There is a lot of conversation going on about the success of Chris Daughtry versus the success of season five winner Taylor Hicks. Daughtry’s self-titled debut album has been a hit on Billboard’s Top 200 currently back up to number two from number nine last week. The album was number one at one point even. Hicks’, on the other hand, is nowhere in the top 100 (sorry but I’m not paying to see 101 to 200 to find out exactly where he is). Heck, even Katharine McPhee’s album is in the top 50 although it’s falling fast; down to 39 this week from 29 last week. So did America get it wrong and pick the wrong American Idol?
My answer is no. Not because I enjoyed Taylor from the first time that I saw him but the America that votes for the American Idol contestants and the America that ultimately goes out and buys the albums can be two completely different crowds. Daughtry’s album turned out to appeal to more of an audience than Hicks’ did so it sold more, it’s really that simple. Rock music is very popular these days and everyone knew that although Taylor Hicks’ has a great voice it would be hard to get him a mainstream hit.
The same goes for contestants this season. Sundance Head is going to appeal to a completely different crowd than Jordin Sparks. They both may go on to release albums but the sales will vary depending on the type of album they make and will not be a direct result of how they did on American Idol. American Idol is a launching point at this stage in the game, a great one at that.