American Idol Is Anti Male! Taylor Hicks And Ruben Studdard Dropped From J Records!!!
Former American Idol winners Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks have been dropped from J records. Studdard and Hicks both won American Idol despite not having the Hollywood looks and toned bodies. Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks are strong male singers. Despite Hicks and Studdard’s singing talent, it simply wasn’t enough for J Records. I am wondering if there is a misandrist element to American Idol? It is important to point out Ruben and Taylor are male because I have always felt American Idol wasn’t the right format for talented male singers. The people that call in to vote on American Idol are mostly young females.
Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard both lost American Idol even though they won. Inferior talents such as Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry actually achieved more success and media attention then Hicks and Studdard. In terms of singing talent, Hicks and Studdard are superior they have more range and more powerful voices. Clay Aiken didn’t win American Idol but his debut CD was more successful then Ruben Studdard’s album. Chris Daughty also didn’t win American Idol, but he has the looks that mainstream North America considers sexually attractive. Daughtry also has sold more CDs then Taylor Hicks. The reason is Daughtry and Aiken appeal to women. The marketing machine in the music industry is cognizant of the fact young women find Aiken and Daughtry sexually attractive. Aiken and Daughtry are also younger then Studdard and Hicks. Women imagine they can have sex with Daughtry and Aiken. Ruben and Taylor were not able to maintain the momentum of their success on American Idol.
Ruben and Taylor obviously were not trained for Hollywood 101. One way stars maintain the public’s interest is by acquiring as much media attention as possible. In Hollywood image is everything. I am not sure Ruben and Taylor understand the game but appearance is critical to success. It is not fair but Hollywood is never fair. Hollywood is not the real world it is a dream factory. Taylor and Ruben just didn’t have the looks or body image that turn women on. Ruben and Taylor also did not obtain endorsements from companies because they were not considered marketable. It is also interesting to note Ruben and Taylor are both from the same city Birmingham Alabama. Both Ruben and Taylor seem like nice guys that just didn’t gel with Hollywood and the mainstream public.
In the music industry, music fans want the young male singers to have sex appeal to draw in the female demographic. The dirty secret of the record labels is they also want the young male singers to draw in a gay male demographic as well. Yet the record labels never discuss the gay market because they don’t want the public to know this fact. For example, Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias are rare in the music industry they acknowledge their gay male audience.
Martin and Iglesias know that gay men show up to their concerts to support them because they think both men are sexually attractive and they also like their music. Martin and Iglesias have openly talked about the fact they have gay male fans. The marketing teams for Martin and Iglesias are cognizant by acknowledging the gay male demographic is just good business. Most young male singers try to act macho and ignore the gay male audience. Martin and Iglesias know they can make more money by selling more CDs, DVDs, concert tickets, more publicity by acknowledging gay men.
I am not suggesting that Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard should of reached out to the gay male audience to sell CDs. All I am suggesting is, that marketing is very critical to success. A singer cannot simply be a singer these days. A singer is a part of a brand, and a brand has to be able to appeal and sell to more then just one demographic in order to be successful.
Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks simply did not attract any demographic and this is one of the reason they were dropped from J records. The music business is in a tough position these days due to digital downloading and the apathetic attitude of the general public. Also, heterosexual women and gay men were not interested in either singer.
The record labels do not publically acknowledge the gay male demographic in the media but in marketing meetings they definitely are target the gay community. At gay bars and clubs across North America for example, when a major young male singer has a released there are often contests at gay bars. The gay fans can win a CD of the artist this is a form of promotion to cross over into the gay market.
Also, record companies pay advertising space in the gay media to let the gay audience know when young male singers have a CD released.
The feminists like to say society puts pressure on females to be sexy and to be thin. Yet the hypocritical feminists always ignore the fact men we are also pressured to look sexy too. The pressure was extremely intense on Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks to lose weight, get in shape, get the hard abs, and be sexy. Ruben did lose some weight but clearly this was not enough to interest the female audience. Ruben and Taylor were perhaps a bit too old for American Idol?
Another reason Taylor and Ruben were not successful is both guys didn’t really have a background story or interesting personalites. Ruben and Taylor’s management teams obviously didn’t put the time and effort into creating their image. You cannot simply be a good singer in this superficial pop culture, you need a gimmick. In Hollywood everyone has a gimmick, the star has to have something about him or her that that can pull in an audience. The public needs to have a hook to identify and relate to the star.
The reason Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia, and Carrie Underwood are very successful is all three young women have the “it” factor. According to Soundscan, Carrie Underwood is the most successful American Idol winner in the United States. Underwood’s second CD is proving she has maintained her audience.
Carrie Underwood is an attractive young woman she also can sing she has the blonde hair and the Eurocentric appearance Hollywood and North America finds appealing. Fantasia has the background story she was living in poverty, was in an abusive relationship, had her daughter at the tender age of seventeen. However, Fantasia overcame the odds and this is why the public loves Fantasia. Fantasia has continued her success with the hugely successful Lifetime movie which was the second highest ratings winner on that network. Fantasia also had a successful autobiography as well. In addition, Fantasia has proven she can act she is the star on Broadway in the play the Color Purple. The Color Purple is a huge success due to Fantasia and the critics have praised Fantasia for her incredible acting and singing performances.
Kelly Clarkson won because she was ordinary all American girl. Although Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia are not considered attractive by American standards heterosexual women and even lesbians can relate to them. Clarkson also had a very large under twenty five female demographic on her side. Unfortunately, for Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks not enough women found them to be sexually attractive to buy their albums.
The pressure is now on for younger male singers they have to be sexy and fit. Justin Timberlake, Usher, Omarion, Bow Wow, 50 CENT, Kanye West, and Chris Brown all know they have to spend hours in the gym developing the rock hard abs. The women love men that are extremely physically fit so they can drool over male pop stars in concerts.
Women like to look a good looking and attractive men that can sing. Taylor and Ruben can sing but they simply were not considered hot. Ruben and Taylor both need to fire their management teams they need an image overhaul.
Women have to be able to fantasize about male singers, imagine that the male singer are singing only to them and love them. Women need to be able to masturbate and get wet and have the sexual fantasy while listening to their CDs. It is the reason N’SYNC, Backstreet Boys were so successful in the late 1990s and early part of this decade women wanted to have sex with them. I doubt very few women are masturbating and getting wet in their bedrooms over Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard.
Unfortunately, I think this could be the reason Hicks and Studdard have not been successful they actually look like real ordinary looking men. There is no fantasy to Ruben and Taylor. Women don’t care about their background story because there is none. Also, Hicks and Studdard are the oldest American Idol winners. Hicks and Studdard failed to reach an adult demographic. The adults don’t care about Ruben and Taylor because they see American Idol as a tacky teen show. Taylor and Ruben’s music wasn’t their own music it was a part of the American Idol machine. Simon Cowell the creator of American Idol wasn’t very helpful when he was so public in criticizing Taylor Hicks in the media. Cowell just didn’t like Hicks. The reason Cowell didn’t like Hicks is because Cowell didn’t think Hicks was marketable because he is an average looking guy that wasn’t fit and trim.
American Idol is clearly a program meant for younger singers under the age of twenty five. Studdard is twenty nine years old and Hicks he is thirty one. Another point to consider is Studdard and Hicks are the only men to have ever won American Idol.
Studdard’s first CD “Soulful” was successful selling over 2 million copies. However, Ruben’s recent CD “The Return” was a commercial failure selling only 236,000 copies. Taylor Hicks had even worst sales his debut CD sold only 699,000 copies he didn’t even go platinum. The question has to be asked is American Idol the proper format for male singers?
Everytime I watch American Idol I just don’t think it is fair to male singers. I have a feeling a lot of men also don’t find American Idol very appealing. The dilemma for male singers is they cannot count on the male demographic to support them. American Idol is considered unworthy of male support.
My perspective is, American Idol is all about a girl’s dream that she can become a singer. American Idol is obviously a program geared towards a female audience. Women like it the show is so corny. American Idol is all about a girl’s dream that she can sing her heart out and make her dreams come true. I think this is the reason American Idol is so appealing to the female demographic. All the female winners of American Idol have been very successful. Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia, and Carrie Underwood are still in the spotlight. The recent winner Jordan Sparks her CD hasn’t sold a lot but maybe the sales will go up?
However, a very sexually attractive male singer has never won American Idol. I think it goes back to days of Elvis. American Idol has a fear of male sexuality. It seems the public is comfortable with average looking guys like Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard winning because they also have a very safe heterosexuality. Ruben and Taylor are non threatening heterosexual men.
Some men will never admit this, but all men look at other men’s bodies. Heterosexual men like Kanye West, 50 CENT, Eminem. Notice that 50 CENT, Kanye West, and Eminem are also attractive and physically fit as well. Regardless of whether a male is heterosexual or homosexual men have to imagine we can “be” the singer. 50 CENT, Kanye West, and Eminem are always showing off their bodies. Men do pay attention to the physique of male singers even though some men will lie and say we don’t.
Men don’t like Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks because men don’t find either singer to be very masculine and physically appealing either. Listen to the rap and rock CDs of male singers, they always boast about their sexual prowess. Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks don’t sing about sex in their music they come across as asexual. Young men cannot relate to Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks because males don’t find them appealing either.
Young men like their male singers and rappers to have a bit of machismo to be brash, arrogant, to be outspoken. Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks are nice ordinary guys they don’t frighten parents but they also don’t turn on their daughters either.
I think the lack of success Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks have proves male sexuality and body image is very important. The media also don’t care about Ruben or Taylor there is nothing controversial about them. Many men view American Idol as a corny female program because the show changes genres every single week. A lot of men look down on American Idol we just don’t take the show seriously as real music.
The American Idol brand also ignores rap music for a reason. The reason is rap music is considered to be very controversial and has an intense testosterone and male sexuality. Rap music provokes thought and American Idol isn’t about thinking it is just about singing crappy songs. American Idol blocks out rap music because the show is supposed to be “family entertainment”. Men want to hear music with more substance and the show has turned off the male demographic. American Idol is a female show the marketing team behind American Idol play it safe because it sells. Unfortunately for male singers unless you can turn on the female audience and be sexually attractive they are going to fail.
Link: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/01/07/arts/People-Taylor-Hicks.php
Gayblackcanada 
Orville, this was an interesting topic to pick to do a commentary on. I would like to focus on several points of your argument.
There is no doubt in my mind that American Idol, which was based on the British ‘Pop Idol’ is all about looks, looks, and more looks. However, if you look at the history of Pop Idol which came first, Will Young, a young gay British male won it and the finalist against him was a guy called Gareth Gates.
I think American Idol being anti-male may say more about what US society wants to see on their screens as opposed to the actual program being anti-male. American Idol and Pop Idol were the brainchild of Simon Cowell, the British music mogul who is undoubtedly one of the richest and most famous people in the world. I think he understands that the general public is prejudiced for looks and more looks.
We live in such an image obsessed and consumerist world. I think the reason why Ruben Studdard & Taylor Hicks were dropped was pure and simple because the public is not interested in them. The global public today is reminiscent of a Roman Mob, violently passionate at one point, then bored as hell and ready for the next gladiator to entertain them.
It is so harsh of the record labels not to do any research and protect these artists when they start in the music world but at the end of the day, in an age of dwindling record sales, all music companies care about is making sure they don’t have shit on their bum cheeks, thus highlighting the selfish nature of the capitalist business system.
Simon Cowell also created a Pop-Idol/Americal Idol-esque program called X Factor which is hugely popular here in the UK. Leona Lewis, whose voice is just amazing, won that in 2006 and she recently had the fastest selling UK debut album. I hope it works out for her as she is black too so it sends out a positive message. Maybe shows like American Idol, Pop Idol and X Factor are purely signs that the public wants to look at people who they wish they could be.
I don’t in any way want to discredit the views that the program is anti-male or ignores men but at the end of the day, reality TV shows are only interested in viewers and ratings, so if the viewers are predominately female, they will try and get contestants who appeal to that demographic.
Aulelia thanks for your comment. I see your point about viewers and demographics. You are right it is just business. Simon Cowell knows American and British Idol’s core audience is a female audience. American Idol in the United States is huge the show has over 30 million viewers a week. At the end of the day all the TV executives care about making money by generating advertising revenue. American Idol eliminates the male audience to make the show more appealing to women. American Idol isn’t controversial and that is just not appealing to men. Men like music with controversy with an edge to it and American Idol is about as exciting as oatmeal.
I am not sure an openly gay singer like Will Young would work in North America though. The UK is more open minded about homosexuality then the United States. In the UK I heard about Will Young he is openly gay yet he still has a large female following and has sold millions of CDs. Will Young still fits into the image of being sexually attractive he is thin, he is young, and he is a nice looking guy. Clay Aiken is also gay I think people know that and I think this interested the female audience in the United States. However, unlike the UK Aiken cannot come out because Americans are so conservative about homosexuality.
Women have to be sexually attracted to a male singer to be interested in the male singer. I think women like the idea of the sexual fantasy of dreaming they can have sex with their favorite male singers. Females have to be able to mastrubate about male singers and imagine they can have sex with them. Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard aren’t turning on the female demographic and women rejected them. Women didn’t buy Ruben and Taylor’s albums.
Leona Lewis I have heard about her she is very successful her debut CD has sold close to 2 million copies. Yes Leona Lewis is black but she is also a female singer she fits into the marketing machine of British Idol. I think American Idol is just geared towards female singers and a female demographic. The marketing people behind American Idol know what sells. The marketing team behind American Idol I believe does ignore the male demographic because the music young men like has more substance.
For instance, American Idol bans rap music, hard rock, and political music. Young men are looking for something when listening to music something that is a bit controversial. American Idol and British Idol is family entertainment. Men like music with an edge and since American Idol bans rap music and hard rock this eliminates the male audience. I agree on another thing Simon Cowell definitely has a marketing strategy and it works get rid of the male audience. Men aren’t going to support Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks because Studdard and Hicks don’t fit the male image of beauty and aren’t controversial either.
Very, very interesting article, Orville. I learned some things. Very informative.
The whole industry and the whole thing is based on bullsh*t.
This ain’t about good singers.
To be successful artist here you gotta be very young and if you’re a woman, tits out is a must, and if you’re a man, yeah abs help as does repeating goofy Michael Jackson dance moves that were cute in 1984 but now, two decades later, are goofy and played out. These things are a recipe for success in the U.S.
Originality, talent, please. Over 30, you’re dead. Overweight, forget it — unless you’re a woman – a black woman (and that’s a whole nother post. LOL).
It’s all superficial.
Interestingly, with all this said — all three of us — we may — certainly, people may — tune into AI this season as they have for the past seasons.
The performances notwithstanding, there is something interesting and fun about the show and the hosts.
Orville – I don’t have anything to add except…bravo! Great points, great arguments, great post!
Orville, thanks for your response.
–Will Young was massive here and he did exceptionally well. You are right, the British audience did not care that he was gay and I do agree with you that he is marketable because he was young and attractive.
–Men like music with controversy with an edge to it and American Idol is about as exciting as oatmeal. –> Lol, that is hilarious and so true! It is hardly brain science TV either, is it?
–You are again right about Leona Lewis fitting into the market machine. Her voice is ASTOUNDING but it is very Whitney-esque which means it will sell and she has a Eurocentric look so she appeals to the broad white demographic.
–You raised a great point about Studdard not being controversial. He seems nice and the kind of guy who is friendly but again you are right in saying women want male singers who they can imagine having sex with. There is no fallacy in this opinion in my opinion because even I have noticed and I admit this wholeheartedly that when it comes to actors I like Denzel, Will Smith, I find them sexually attractive and yes that does play a part in why i go to the cinema to support their flicks.
Image does play a part but it should not play the only part.
Hello Aulelia you are right in the old days talent was more important then looks. If you can’t sing the public will not take you seriously you has to have talent. In the past record labels would never sign the inferior talent that are successful on billboard. However, times have changed and I think for the worst. The world is so image driven now it is all about how young you are, how hot you are. It is not about the actual musical talent. There are so many insipid artists out there and the music industry wonders why record sales are down. I agree about Leona Lewis she can sing but she does have the Eurocentric appeal that the market finds palatable for a white demographic. Lewis is similar to Beyonce and Alicia Keys they are black but not too black to be reminded of blackness.
i disagree with this. if you look at this season of american idol, there are singers like michael johns, jason castro, chikezie, and david cook who are obviously not gay and are very masculine. michael johns plays tennis and football. that is masculine. also, danny noriega was eliminated in the top 16, and he is clearly gay. but there were a lot of people on message boards (especially imdb) that insulted him and were surprised that there was an openly gay contestant. this shows that people expect straight females and males, not females and gay males. this is because the show appeals to men and women.
Blah blah blah. What a drawn out, boring, pointless and incoherent rant. Shut the f*ck up