Music keeps on playing
judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan if
American Idol can bring back the magic.
TELEVISION was supposed to have unplugged the jukebox by now.
Just a few years ago, the oversaturation of talent shows suggested the genre would soon go the way of vaudeville. The X Factor expired after just three seasons, and
American Idol, a show that had been so dominant for a decade that competitors nicknamed it the Death Star, was cancelled.
Similar shows — Duets, Rock Star,
Sing Your Face Off — lasted about as long as a Ramones song.
But the music just keeps playing. ‘‘It’s like Procter & Gamble. Are you tired of soap? Noone’s tired of soap,’’ said Lionel Richie, who joins Katy Perry and Luke Bryan as judges on the new season of American Idol.
‘‘Every once in a while you have to step back and refresh it, and it moves forward.’’
Familyfriendly appeal
Some shows in the genre have never needed a timeout, though.
America’s Got Talent has been the topranked summer show for its entire 12season run. The Voice has never averaged less than 10 million US viewers since its premiere in 2011.
‘‘People love watching and being part of the career,’’ said original Idol winner Kelly Clarkson, who is a coach on the current season of The
Voice.
‘‘It’s that cool moment when I’m in a shop and a woman comes up to me and says, ‘I’ve been singing my entire life. I watched you and we’re so similar. I feel like I won that night.’ That’s a cool dream to be a part of.’’
Part of the genre’s appeal is its familyfriendly nature, giving fans a chance to root for underdogs with a higher goal than hooking up with
The Bachelor.
‘‘They’ll feel all those dopamine things they need to feel good,’’ Perry said.
‘‘The biggest gift we supply is inspiration.
‘‘Ten years ago, I was where they are. I had three labels drop me. I was couchsurfing. I was eating chicken nuggets every day of the week. And we have this ability to give them an incredible journey.’’
Tonedeaf contestants, once ridiculed in preliminary rounds, are no longer a staple. The shows have grown up, just like their audiences.
‘‘After 15 years, it just doesn’t feel comfortable putting borderline unstable people up there and laughing at them,’’ Idol executive producer Trish Kinane said.
‘‘One of the key things I feel about the show is that it shouldn’t feel manipulated,’’ she said.
‘‘In the past, people thought the judges saw everybody, thousands and thousands of people. Now they know there’s a line before that where the producers sit. We don’t want them to think producers picked them just for a laugh.’’
Talent moves to front
Putting the emphasis on truly gifted performers gives these shows a stronger shot at producing stars.
Even a slight boost is welcome these days in a music industry that is struggling to make headway as fans turn to streaming services. Television sees reality shows as a way of reaching a broad audience, but artists may need them even more.
‘‘Let’s face it: In all forms of entertainment, the way we get paid has taken a hit,’’ Bryan said. ‘‘When the music industry has a star born on TV — when it lands in their lap — it’s a win for the label and its ability to promote its artists. What a kickstart.
‘‘I remember when I got my record deal, American Idol was already going. I was like, ‘Gosh, it would have been pretty awesome to have had the opportunity to try out and start on that platform.’ ’’
It’s unlikely we’ll return to the days when Idol drew a Super Bowlsized audience. But creating the next Kelly Clarkson — or even a Scotty McCreery — would certainly offer the genre more stability.
In some ways, this is a great time for TV to develop stars.
‘‘These days, it’s so hard to stand out,’’ Perry said. ‘‘You have to, like, light yourself on fire on Instagram while singing. And even then, you might not get enough hits [from online listeners] to make sure a song really sticks.
‘‘So maybe it has come full circle. Maybe this launching pad will give an advantage to those that need the spotlight.’’