Can ‘Idol’ Still Churn Out Stars? Time Will Tell

The New York Times

Can ‘Idol’ Still Churn Out Stars? Time Will Tell

By BEN SISARIO

Published: January 14, 2010

Adam Lambert, who came in second on Season 8 last year, enjoyed about as much attention as a new pop star could possibly hope for. He ended up on the cover of Rolling Stone and with a big controversy — usually good for sales — over his performance at the “American Music Awards” in November, right before his album “For Your Entertainment” was released.


But “For Your Entertainment” has failed to catch fire, peaking at No. 3 on the chart and selling 445,000 copies to date. That’s nothing to sniff at, but in the same span of time Susan Boyle — introduced on another television talent show last year — has moved more than seven times as many...


"Kris Allen, who beat Mr. Lambert for the title last year, has had a slow start in terms of album sales: his self-titled release has sold 233,000 copies since it was released in November. But his song “Live Like We’re Dying” has had 551,000 downloads.


Tom Corson, general manager of the RCA Music Group, dismissed a suggestion that the “Idol” buzz has cooled off.


“It’s reflective of the overall market,” he said. “With most artists, the physical sales have eroded but the digital side has grown.”


At least one part of the music industry, however, is not happy about the shift to digital music: retailers. Joe Nardone Jr., an owner of Gallery of Sound, a six-store chain in Pennsylvania, believes that digital sales come at the expense of CDs, particularly when it comes to “Idol” singers, whose performances on the show are often sold as downloads while the contest is still going on.


“Since they’ve driven everybody online with that promotion, and with all the voting, the physical side is taken out of the mix,” Mr. Nardone said. “When somebody has to wait for the album, six months later, they’re less interested.”

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