Here is Q & A with a pop music critic at
jsonline in Wisconsin.
Q: Annette of Waukesha - Why do American Idol winners not get any respect as far as radio play? Kelly Clarkson recently sold out, trying to be a Avril/Christina clone, But how can people like Clay Aiken ever be accepted on the radio? He is a multi-platinum artist, with NO RADIO play....(yeah I know Clay didn't WIN, but he has outsold all of them)
A: Gemma Tarlach - Hi Annette... I have personally heard Clay on the radio, so I'm not sure I would say he's been play-less. And besides, while radio is one form of mass exposure, I'd argue the AI crowd, winners and runners-up alike, get even more exposure by appearing on tv. And I'll bet whether you buy his album because you heard it on radio or because you saw him on tv, Clay and his label really don't care, as long as you buy the album which, as you point out, millions of people have done.
Lora