Former ratings juggernaut American Idol will end it's 15 year run in the Spring of 2016, producers announced today.
At it's peak the singing competition drew over 30 million viewers a week, but in recent years has seen that drop to less than half of that with last season averaging about 11 million viewers. A big drop, sure; but still respectable.
According to USA Today, Idol contestants have sold more than 130 million track downloads, released 20 platinum albums and won 13 Grammy Awards.
Early winners and contestants of note included Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert and future Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson.
But in recent years, the show has devolved in scope with a leaning for WGWGs (White Guys With Guitars), beginning in Season 7 with David Cook and continuing for four years — Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze, Scotty McCreery and Phillip Phillips.
The record sales of American Idol winners has been uneven at best. While Clarkson and Underwood show long-lasting stamina over the years with multiple #1s on the Billboard charts, not all are so lucky.
The dubious honor of "Worst Debut Album by an American Idol Winner" goes to Season 9 champ Lee DeWyze, whose post-Idol album Live It Up managed to only reach #19 on the Billboard 200, and his 2013 follow-up fared far worst: Frames peaked at No. 116.
Still, the show has managed to gift it's contestants with opportunity previously denied the vast majority of wanna-be recording artists. While maybe not superstars all, with the exposure came at least better booking rates for touring and concert appearances. And in the end, most true artists would agree that it's better to at least "live the dream" and make some kind of living making music than pitching tar in the noon day sun.
American Idol did a lot for many. But now it's time to bow out gracefully.
To the producers - good call.
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