New Kara talent show to focus on singer-songwriters

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/10/26/kara-dioguardi-jewel-going-platinum-bravo

The series... will follow 12 musicians as they compete in songwriting challenges across a variety of genres — everything from dance tracks to love ballads... — and perform these self-penned tracks for the cameras.

I think that Kara likes to think of herself as a teacher and would like to give substantive advice in a way that American Idol didn't really permit. But I don't know if this sort of reality-show format will permit it either; it does have potential, however, since it might actually take one into the process of how good songs are constructed. But I'm skeptical about how telegenic that process is. What's going to grab the viewer? I would expect it's pretty rare to find an Ashlee-quality person with live-wire self-expression and an obvious connection between life and song, much less a houseful of such Ashlees.

Yet Another Year In America October 21, 2010

Far East Movement's "Like A G6" is number one on the Hot 100. Beyond the song being good music, I hope its success helps the chartability of club music qua club music. Also, maybe this'll open a few musical doors in the U.S. for Asians and Asian Americans. (Bruno Mars, whom the Far East Movement displaced at the top, is of part Puerto Rican and part Filipino heritage, but my guess is that to most Americans he'll be seen as Latin American rather than Asian, just as Tiger Woods is generally seen as black, despite having more Asian than African ancestry.)

( Taylor Swift )

( Pink )

( Glee Cast )

( Mike Posner )

( Yolanda Be Cool & DCup )

( Darius Rucker )