'American Idol' bits: Cumulus 'Idol' like show, Kelly Clarkson, Ryan Seacrest
By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Monday, July 27, 2015
Amazingly, it's been seven years since "Nashville Star" graced the USA Network for six seasons as a reaction to "American Idol." The most famous person from that show? A one Miranda Lambert. Nobody has chosen to replicate "Nashville Star" despite the growing popularity of country - until now.
With Atlanta-based Cumulus Media doubling down on its NASH brand name, the company is planning a reality competition show focused on upcoming country acts, according to the New York Post. Details were scarce. I have no clue what network might pick it up though it's a wonder to me why CMT doesn't do something.
UPDATE: A publicist representing Cumulus on Tuesday found this story and provided me with a press release about the subject. It appears to be a social media-driven show, not a traditional TV show.
Here it is in full:
Cumulus (NASDAQ: CMLS) announces the launch of a unique artist development competition called “NASH Next” that will discover and release music from the most promising Country talent. NASH Next marks the latest expansion of the popular NASH entertainment and lifestyle brand, and NASH’s second launch into the recorded music business (joining the NASH Icon label).Country fans will help find and choose the next superstars of Country radio through engagement with their favorite artists and bands. For the first time ever, online engagement between fans and artists/bands will be measured and counted in the talent competition.
NASH Next features a nationwide talent search through submissions to www.NASHNextCountry.com, which will be promoted on more than 200 Cumulus radio stations – making NASH Next the largest online talent search ever undertaken.
The grand prize winner will be signed to the new NASH Next record label, with the top 10 all participating in a 2016 NASH Next concert tour from coast to coast.
Beginning June 15, the NASH Next website will open for registration to artists and bands, as well as the fans who will judge them through a series of challenges that run through November. The winners will be decided based on a combination of three music industry judges (who will soon be announced), an original “Spin Index” of social media activity and voting on the NASH Next website.
“Country is firmly established as the most popular music format and through NASH Next we are connecting directly with the fans and talent who are most engaged with the Country lifestyle,” said John Dickey, Executive Vice President of Content and Programming for Cumulus.
“We are thrilled to partner with NASH in launching NASH Next,” said Ron Berryman, Founder and CEO of SUM, NASH Next’s technology partner. “This has to be one of the most innovative approaches in finding emerging modern Country talent, and engaging their fan base through the use of social media.”
Fans will engage with their favorite bands as they progress through a series of challenges that showcase their musical and creative talents:
- Challenge 1: Bands perform the same cover song, exclusively shown on the NASH Next website
- Challenge 2: Bands perform an original jingle, with the last five words selected by fans through Twitter
- Challenge 3: Bands perform an original song broadcast live on Periscope, which will later be viewable on the NASH Next website
- Challenge 4: Bands post an original video on Instagram
- Challenge 5: Bands post original creative content on PicCollage, with fans adding their own pictures to complete the collages
- Final Challenge: a fully produced original music video including animation
NASH Next will be based at the NASH Campus in Nashville, the nation's only multi-media facility devoted solely to producing and distributing content based on the Country music lifestyle.
Just for kicks, here was Lambert's original audition on "Nashville Star" in 2003, when she was just 19.
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Ryan Seacrest throws himself into so many projects, a few will inevitably fail. In 2013, he hosted NBC's ill-fated "Million Second Quiz." Now he's hosting a Fox show that looks dead on arrival called "Knock Knock Live." Ratings last week were abysmal: 1.7 million viewers. Fox appears to be giving it a second try this Wednesday and since this is summer, executives may let it run a few more weeks but there is little doubt the whole concept was flawed.
Bottom line: Just because something is "live" doesn't mean people will watch it.
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Kelly Clarkson covers Taylor Swift's "Blank Space, baby, and I'll write her name every week in this column because she's Kelly Clarkson. It will leave you breathless - or with a nasty scar. Swift even tweeted it out:
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Are female country acts truly suffering? Yes, they are, based on a study looking at three time periods. It shows new female artists have a tougher time breaking in vs. new male artists now vs. earlier times. Carrie Underwood, as we know, is the breakout "Idol" star in country with nearly 20 top 5 hits under her belt over the past decade. Other acts which have had some success from "Idol" in the country realm include Josh Gracin (the only other "Idol" alum with a No. 1 hit), Kellie Pickler and Scotty McCreery.
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Season 14 winner Nick Fradiani has a new video for his song "Beautiful Life," which is No. 31 in airplay on the Hot AC charts for Mediabase 24/7.
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Katharine McPhee, in the midst of divorce proceedings and a star of CBS's hit show "Scorpion," has purchased a $1.4 million home for herself, according to the Daily Mail.
