(via The Belle)
Los Angeles, CA — Good news gospel music fans! American Idol is making changes that could finally allow gospel influenced singers to showcase their true gifts and talents. American Idol laid out its new set of proposed changes to The Hollywood Reporter. In it they described the 8 big changes coming your way this season, they have already added Ray Chew(of Showtime at the Apollo fame). Along with a new set, possible reality tv style housing, hands on work with producers like Rodney Jerkins, Timbaland, Ron Fair and Alex Da Kid, faster eliminations, paring the Top 24 down to 15 or as few as 12, a possible music video and music releases during the show. AI is considering two changes that could really shine a positive light on gospel music. How so?
The producers are also considering allowing singers to sing their genre of music during theme week. It may be a stretch to think it, but is there finally room for Gospel music on American Idol? Interscope Geffen A&M Records chairman Jimmy Lovine said “ We’re not going to ask a country singer to sing R&B or an R&B singer to sing Led Zeppelin. If the theme is ’80s or Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, every song will be customized to that contestant.” By now you’re really wondering what that could mean for AI contestants, right? The other change producers have implemented is to allow contestants to sing original songs in lieu of covering songs by other artists. Gospel music has a chance to be showcased depending on the contestant.
Each year the AI audience (the portion that watch beyond the hilarious and sometimes outlandish auditions) watches as gospel influenced singers struggle for validity. But a change may be on the horizon! Local artist and former AI contestant George Huff is doing well as a gospel artist and former praise and worship Leader Kimberly Locke has found major success on the easy listening charts, but most gospel influenced contestants on Idol are forced to lean on R&B as a means of survival on the show(Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barrino) to the chagrin of gospel fans everywhere! Whatever gospel fans think of the changes good or bad, they’ll have to tune in to Idol’s 10th season to whether or not gospel singers are benefactors of this change!
