American Idol Goes Against Undiscovered Talent - Unintentionally

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American Idol 2009 Finale Winner Announcement

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sourced by corey_246

I feel as far as money grabbing companies go, American Idol has crossed the line and, unintentionally, gone against what they sought out to do. I shamelessly watch the show, underdog Kris Allen won (which I was happy about) he's the good humble, down-to-earth, everyday guy with amazing voice. His first single (the winners single -- as dreadfully corny as it is) has been released and it is number one in the pop charts and number two on iTunes. Now it being Kris's winners single, it will of course climb the charts. But here is when I have to question American Idol , along with the winners single you can buy all of his songs from the show and the other competitors, which is very cool. What I don't understand is why, during the shows run the singles can be bought but not allowed placement on the charts, but now that the show is over Kris's songs are in the top one hundred and are those of second place contestant Adam Lambert and other competitors from the top ten. Now why are these tracks -- excluding the winners official first single -- allowed to take the place of other performers who have worked hard to promote their music without the means of a reality show aired and watched all over the world.

While we have big names like Britney Spears and Lady Gaga who are household names topping the charts, we have smaller scale artists working on independent labels, or not receiving the proper attention they deserve from their labels because they are not standing up to the likes of Justin, Britney and Christina. I have to ask why should these artists working their way from nothing (an example Canadian singer/songwriter Lights who with self promotion on MySpace, YouTube and an independent music video made it to success in 2008, and in 2009 took home a Juno Award for Best New Artist -- and other artists like her trying their best to break out) have to compete with reality show contestants who's names and faces are flashed across the screen daily for the "American Idol Tour" and across the iTunes store banners, not to mention all over the internet. Idol claims to be about finding the best undiscovered talent (they don't all go to idol), well then why in a money grabbing scheme, are they taking away promotion and attention from undiscovered talent by having the contestants covers from their show place on the charts, pushing deserving singers original work further down the charts. Who knows, if this was not allowed Kris Allen's independently released CD may have made an impact, same for Brook White of last season and other contestants before their appearances on idol. In the process of releasing all the singles -- which is not where I have my issue, my problems lies with American Idol and ITunes allowing them to actually chart -- it is setting back many undiscovered artists who do not have such major promotion. I have to ask what has happened when a show meant to originally turn-out great, undiscovered talent clearly picks money first and ends up setting back many performers trying to gain attention for their own music in the process. Why should they suffer while performers like Lambert, Allen and Gokey chart bring in money for Idol while they themselves this time last year were wanting major success like the artists they, unintentionally, are taking the attention away from.

My overall request is to allow Kris to have his winners single chart like always, but keep the rest of the songs from the show off the charts. Idol can keep their money, but give the underdogs a chance to gain a well deserved place on the charts and in the music industry.