With so many different musical fads, it's becoming increasingly difficult for musicians to make and keep a name for themselves.
Recently, however, new artists such as Kelly Osbourne and Bad Boy Records' "Da Band" have found staggering success in the music industry while little-known, talented acts remain underground.
"Newlyweds" Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey have survived their stigma as third-rate pop artists behind competitors such as Britney Spears and *NSYNC. Simpson's music is finding success again and Lachey is priming a new album.
So how are these performers doing it?
The answer is reality TV, and it is an alarming trend album buyers should be aware of. Are these artists successful because they are brilliant musicians, or are they mooching off the latest trend in television?
Reality shows have the winning formula in getting viewers to care about the people they film. Seeing celebrities in their most private moments breaks a boundary that is usually not crossed between stars and their fans.
MTV struck gold with "The Osbournes," which peered into the Osbourne family's dysfunctional life. Not only did the show breathe new life into Ozzy Osbourne's career, it helped launch the pop career of his daughter, Kelly, whose album sounds like a recorded hissy fit.
"Making The Band" is another show that has proved successful in creating stars. The show initially introduced a band, "O-Town," in which America saw a boy-band generically assembled. Seeing the group's members practice, fight and cope with their fame struck a chord with audiences, and O-Town's debut CD went platinum.
Not one to be outdone, rap mogul P. Diddy jumped on "Making the Band 2," a rap version of its predecessor. The result is "Da Band," a group of bickering, immature, egotistical no-name rappers that had a top-10 album for two straight weeks.
And finally, we have Simpson and Lachey, whose declining careers were revived by their show, "The Newlyweds," the current No. 1 show on MTV.
Simpson's last album, "In This Skin," debuted low on the album charts, but her goofy on-air antics have renewed enough interest in her that she's been touring the country for small shows, including one in Oklahoma City at the end of the month. Lachey's sarcastic, down-to-earth image on the show helps fans relate with him. With his first solo album, "SoulO," coming in November, it almost seems strategic that he create a new image for himself to help him sell records.
Reality TV can make superstars out of anyone whose lives are even slightly more interesting than their musical appeal.
However, consumers should be aware that just because these musicians are fun to watch on TV, they may not be the best to listen to. Make solid judgments when buying records. Don't buy into hype.
hello there & you too