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Why Nashville (Hearts) American Idol
Tuesday, February 13, 2007

When I lived in Nashville in the mid-1990's, the dominant question about the future viability of country music was whether labels could find a way to introduce music to fans without going through country radio. As it happens, this same notion was precisely the reason Simon Fuller began "American Idol." Idol has had mixed results when it comes to selling music to pop fans -- for every success (Kelly Clarkson) there are fare more duds (Reuben, Fantasia, and now Clay).

As anyone who watches the show knows (and I admit I got drawn into it a few years ago as a way to spend time with Mrs. Feiler Faster, who was simply ditching me for half a week), Southerners have dominated, with the majority of the top finalists for the show's six-year run. It's not surprising, then, as the great Ken Tucker points out in Billboard, that Idol finalists have had more success in Nashville than anyplace else.

The story of country's most famous "Idol" alum, Carrie Underwood, has been well documented. The winner of season five, Underwood has made her mark with two No. 1 records (as well as a No. 2) and numerous industry awards. Her latest single, "Wasted" (Arista/Arista Nashville) is climbing Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, where it is No. 14 this week.

Kellie Pickler, now signed to Sony BMG's BNA Records, finished sixth in season five. Her debut single, "Red High Heels," peaked at No. 15, and her 2006 album, "Small Town Girl," has sold extraordinarily well -- 400,000 units, according to SoundScan -- for a new artist with a top 15 hit.

Josh Gracin is the granddaddy of Nashville's "Idol" group, having finished fourth in season two. The former U.S. Marine's self-titled Lyric Street debut has sold 684,000 copies and spawned three top five singles, including the No. 1 "Nothin' to Lose." "I Keep Coming Back," the second single from his upcoming sophomore album, is No. 30 and climbing.

Like Pickler, Covington is a North Carolina native and, like Gracin, he's signed to Lyric Street. His debut single, "A Different World," is No. 41, and he's in the studio finishing his album, due April 17, with Sawyer Brown frontman Mark Miller producing.

Beyond the obvious affinities between country fans and TV viewing, the real reason Idols have been more successful in Nashville than in pop music is that Nashville still accepts artists interpreting songs that others have written, which is the only thing Idol finalists are required to do. Success in Nashville has always been based more on personality (and savvy) than musicianship, which makes the genre particular open to the American Idol popularity contest.

Labels: Pop Culture

Posted by B Feiler at 7:05 AM
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