AWOE MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS REPORT
AMERICAN IDOL'S SIMON COWELL
IS LOVED FOR EXPOSING HIDDEN TALENT
In 2002 American Idol paved the way for reality television competitions centered on America’s pop culture. The infamous Simon Cowell very wittingly brought Britain’s U.K. Pop Idol to American soil under the mask of what millions call American Idol.
Seven seasons and six winners later, shows how Simon Cowell has a warm interior towards talent and the newfound fans that tune in each season. As the father of singing competitions Cowell’s brass has often been criticized, but not enough credit has been given to him for his eye for talent or business sense. Enabling contestants from across the USA to compete for their dream of a major recording contract and to sing in front of millions of viewers, Cowell is making dreams come true. American Idol gave away $70 million dollars to programs to help people in extreme poverty in America and Africa.
In a way Cowell has unknowingly set a standard for introducing new talent to audiences across the USA. The exposure has been a blessing to contestants like Mandisa who has been a big hit on Toby Mac’s Portable Sounds and Melinda Doolittle who went on a tour with Christian music’s beloved Michael W. Smith in 2007. These are just a few examples of how American Idol has influenced Christian music.
In the six, now seven seasons that American Idol has been delighting our screens,there has been an uprising of Christian talent shows like Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Gifted, INSP’s Christian Artist Talent Search and BET’s Sunday Best, each show mirrors American Idol in essence, but not in spirit.
Gifted for example celebrates the God given gifts of Christian talent that’s seen around the world through the Trinity Broadcasting Network, the worlds leading Christian network. Like American Idol has a panel of judges that includes Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, Gifted sets the bar high with Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys, Michael Sweet of Christian rock band legend Stryper, EMI CMG Publishing’s Eddie DeGarmo and multi-Grammy award winning artist Andrea Crouch.
Just last year, with over 49 million households watching through TBN,as Gifted awarded their very first winner DeQuela Payne with a major contract with EMI Christian Group.
Payne was chosen out of 16,000 entrants and 8 finalists.
Yet, before Gifted ever entered the millions of households INSP’s Christian Artist Talent Search was the beginning of this phenomenon in 2003. Now in it’s seventh season, C.A.T.S. gives not only a variety in talent but also in its panel
of judges each year. C.A.T.S. is backed by Infinity Music Distribution, Whiplash Records, and iLife TV. Like American Idol and Gifted, C.A.T.S. awards its winners with a recording contract with a national label and this years entries are being taken from February 1, 2008 thru April 11, 2008.
Now if you’re looking for something a little more gospel and mainstream BET’s Sunday Best has it all. The best in gospel talent, guests and a panel of judges that could make any crowd shout, sing and testify around the world.
Sunday Best debuted in 2007 with powerhouse host Kirk Franklin who showed personality and immense energy each week. Not to mention a panel filled with wisdom that included gospel’s soul sisters, Mary Mary and the influential Bebe Winans.
Much like American Idol, Sunday Best brought on talent and guests that had viewers glued to their seats each week on BET. Talent like Emily Gomez, Shari Addison, Jermain Sellers are only a few of the stellar artists introduced to Sunday Best’s new found audience.
Besides the incredible talent, Sunday Best brought on the best guests like Shirley Caeser and Yolanda Adams to sing with and to critique the artists. Then the audience was treated with brilliant ensembles with Mary Mary and Bebe Winans between the contestants, Sunday Best turned out to be more than just another singing competition.
Sunday Best’s grand winner Crystal Aiken proved that it’s about the spirit and the anointing behind the music that makes the artist. In every song, Aiken and the other contestants brought more than a song; they brought a testimony and the heart of Christ that ministered to not only the audience there, but to the viewers across the USA.
Runner up Shari Addison had a loving message of God’s faithfulness almost every time she took hold of the microphone. Ministering to her daughter who was absent from the crowd most of the competition, yet by the time the final episode came Addison’s daughter had joined the rest of the family rooting her mother on.
In the end Crystal Aiken took home a whole lot of joy with the Sunday Best title along with a national recording contract, a 2008 Toyota Camry and the $300.000 Tide Loads of Hope prize package to support her community.
All in all, America is filled with talent in and out of church. Thanks to pioneers like Simon Cowell who brought Britain’s U.K. Pop Idol as American Idol to our screens we’re priveledged to see the hidden talent that has made America’s music scene so popular. Now on the Christian music front we’re challenged with singing competitions that glorifies God on major networks like NBC’s newest reality show, Clash of The Choirs, bringing the message of Christ into the homes of reality TV fans around the world. As believers, what more can we ask for?
