American Idol Judge Nicki Minaj laid it out in criticizing Idol's in house mentor Jimmy Iovine - Eva Rinaldi photo

American Idol's in house mentor Jimmy Iovine is under fire for giving contestants BAD ADVISE. REMEMBER JESSICA SANCHEZ? - (Angela George photo)

Video Beat EXTRA Part 2 - AMERICAN IDOL IS SOS (Same ol $#!t)

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Following last seasons debacle we swore off American Idol. We were successful but decided to tune in at key times of decision making when they selected their Top 10 and the Top 10 and 9 performances. The result being the show continues to show favoritism and focus on pimping off the popularity of their judges while shunning the talent leaving them to be a side show. The red flags are up for more of the same... - Recommended TV Listings

Friday, March 22, 2013

FAVORITISM CONTINUES TO REIGN

This season of American Idol appears to be similar of seasons past and that is not a good thing. The emphasis is the prostituting and pimping off the popularity of their loud mouth judges while the talent remains a sideshow. The same behind the scene English players remain in the producers chairs. Red flags go up when the judges give an abundant amount of favorable responses to some contestants and short offhanded remarks to others.

In house mentor Jimmy Iovine continues to be involved which is s bad thing. He was being criticized by the Nicki Minaj for intimidating talent to do what is not the strength of their voice but what he wants them to do. She was referring to the performance of Lazaro Arbos who has a stuttering problem that does not occur when he sings. Arbos is sensitive and appears to be easily intimidated. The more that his performance was scrutinized by the judges and host Ryan Seacrest he became increasingly uncomfortable to which Seacrest noted that it was a part of being in the business and being able to cope with criticism and pressure.

Last season the same bad advice scenario happened to Jessica Sanchez when Iovine set her up to fail by giving her a song in the final that was nightmare for her talent and not in her lane of being the type of song that compliments her pop and R & B style. Given that Iovine's unsupportive help came at the most crucial time the result was Sanchez lost to one octave vocal range singer Phillip Phillips.

Sanchez's performance was a nightmare since the song was and is a nightmare that they made her record. Again it is another bad decision . It prompted then judge Jennifer Lopez to remark that the song was not a good choice to which Sanchez replied it wasn't her choice but Iovine's.

Lopez who was Phillips biggest fan said to Sanchez that she has to take more control of her career and not do what others want her to do if she is not comfortable with a decision that someone has made for her. Being only 16 at the time Sanchez has yet to mature enough to express her opinions and was easily intimidated by Iovine. Iovine has a vested interest in who wins the contest as he gets a chance to be involved with the next stage of their career as he has first option to sing them to his record company and produce them resulting in him making MONEY. He is in the position to set people up to fail to further his personal interest as to who he would prefer to work with.

Recently I was playing basketball with a Filipino who said the Sanchez decision resulted in him to cease watching the show. He asked if it was a racist decision. His sentiment is food for thought although idol appears to be trying to overcome its racist image with an over-weighted black judging team of three blacks and one white.

Amber Holcomb is our favorite voice this season. She has a strong voice and being only 18 with very little experience has a strong stage presence. She also resembles US president Barack Obama's wife Michelle as well as having some of Michelle's mannerisms. A good voice carries no weight in the Idol competition as Holcomb finished in the Bottom 3 in last nights results.

Holcomb previously auditioned in season 11, but was cut in the Las Vegas round where she was grouped with season 12 finalist Curtis Finch, Jr. and season 11 finalists Shannon Magrane and Joshua Ledet.

Our second favorite voice is Devin Velez who has cross over appeal given his ability to sing in English and Spanish. While Holcomb receives good reviews from the judges they are quick to criticize Velez particularly the quips from Randy 'FOGHORN' Jackson. It gives the appearance that Velez will fail to reach the Top 6 although his talent and potential are worthy. He has finished in the Bottom 2 for two consecutive weeks.

Our third favorite voice is Angie Miller. Her talent is the quality of her original songwriting skills and material plus her strength in performing them. She has a Carol King quality about her that has yet to be defined but with experience and the right management could make an impact in the business. Being only 18 her life experiences as she matures will add to the value of her songwriting.

Miller could be a dark horse but given that she has what the other contestants don't that being original material. MONEY can be made from her songwriting and material. The music business thrives on stealing material or latching on to credit of it. Here's how it works, a fellow band-mate of mine Denis Larden wrote Garden Party. He was a member of Rick Nelson's band at the time. When Nelson recorded the song he took the publishing and half the writer's credits. I heard the song before Larden presented it to Nelson.

Miller stated at her audition that she is partially deaf, with 20% hearing loss in her right ear, and 40% in her left. Prior to auditioning for American Idol, she has a successful YouTube channel that has accumulated 1.5 million viewers. Miller is a solid talent but doesn't have the best voice. She as warmth and charm which helped her to a Top 3 finish last night in the Top 9 results show.

The writing on the wall tells us that NONE of our selections will win but of our selection Angie Miller will finish the highest in the standings. Her songwriting skills and the value of her original material make her a strong candidate to be Idol's next piece of MEAT.

In the music business the MONEY is in the publishing rights as the Beatles discovered when they found out that a great deal of their publishing rights were owned by Michael Jackson. The publisher receives payment from any recordings of the song by any other recording artist. That raises the question of how extensive is the agreement that American Idol contestants must sign to appear on the show. Does it involve owning contestants publishing rights? In the past contestants have complained that the contract asks for too much.

As Phillips was groomed to win last season the red flags are up as to who the powers that be (PTB) will push through to win this season. From our point of view given the judges overly positive comments it appears at this time that the PTB's top 3 are Janelle Arthur, Kree Harrison and Burnell Taylor.

Arthur has the strongest chance to win given the strong supportive comments from the judges. She is attractive, has a good voice but not exceptional. Her strength is, as the judges said last season, having the whole package. That means looks, talent and marketability. That means Simon Fuller the shows creator and associates like Iovine can make money with her.

The boys have slim pickings for being the title winner. It has been reduced a two of the five boys in the Top 10 Curtis Finch was eliminated last week at 10th and Paul Jolley was eliminated at the 9th position last night.

American Idol is about manufacturing MONEY not about finding the best TALENT or VOICE as the Phillip Phillips win is an example. The bottom line is the best talent will again NOT WIN. The winner will be the individual who can be easily managed and marketed to the widest demographic that downloads music from i-Tunes so they can make money.

American Idol is not noble in a search for the best talent it is about making MONEY from a show that is basically an audition leading to a management lock on the future of the contestant's careers. This incestuous show should be investigated as was payola during the early years of the Rock n Roll era of the recording business.

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