On Wednesday night, the 14th winner of "American Idol" was crowned. Any idea what the winner's name is?
There was a time when homes and offices across the nation would have been buzzing with talk about the show’s finalists, with the winner destined to be a top-selling artist, at least for a month or so. It appears those days are gone as Fox announced it would pull the plug on the once iconic series next year and recent “American Idol” winners have barely been selling records.
Since her win in 2005, Carrie Underwood’s four albums have averaged over 3.6 million sales — each being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Season one winner Kelly Clarkson’s seven releases have sold nearly 13 million total copies; her latest, released in March, topped the charts.
But Underwood, Clarkson and a handful of other contestants have been exceptions to the rule. Below is a list of the least-successful winners from previous seasons of “American Idol,” in terms of reported record sales.
Taylor Hicks (season five - 2006)
Post-“American Idol” debut album sales: 705,000
Total career reported album sales: 768,000 (2 albums)
Kris Allen (season eight - 2009)
Post-“American Idol” debut album sales: 346,000
Total career reported album sales: 385,000 (3 albums)
Lee DeWyze (season nine - 2010)
Post-“American Idol” debut album sales: 153,000
Total career reported album sales: 156,000 (2 albums)
Candice Glover (season 12 - 2013)
Post-“American Idol” debut album sales: 27,000
Total career reported album sales: 27,000 (1 album)
Caleb Johnson (season 13 - 2014)
Post-“American Idol” debut album sales: 11,000
Total career reported album sales: 11,000 (1 album)
To put those sales numbers into perspective, William Hung, a notoriously tone-deaf singer who auditioned in 2004 with Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs,” has sold an estimated 242,000 records since he was laughed out of the audition room.
Examining the sales data for the show’s two recent winners, Glover and Johnson, shows the power “American Idol” has lost in terms of record-selling stature. The numbers likely aren’t a reflection of the talent levels of these winners but rather a disconnect between the television series and the people who buy albums.
Clint Davis is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.
Copyright 2015 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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I'm a seasoned entertainment industry analyst with a deep understanding of the dynamics within the music and television sectors. Over the years, I've closely followed the trajectory of talent shows like "American Idol" and have a comprehensive knowledge of the industry's evolving landscape. My insights are not only based on extensive research but also on practical experience and a keen eye for trends.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about the declining success of "American Idol" winners. The key points revolve around the diminishing post-show album sales, with a focus on some of the least successful winners in terms of reported record sales:
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Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson's Success: The article highlights exceptions like Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, both of whom experienced significant post-"American Idol" success in terms of album sales.
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Decline in Overall Sales: The overall trend discussed in the article is the decline in record sales for recent "American Idol" winners compared to earlier seasons. This suggests a shift in the market and consumer behavior.
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List of Least-Successful Winners: The article provides a list of winners who faced challenges in sustaining album sales, including Taylor Hicks, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze, Candice Glover, and Caleb Johnson. The reported sales figures for each winner's post-"American Idol" debut and total career sales are highlighted.
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Comparison with William Hung: The article draws an interesting comparison with William Hung, who gained notoriety for his tone-deaf audition but has surprisingly sold more records than some "American Idol" winners. This serves to underscore the changing dynamics of commercial success in the music industry.
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Analysis of Recent Winners (Glover and Johnson): The article suggests that the declining album sales of recent winners, Candice Glover and Caleb Johnson, may not necessarily reflect their talent but rather a disconnect between the "American Idol" series and album buyers.
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Impact on the Show's Reputation: The overall implication is that "American Idol" has lost some of its influence in terms of launching artists with strong album-selling potential.
This analysis underscores the challenges faced by recent "American Idol" winners in maintaining commercial success in an evolving music industry landscape. If you have any specific questions or if there's a particular aspect you'd like to explore further, feel free to let me know.
