“American Idol” used to be the search for a single superstar. But now the show is turning them out by the bunch. Walk into a record store, and the top-selling singles in the country are from past “Idol” performers. Chris Daughtry, who came in fourth, leads the pack for last season, having sold 2 million albums. On a nearby shelf you can find records from winner Taylor Hicks, runner-up Katharine McPhee and a made-over Elliott Yamin, who finished third. There are more releases coming from the less popular contestants: Bucky Covington (April 17), Paris Bennett (May 8) and Ace Young (this summer). That means season five paved the way for a record-breaking eight albums.
Normally, an abundance of product dilutes a brand. But “Idol” might be having its best music year yet—in total, the above artists have sold 3.7 million records. “It’s kind of early, but I can’t recall any other year when we’d sold so many units by March,” says Iain Pirie, who heads 19 Entertainment in the United States, which signs “Idol” stars. Seventh-place finisher Young has a theory why there have been so many success stories: “If you’re an ‘Idol’ fan, you’re going to pick them all up and give them a shot.”
In its sixth season, “Idol” continues to shatter notions about how far a popular franchise can stretch. Some 41 licensees, from Samsung to McDonald’s, have now boarded the $2.5 billion “Idol” train. “We’re constantly turning down categories like pharmaceuticals,” says Keith Hindle, executive vice president of FremantleMedia, handler of “Idol” branding. Since the show has been renewed until 2010, long-term projects like amusement-park rides are in the works. By next season, Hindle envisions an “Idol” cruise ship with “the contestants that have done extremely well.” Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Sanjaya Malakar!
