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Update 5/22: The winning song was announced last night: Time Of My Life by Reggie Hamm. Mr. Hamm's bio is below. However, based on Idol's low key approach to the song's announcement (amazing that Hamm's name was NEVER mentioned on the show), it just adds fuel to the fire. Does this mean that:
a) Idol is aware of the growing discontent with the contest and chose to low-key it.
b) Hamm specifically requested to "fly in under the radar"
c) This is the end of this songwriting contest.
d) All of the above.
e) None of the above.
Who knows - and will we ever know? Either way, certainly no disrepect to Mr. Hamm is implied. (or any other songwriter). Hamm is an accomplished writer and we wish him the best of success in his career.
Now back to the original article:
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On the eve of the 2008 American Idol finale, there is a growing conspiracy theory about the songwriting contest. Last year's winner had relationships with American Idol. This year's winning songwriter has a working relationship with last year's winner. What's wrong with this picture?
For the second year in a row, American Idol has run this songwriter contest, allowing people from all over the country to enter in which the winner will have their song sung and recorded by the winning Idol. At $10 per entry, American Idol – more accurately 19 Entertainment Co made a few hundred thousand dollars off the submissions. Was the general public "conned" into thinking they had a shot at being "discovered"?
The entry instructions state that "the song's the star." No professional demos were needed – just sing into your computer, record and mp3, and upload it with a $10 entry fee. There is even a brief tutorial on how to do just that. From the submissions, 20 are picked to be the finalists, and the public votes for the overall winner.
The American Idol songwriter page states this:
"All our songwriters are amateurs and have recorded their songs in many different ways – some in studios with professional singers and some at home with just themselves for company. We’re not looking for the best performer here – it’s the songwriters’ turn to shine. Are you the next big songwriter and think you have what it takes to make your mark in music history?"
And this:
"The American Idol juggernaut begins its search for the best amateur songwriter in America. Show creator and executive producer, Simon Fuller announced the next American Idol Songwriter Competition, giving Idol fans their first chance to write the next American Idols hit single."
"American Idol has been the vehicle for discovering so many great new artists over the years and now, with the launch of American Idol Songwriter, we are searching for great undiscovered songwriting talent, stated Simon Fuller. Having an untapped songwriter create the winner's single seemed like a natural next step for our show. Not only do the fans pick their American Idol, but also his or her first single. This show has always been, and will continue to be, all about fulfilling dreams."
The contest experts are supposed to look at the song itself for lyric, melody, structure, and universal appeal - not production and performance talent to the extent the other criteria mean less. Therefore, an explanation is needed why at least 70% of the top 20 songs in both 2007 and 2008 were "PROFESSIONAL RECORDINGS, and written by PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS – more than a FEW with a “CONNECTION” to American Idol!
Where is the kid singing in his bedroom with a computer microphone and an acoustic guitar, or the struggling mom trying to raise a family and pay the bills?
As in many songwriting contests, there are "first level" screeners. It is blatantly obvious that many people are able to bypass that first level and get their song heard. Who’s being “greased”? Is this contest fair or foul? You be the judge.
2007 TOP 20 SONG RESULTS
We still haven’t mentioned the winning song yet. And remember that that the songwriting contest, according to the shows producer Simon Fuller, was at least orginally meant for amateur songwriters.
Lets examine American Idol 2007 Songwriting contest winnner Scott Krippayne’s true bio. At Walmart.com, you can buy Scott’s 2005 "Gentle Revolution" CD for the low price of only $12.88. There is a Scott Krippayne section. And if you visit the U.S. copyright website, a quick search shows Scott Krippayne has written songs for several christian artist like Jaci Velasquez, Rebecca Saint James, Kathy Troccoli, Point of Grace and more. And if you check out Scott’s MySpace page, Scott says he has written 14 number 1 hits and 20 top 10 hits for artist like John Tesh, Ronan Tynan, Saddi Patty and more. F.Y.I. Scott Krippayne also wrote the title track "Wonderful Crazy" for American Idol Juniors finalist Katelyn Tarver’s 2005 debut CD.
So much for having an untapped songwriter. He seems fairly tapped to me.
Scott Krippayne has written with Andy Marvel. Ok, we know what your thinking, who’s Andy Marvel? Well Andy Marvel is one of the songwriter’s on Jordin Sparks 2003 "For Now" Demo CD.
And then there’s Matthew Ward. Both Matthew Ward and Scott Krippayne get credit for solo’s on "The Heart of a Martyr" Celtic Cry CD. Matthew Ward produced American Idol winner Jordin Sparks 2003 "For Now" demo CD. Scott also has written with Jorge Corante. Jorge was the producer on Paula Abdul’s "SpellBound" CD.
Here’s a little something to take home and ponder:
What are the odds that 2007’s American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and 2007’s American Idol 3rd place Finalist Melinda Doolittle would both be singing with American Idol season 3 Finalist George Huff before American Idol season 6 even began?
Ryan Seacrest announced on American Idol’s final show that over a 100,000 people tried out for the 2007 season. Math was never our subject, but 100,000 to 1 seems close.
Here’s a quote from Shoutlife.com:
Christian artist Michael W. Smith’s manager Chaz Corzine says, "Three years ago I met and became friends with a young girl that possessed about as much talent as I had ever seen in one person. Her name is Jordin Sparks and when I first met her - she was 14 years old. Shortly after I met Jordin she, her mother and her grandmother visited Nashville. I had the opportunity to take them to Michael’s house where Jordin and Michael’s girls hit it off like they had been best friends all their life! Another unique thing about that visit was that former American Idol contestant, George Huff, was at Smitty’s house.
As you might imagine - it wasn’t long before the three of them (Michael, George and Jordin) wound up around the piano. That is a night I will never forget. Well, it wasn’t long before Jordin was on the road with us singing background vocal’s for Smitty’s 2005 Christmas tour. She was a hit - both on stage and off stage. That was the first of two tours Jordin would do with Michael. She also joined him on his 2006 Christmastime Tour."
So where does American Idol 3rd place finalist Melinda Doolittle fit in all of this? She’s a backup singer on George Huff’s 2004 "My Christmas" CD.
This is only the beginning. Now let's look at 2008.
2008 American Idol "Amatuer" Songwriters
So what is the consensus: fair or foul? Did thousands upon thousands of submission really ever stand a chance? Was there favoritism? Did some have an unfair advantage? How were the finalists and the winners "really chosen?" The connections are astonishing and deserve media attention.
Worth noting is that asking these questions in the American Idol web site forums only gets your posts deleted 10 minutes later, and for some, a ban from their forum. Is there a cover-up going on?
So let's take a look at the odds. What are the odds that out of 25000 entries in 2007, that after the 20 finalists were chosen that the public voted for a song written by someone connected with Idol? Odds must be pretty high. Now what are the odds that the same exact thing happened again in 2008 - and this time the winner co-wrote music with last year's winner? The odds are astronomical if this was just some level playing field contest.
No one is saying that the contest needed to have a level playing field, or that pros were not allowed to enter. But when money is involved, there is accountability. Ten dollars doesn't sound like a lot of money. But when Idol is making hundreds of thousands of dollars off of a rigged contest, American Idol needs to be held accountable. These questions need to be answered to the American public now.
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This information has been gathered from Internet resources believe to be reliable and accurate. If anyone has information to the contrary, please reply to this post.
I entered the contest in 2007 and was not selected. And my song wasn't really that great so that's fine.
I read through all of your things, and the main thing you prove is that by no means is this an "amateur" songwriting contest. Of course professionals (actually, I am one) are going to be able to produce better sounding stuff and write better music. So, it's not crazy that there stuff gets selected.
And a lot of the things you mention probably are entirely coincidental.
That being said, many of the things you point out certainly lead me to believe that there was not "blind judging:" That is, those with an "in" can get straight to the top of the list. I am not one for conspiracy theories, but some of the things you point out seem to indicate that more than anything. Given your evidence, in some cases it seems likely songs weren't "blindly" selected out of the 25,000 but rather went straight to a final round or something, of maybe 100. Who knows though, eh? But you seem to be doing some good work...
I would recommend separating your data into two categories: those who have prior relations to American Idol & evidence that someone had professional work (which isn't really related to your point that there is "cheating" going on).
MickeyC
I agree with you on everything except for the "coincidental" part.
And yes, you understand completely the concept of "blind judging" and getting to the top of the list, or at least past the first level screeners. As far as I'm concerned, that makes it completely unfair to everyone else.
Thanks for the feedback and suggestion.
I'm pissed because I entered a song under the impression that this is an on the up contest. I have started making posts on Craigslist asking others to come forward. There are too many relationships with the finalists and AI and Fox. A Class action lawsuit might be neccessary. This is complete bullshit! Thank you for exposing this!
BTW, if anyone saw the final moments of the finale, the winning song was "really" downplayed. AI is obviously aware of the growing public opinion. Relationships with AI, Fox, and 19E are a conflict of interest, and should not be allowed to enter this contest. If the reason is that AI has little confidence in amatuer songwriters, they shouldn't hold a contest at all.
Can anyone believe that was the BEST song out of thousands of submissions? What a joke.
I am one of the co writers on Thank You Whatever Comes which was chosen to be in the top 20 for American Idol Songwriter....Would like to clarify the above about our song and my co writer having a direct pitch through Taxi....
Firstly, and I am speaking solely about OUR song....
Both Fran and I submitted the same song through the internet...Neither of us knew that the other had done so. We sent in different versions of the song both of us doing so through the online site...NOT THROUGH ANY DIRECT PITCH...
So, I WAS ACTUALLY THE ONE THAT GOT THE CALL FROM PRODUCERS from my version that I submitted onto the site and Fran's submission somehow slid through the cracks ...perhaps it took longer to get through the intro on the version she submitted...At any rate, my point is that NO DIRECT PITCH was had with our song I SUBMITTED MY SONG ONLINE WITH MY $10 and got the call from producers...just wanted to clarfy this point...Thank you...and I am in no way discrediting your other points on this page...just the one regarding THANK YOU WHATEVER COMES.
Dara
Thank you for your comments. Want to make it clear that I fully support the songwriters. I know how cut-throat the business is and how hard it is to get through the noise. For what it's worth, I thought your song would win. Your "title" was the best out of the 20, and since your song was heard first, I would have thought it would have received the majority of the votes.
Still waiting to hear from the rest, particularly Reggie Hamm. Not having his name mentioned at all on the show is remarkable.
As I read it it, most of the finalists involved with either judges or staff of AI are MUSICIANS. A pro musician is not necessarily a pro-SONGWRITER (and vice versa), although, I would have to agree on why there is a $10 dollar fee.
Why not, in the quest for transparency, just simply allow two categories, amateur and professional, and scrap the fee altogether.
HI,
I just bumped into this ad wanted to clarify another point... maybe a couple.
TAXI was never in any sort of discussions with AI, nor any sort of deal about getting a "Taxi member recieved a guaranteed “pitch” for the AI Songwriting contest.
Scott Krippayne is a long time member, but we didn't have anything to do with his AI pitch. I think we found out about when he was already a finalist.
Scott DID write te single for FORMER AI junior runner up Katelynn Tarver, but that came about from her label running a request for music with TAXI and us having sent them filtered music to hear. Not only did one of our members have the single on that record, but MOST of the other cuts on that CD came through us as well. I think there were 8 or 9 very happy TAXI members on that deal. BTW, if memory serves correctly, Katelyn's label didn't even contact us for music until WELL after she had won AI Junior, and during the entire process we dealt directly with the label, and saw NO evidence that AI Junior had any real relationship with Kately at that time.
Just keeping it real because I was there and saw it with my own eyes :-)
Michael Laskow
Founder
TAXI
In my opinion, American idol is one big rigged fake, all the singers, although some with great voices, sound alike, and no, I am not a songwriter or a singer.
I think you need to read Reggie Hamm's book
all the way thru before you make a judgement.
He tells from the beginning HE IS AND ALWAYS has been in the song writing buinness.What part did you not get? He did not get his just
''due'' at The Show'' but that is not even what his book is about.He is not complaining
about that at all,he realized thru that deal that there was more to life than being on That show or whatever,He already
had a songwriting carrier but HE HAD Adopted a special needs child & had to miss a lot of oppert's in the biss. to
help to care for her.His book is not about getting'' his just reward'' for the song
which he should have gotten,but about his
love for his FAMILY & adoption of special
needs children & children that need a good family.That is what his book is about.
He is trying to tell the world no matter
what your talent is ,if you do not have love in your life of family then the rest
don't matter & if you do than it still is not the most important thing in your life.
Read the book all the way thru and I think
you will get a different view of it.Or maybe not? Let those who have eyes see!
Im just sayin!
hey Jan, I didn't read Reggie's book, but did you actually "read" the article? There was no judgment made on Reggie at all, nor was there anything negative to say about him.
The trouble is if it's only open to Amateurs no one would watch the show,
Semi Pro's would be more honest Professional means making a living solely
as a songwriter, I don't think any of the ones who's songs were accepted, were
full time pro's most of them would be lucky to get one top fifty song in their lives
Full time Pros are not interested in This Contest they are getting cuts all the time
and making a living from it, so this article is really just stirring things up. and anyone
moaning about it, is just writing from sour grapes.
This articles is old news, but Jenkins, your comments make no sense and are quite inaccurate.