Ok, let's forget for a moment, all the debate about who's going to WIN American Idol. We're down to two choices. One of them WILL win, and realistically, it could be EITHER of them. Adam has gotten a lot of publicity and has an incredible voice. Kris is a much more low key, multi-talented musical artist who's not afraid to explore new sounds with familiar songs. Both have gotten a lot of support (only about 1 million votes, out of nearly 90 million votes cast, separated them last week), and if they both have a good week performance-wise, it could once again be a very tight vote..with either of them emerging victorious.
But, once the final vote is in, once Ryan Seacrest has drawn the 2 minute revelation out over at least an hour, what happens then? History has shown us that WINNING American Idol is not the key to success (Taylor Hicks, anyone?), but for an artist that is talented, driven, and knows how to make music that appeals to his/her fans, American Idol is a wonderful platform to launch a career.
So, which of the final duo, Adam Lambert or Kris Allen, is best poised and positioned for success? Well, you can find plenty of people who will champion the cause of both of them. As for me, while I believe both will find some success, it seems that Kris is more prepared for immediate success.
Let's face it..Adam Lambert has mad vocal skills. That boy can sing incredibly. In a flat out vocal competition (which American Idol is NOT), there's no doubt Adam Lambert would beat Kris Allen. But American Idol, and the music business, is not just about vocals. Madonna has had an incredibly successful career, but no one would ever pick her as the most talented vocalist out there, and that is true of many successful artists. Success in the music business, as it is on American Idol, comes from a combination of vocal ability, the ability to capture the interest and affection of your audience, and a 'sound' that people recognize and want to hear.
It's that last part that is where Kris Allen has excelled so well in this competition, and how he has quietly risen to the place where he displaced one of the 'frontrunners' (Danny Gokey) to stand toe to toe with Adam Lambert in the final 'sing off' of this year's contest. Kris Allen has a look and a musical style that has become known and loved by millions. He could made a cd now, and most people who've watched and listened to him would have some idea of what it would sound like, and whether they'd want to buy it. Kris Allen has spent this season not just competing, but defining his 'brand' in front of millions of people. As any marketing person would affirm, having a well-defined 'brand' is essential to selling anything from cosmetics, cereal..and musical careers..successfully. It's not always the 'best' products that you buy, but the ones you recognize and with which you feel most comfortable.
Adam Lambert has incredible vocal skills, and has shown himself very versatile and able to sing a variety of styles of music very well. It is his versatility and capability to sing such a wide variety of music that actually may put him in a less marketable position, at least initially. While everybody knows the kind of music Kris is likely to play and sing, it's not as clear what direction Adam will take with his music. He has talent. He is likable. But he's going to have to be 'packaged' a bit, develop the 'Adam Lambert brand' that helps define him as a musical artist. That process will begin immediately after Idol is over. By the time he releases a cd, the public relations machine will have been busy for some months telling you what kind of artist Adam Lambert is, what kind of music you are going to hear from him, preparing the public for his post-Idol debut.
Meanwhile, Kris has been doing that in front of the television cameras, watched by millions of viewers, week after week, throughout the run of the show. By the time the final curtain falls on this year's season, no matter who wins, Kris Allen will be in the enviable position of having a marketable 'brand'...and a hungry audience who already know they're going to buy his music, and that they're going to listen to it and request it on the radio. He will be ready to 'hit the ground running'. Adam will have to shift gears from being a 'competitor' to defining himself as an artist.
No matter whose name Ryan Seacrest calls next Wednesday night as the American Idol winner for 2009, Kris Allen has already won the race to becoming a marketable artist with a definable 'sound'.
Dan
But, once the final vote is in, once Ryan Seacrest has drawn the 2 minute revelation out over at least an hour, what happens then? History has shown us that WINNING American Idol is not the key to success (Taylor Hicks, anyone?), but for an artist that is talented, driven, and knows how to make music that appeals to his/her fans, American Idol is a wonderful platform to launch a career.
So, which of the final duo, Adam Lambert or Kris Allen, is best poised and positioned for success? Well, you can find plenty of people who will champion the cause of both of them. As for me, while I believe both will find some success, it seems that Kris is more prepared for immediate success.
Let's face it..Adam Lambert has mad vocal skills. That boy can sing incredibly. In a flat out vocal competition (which American Idol is NOT), there's no doubt Adam Lambert would beat Kris Allen. But American Idol, and the music business, is not just about vocals. Madonna has had an incredibly successful career, but no one would ever pick her as the most talented vocalist out there, and that is true of many successful artists. Success in the music business, as it is on American Idol, comes from a combination of vocal ability, the ability to capture the interest and affection of your audience, and a 'sound' that people recognize and want to hear.
It's that last part that is where Kris Allen has excelled so well in this competition, and how he has quietly risen to the place where he displaced one of the 'frontrunners' (Danny Gokey) to stand toe to toe with Adam Lambert in the final 'sing off' of this year's contest. Kris Allen has a look and a musical style that has become known and loved by millions. He could made a cd now, and most people who've watched and listened to him would have some idea of what it would sound like, and whether they'd want to buy it. Kris Allen has spent this season not just competing, but defining his 'brand' in front of millions of people. As any marketing person would affirm, having a well-defined 'brand' is essential to selling anything from cosmetics, cereal..and musical careers..successfully. It's not always the 'best' products that you buy, but the ones you recognize and with which you feel most comfortable.
Adam Lambert has incredible vocal skills, and has shown himself very versatile and able to sing a variety of styles of music very well. It is his versatility and capability to sing such a wide variety of music that actually may put him in a less marketable position, at least initially. While everybody knows the kind of music Kris is likely to play and sing, it's not as clear what direction Adam will take with his music. He has talent. He is likable. But he's going to have to be 'packaged' a bit, develop the 'Adam Lambert brand' that helps define him as a musical artist. That process will begin immediately after Idol is over. By the time he releases a cd, the public relations machine will have been busy for some months telling you what kind of artist Adam Lambert is, what kind of music you are going to hear from him, preparing the public for his post-Idol debut.
Meanwhile, Kris has been doing that in front of the television cameras, watched by millions of viewers, week after week, throughout the run of the show. By the time the final curtain falls on this year's season, no matter who wins, Kris Allen will be in the enviable position of having a marketable 'brand'...and a hungry audience who already know they're going to buy his music, and that they're going to listen to it and request it on the radio. He will be ready to 'hit the ground running'. Adam will have to shift gears from being a 'competitor' to defining himself as an artist.
No matter whose name Ryan Seacrest calls next Wednesday night as the American Idol winner for 2009, Kris Allen has already won the race to becoming a marketable artist with a definable 'sound'.
Dan
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