feel bad about that.

Winning a tv talent show and putting out music that the public enjoys are 2 totally different things. Some are lucky enough to do both well. Others, not so much.

I can’t vote based on what I think their recording career will be like in the future, because at that point, I have no idea what it might sound like.

And this is true only inside the AI bubble. If someone comes off of the show (and not because of the manipulations of some silly ass voters) and does catch the interest of the music buying public then they will over the shadow the new season by the 90% of the American public that never watch it.

Well, yes, but that’s very rare. It’s happened to like 2 or 3 people out of the hundred or so finalists. Most of them do go on to have some kind career, but on a national level they are all but forgotten by the general public. And, only rememebered by us here in the bubble because MJ brings us all of the articles.

I mean, I would have no clue what Jon Peter Lewis was up to without MJ, and there’s not a single human being that I know in the real world who even remembers his name. To me, outside of Carrie, Kelly & Daughtry, the bulk of them only have a career because of the bubble. And very few are remembered outside of it, other than an occasional appearance in US Weekly.

On another note: Man, people sure have bought a lot of albums from the Season Five crowd over the years.

Adam is my favorite Idol, but I have to say season five was my favorite season overall.

I believe we’re really only talking about WEEK ONE here, when the sales are generally to actual Idol fans. On that measure, Daughtry most certainly did not outsell the winner in his season.

First week numbers:

Daughtry ‘“ 303,677

Taylor ‘“ 298,199

It was close, but Daughtry did sell more his first week.

Wow. I had totally forgotten that! So it actually was quite similar to Clay and Ruben, except without the fanwar for sales!

On another note: Man, people sure have bought a lot of albums from the Season Five crowd over the years. Daughtry and Taylor, then also Pickler, Elliott, Bucky, Kat, Mandisa… I wonder how many they’ve sold total. Daughtry obviously swamps the others, but Taylor’s, Elliott’s, and Pickle’s sales, total, add up to quite a chunk as well.

http://www.rcarecordslabel.com/

Susan Boyle didn’t win Britain’s Got Talent either. Maybe the Queen should order an investigation of that.

It’s a cheesy show, and it’s fun to vote, particularly for the contestant who moves me or entertains me in some way. Could care less what happens once the show is over.

Statements like this are exactly why the general public has a hard time accepting any Idol into the real world of the music industry…and probably the biggest reason that the “winner” may have a real problem in the real world. The winner, based on this statement, is just a reflection of the “joke” that is played by the viewers and voters of American Idol onto the general public that is “hyped” by the show itself to believe that America is finding the next great pop superstar.

After the new AI season begins ‘“ interest in last year’s participants will begin to slacken.

And this is true only inside the AI bubble. If someone comes off of the show (and not because of the manipulations of some silly ass voters) and does catch the interest of the music buying public then they will over the shadow the new season by the 90% of the American public that never watch it.

75 GOKEY, DANNY + * My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me 19/RCA – 18 1 17

I am a huge Taylor Hicks fan and downloadable singles did not start in Season 5.

Actually, they did. It was their initial trial balloon. You could purchase some of the performances on the American Idol website. The only studio versions available were the ones from the compilation album (which they stopped doing in Season 5) and the coronation songs (plus Kat recorded OTR). But, late in the season, for a short time, they made some of the performances available. I think that they saw that there was a brisk trade in Vinman HQ videos and MP3 rips and they dipped their toes in that water.

In Season 6, they made singles available each week on their own website and then, after the season, available on iTunes. In S7, they started selling on iTunes during the season (and it took them a while to plug all the loopholes that fans kept finding to see how Idols were doing compared to each other). But, for weeks with multiple songs, they only sold one version. By S8, they have it down to a science offering both performance and studio versions for pretty much everyone and hawking videos.

I’m sure they are quite pleased with the results. And it is smart to give people and outlet to purchase things legally they were going to steal if they couldn’t.

I believe we’re really only talking about WEEK ONE here, when the sales are generally to actual Idol fans. On that measure, Daughtry most certainly did not outsell the winner in his season.

First week numbers:

Daughtry – 303,677

Taylor – 298,199

It was close, but Daughtry did sell more his first week.

What the hell type of music is SuBo? Is it popular? She is blowing EVERYONE away!

I don’t think she’s selling music, exactly. I think she’s selling a kind of magic package that triggers a bundle of endorphin-releasing positive emotions….. A lot of people are going to find that much more valuable than music, especially in the weeks before the holiday season in the middle of a worldwide depression!

Avalanch @Mobile Alabama

Allison who I believe has only gotten a little amount of promotion, even though her album is supposed to be dropping Tuesday.

Not supposed, it is dropping Tuesday.

Well obviously this thread is full of gay activists who don’t care what the average person sees’ ¦’ ¦so I’m obviously out of my element. I just want to hear the guy sing. All the crap that has happened with the AMA’s has taken away from the music and the fallout does as well. I don’t think it’s Adam’s job to become the poster boy for all gays but some here sure do and I think he’s beginning to as well despite his protests to the contrary earlier and that is sad to me. He doesn’t need to do all this for the attention. His talent speaks for himself but obviously it’s not enough for some of you’ ¦’ ¦and that is sad as well’ ¦’ ¦but he did it to himself with the fiasco of the AMA’s. So much for the music.

Well, the same stuff has been said about other members of minorities. Jackie Robinson, for example. Many wished then that it was ‘all about baseball.” But it wasn’t. So it couldn’t be.

It’s easy to say that you don’t want the politics to intrude on music or sport or whatever when you aren’t relying on the politics to give you, in particular, or some folks who are very close to you equal rights and a discrimination-free world. When you *are* relying on that, however, the thing looks quite different to you.

I’d say it’s important to walk a mile in the other guy’s moccasins before coming to a conclusion, but I think you’d just say the same thing back o me about your moccasins. In the case where one person is a member of a minority group, however, I really believe that theirs is the only pair of moccasins that actually matters. When you’re in the majority, you just can’t know. Period.

The concept or premise is one thing, the reality is another. One need not have anything to do with the other, and in fact reality shows that non-winners may do better than winners (Daughtry, Clay Aiken, now Adam, that’s 3 out of 8). We are talking about reality here, not some airy-fairy concept.

I believe we’re really only talking about WEEK ONE here, when the sales are generally to actual Idol fans. On that measure, Daughtry most certainly did not outsell the winner in his season. And in Clay and Ruben’s season, everybody knew that not only was their competition quite close but the fans of both kind of admitted that they went all out to get into a sales battle.

So it’s only two of eight.

And after Week One clearly doesn’t count in this conversation because then it’s assumed that fans outside the Idol bubble begin to hear of the albums and the artists and begin to buy (or not, as the case may be …)

To be honest it doesn’t really matter. Adam lost. He shouldn’t outsell Kris. He didn’t win. Kris did. Kris is being compared to other Idol winners where Adam is not and shouldn’t be.

Secondly, people are going to focus on album sales ‘“ not necessarily single sales. They are also going to focus on where they debut on the billboard chart. Radio play, etc are important, don’t get me wrong, but in the end the focus is going to be on how many album units were moved and therefore how much money one makes. As much as Jordin is on the radio she sold like 46,000 albums her first week. Not good.

Third of all, and I know I already stated it but Kris should sell the most. He got the most votes and therefore is perceived as the most popular. Its all about perception. The winner should do the best in my opinion. If not then whats the point of having a winner? In the long run maybe Kris will do better, who knows. But his album debut is not good compared to previous Idol winners.

ITA. IMO it’s ideal that the winner should outsell everyone else from their season. One of the purposes of the show to find the next singing star. If the winner is not expected to do well, then what is the point of having a winner?

I understand that the winner isn’t going to always sell the most out of everyone their season. But I do think that the winner should at least have decent sales the first week their album is out. Clay sold more than Ruben, but Ruben still sold a huge amount of albums the first week his album was out (over 400,000).

A very respectable amount for first week sales. The winner should not do poorly, if it can be helped, their first week. Especially since they come off of a show that gives them way more exposure than most new artists get.

And if they get a decent amount of promotion from their label. From what I have seen Kris has gotten a decent amount of promotion from his label, certaintly more than Allison who I believe has only gotten a little amount of promotion, even though her album is supposed to be dropping Tuesday.