"Units"

Dave McGurgan just nailed it.

Yes, it's true. I have a guilty pleasure and it's American Idol. I started watching a few years ago. I watched it for the "marketing tips." How genius is it to have a show where the winners gets signed to your record label. Suddenly you've got a built in audience of 50 million who might buy the album, go see the tour or at least watch the ads and possibly buy the products for the sponsors. It's the ultimate in American Commercialism and Voyerism all wrapped up into one.
"Real" americans competing on 'talent' and giving all of us the chance to 'vote'. Pfft. I really can't believe I'm writing this, but whatever...

Of course the whole thing is skewed and meaningless, but it's fun to watch nonetheless.

Last night they brought out music mogul Clive Davis to accept an award for producing the American Idol albums which sold 33 million 'units'. Indeed, he kept congratulating himself and the show for being a savior of pop music and trumpetted the industry which is clearly gasping for air. If the record business is relying upon a 'reality' tv show to help sell albums then something is indeed seriously wrong.

The irony of the whole thing is in the language used. No one, ever, anywhere, at any time, except for record label execs, uses the word "units" to describe an album. He wasn't talking to us (the fans), he was talking to his peers, in the bubble of the system which isn't known and loved and has crowed him the king. He deserves every bit of praise with that award.

If we were ever looking for a "sharp jumping" moment for the record industry, last night may have been it.

Besides, isn't the album for the most part a dying breed as the digital services are set to splice up the songs and give people the ultimate personalized sampler of the future...

Two things are consistent about the show:
1) Not everyone is good -- Simon Cowell actually knows what he's talking about.
2) Taylor Hicks is the real deal - download these songs.

yeah yeah, i know... the marketing tips...