This Day in Music…January 8

Have you been ad by old rockers?

ONCE they were the wild men of rock — hotel-trashing frontmen for the age of rebellion and anarchy.
Now they are fronts for cosy advertising campaigns.

They’ve gone from Hard Rock to hard sell and have swapped “F*** off” for “BOGOF” — Buy One Get One Free.

Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper are plugging insurance, Johnny Rotten has promoted butter and Lemmy from Motorhead is selling crisps.

Whatever next? Axl Rose as the face of Werther’s Originals?

Led Zeppelin promoting Stannah Stairlifts (to Heaven)?

Nowadays the once bad-ass rockers are happy to take the corporate buck.

MARTIN PHILLIPS looks at the worst offenders and gives them a sell-out rating. . .

Click on the images to the right to see how they fare.

Fox chief: American Idol results shows were boring

Update: I made some changes here. The folks at Fox say that Tony Vinciquerra said he found the results shows in season seven boring — not the finale. They were right and I was wrong. Here is the entry, with my corrections (I rewrote the headline too.

You can’t say that Fox Chief Executive Tony Vinciquerra isn’t clear about what he wants from the American Idol staff. In short: he wants a less boring season finale with more interesting coaches for the contestants… and while we’re at it, more interesting contestants.

Talk about tough love from the big boss!

Here is what Vinciquerra said at a conference earlier on Wednesday when asked about News Corp’s Fox Network and the popular show that turns ordinary people into super-celebrities: The season seven finale (no — the result shows) were boring………

…….And then there was one more critique: “I’m actually hoping the contestants have some personality this year, unlike last year.” Then he asked the moderator and the audience at the show to please not tell anyone that he said that……./blockquote>

Newest wrinkles for aging ‘American Idol’

With the debut of the eighth season of “American Idol” a few days away, producers are offering hints of what looks to be the biggest shake-up in its format since the show’s early seasons.
Executive producer Ken Warwick confirms the rumors on some of the changes afoot, knocks down a few others, urges patience on some more and gives his thoughts and insight on the entire shake-up.
Warwick says the biggest challenge to making this season work stems from the show having been on the air for so long. “What do you change?” he asks. “If you are any good at your job, after the third season you’ve honed it as well as you know how, really. There’s the question of how do you change it up without destroying what you’ve got?
“In truth, the biggest problem will always be, from now on, keeping it fresh.”
Here are some of Warwick’s points on the changes for “Idol,” which returns Tuesday (8 p.m., Chs. 2, 35):

In latest ‘Grease,’ ‘Idol’ is the word

Thankfully, the TV winners aren’t here—apparently they’re too busy for the road. So at least this touring version features a capable, energetic and mostly likable crew of young professionals. But the spirit of the TV contest abides. Taylor Hicks, winner of the 2006 “American Idol,” has been cast in the less-than-taxing role of Teen Angel. He makes his first entrance from inside a giant ice-cream cone. (One wonders if, as he waits for his cone to open, he ponders the vicissitudes of a show-business life.) But Hicks fits right in with this “Grease” for an “American Idol” age.

Chris Daughtry and David Cook represent the Idol rockers well.

One artist who has matched Underwood in musical prowess is former Idol Chris Daughtry. Looking at the chart Daughtry has two singles in the top ten from his debut record that released over two years ago. Not only has the disc went four times platinum but it has hovered in the Billborad top five albums chart since its release.

Last year I had the opportunity to hook up with Chris as he garnered the opening slot with Nickelback. I was covering Chris for Fox Detroit, a short video interview can be seen here.

I’ve never been the type of journalist to ask the real simple questions. I like being edgier and thinking outside of the box. I guess an example would be when I interviewed Damian Kulash of OKGO I didn’t ask him about the treadmill video that launched his band.

I told Chris I wouldn’t talk about ‘that’ show. It’s not because I hate American Idol, it’s because Chris does at least thirty interviews a week. During every one of those I guarantee most journalists’ will mention Idol.

The interview went great so we moved to do a few quick television spots for the 6:00 News. They went fine as well and as we were leaving I told Chris I had to ask him one more thing. I turned my wrist over (I wear watches backwards because the watch bands are often cooler then the watches.) As he stared down at my hand right there was my new ‘American Idol’ watch that I’d bought the day before at Big Lots for $5. Chris smiled and laughed as his Road Manager asked what all the fuss was about. Chris said, “He’s got on an American Idol watch!’ We laughed as we made our way to the backstage door and I realized I’d told the truth, I showed him the watch but I’d never actually brought up American Idol!

American Idol Blog: Former Idol finalist to write weekly blog for Daily News

Hello! My name is Phil Stacey and I would like to welcome you to my blog. If you are a fan of American Idol, you have come to the right place. During the course of this season, I will be your eyes “behind the curtain”, sharing inside information that only a former contestant can see. Many of you may remember me as the bald guy on Sanjaya’s season, or the Navy man who missed his daughter’s birth when he auditioned. Both are true.

Either way, if I am to convince you that I am an expert on the subject, allow me to give you a little background information on myself. I was a finalist on American Idol Season 6. I was voted off the show on Top 5 week along with my friend, Chris Richardson. After participating in the Idol’s Live Tour ’07, I signed with Disney’s Lyric Street Records and recorded a country album that debuted at #8 on Billboard’s country chart. I have since toured the nation about eighteen times over opening for some of the biggest names in country music. I have also performed on stages that I have dreamed of since childhood, including Carnegie Hall and The Grand Ole Opry. I am even now working on a follow-up record that will be released toward the middle of this year.

I wanted to write this weekly feature to give you the fans a closer glimpse into the phenomenon that is American Idol….

Monster.co.uk to sponsor American Idol

ITV Commercial announced today that monster.co.uk, the UK site for Monster, the leading global online career and recruitment resource, is to sponsor the next series of American Idol. American Idol is the world’s biggest entertainment format and returns exclusively to ITV2 for an 8th season in January 2009.

Last year saw David Cook win the competition with a record of nearly 100 million votes. Simon Cowell returns to head up the distinguished panel of judges that include pop singer and choreographer Paula Abdul and record producer and music manager Randy Jackson. Ryan Seacrest will continue to assume his duties as host making sure the judges are kept in check. And joining the show this year is Kara DioGuardi as a fourth judge on the panel.

“Our partnership with American Idol fits perfectly with Monster’s life improvement vision and is a great opportunity for Monster”, said Julian Acquari, Managing Director, Monster UK and Ireland. “American Idol is about helping people fulfil their career aspirations and jump out of bed everyday to do the job they love – Monster’s newly enhanced website provides unique products and tools to help people do just that. Ultimately Monster and American Idol are both about life improvement and we are delighted to be associated with the programme.”

Barlow to rival Cowell with X Factor-style show

Gary Barlow is apparently looking to take on Simon Cowell – with his own music reality show for the BBC.

The Take That star is keen to rival Simon’s X Factor with his format which will be searching for a new boyband, according to reports in The Sun.

The singer-songwriter, who recently set up his own record label, is believed to have first offered the concept to ITV, after working with them on songs for teen drama Britannia High.

ITV bosses turned him down fearing it could annoy Simon – but the BBC loved the idea and want it to air later this year.

It’s thought that Gary’s show could replace Andrew Lloyd Webber’s reality programmes for the BBC.

A BBC source said: “Gary is really keen to get into TV and has come up with a cracking idea. We’ve got high hopes for it. If it gets off the ground it could be something we do every year.”

Simon will not be happy that Gary is trying to usurp him as reality show king – especially as he recently invited Take That to mentor contestants on The X Factor.

Gary, who recently teamed up with Peter Kay on the talent show spoof, Britain’s Got The Pop Factor, has spoken of his desire to take on Simon, who is also the brains behind American Idol and Britain’s Got Talent.

Gary said: “I will do what he has done – but my way.”

Some big releases, appearances by pop stars in 2009

Kelly Clarkson (TBA)
Now that she has gotten the Goth bug out of her system, the “American Idol” star is set to reclaim the charts with “My Life Would Suck Without You,” a new single produced by Swedish pop Svengalis Dr. Luke and Max Martin — the men behind Carolina Liar’s “I’m Not Over,” Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” and Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.”