This is the most cleverly concieved marketing tool in the world. First you create a show by roaming the country finding talent and talentless people, let the audience pick their way through the throng, all the while building a fan base for the most popular or sometimes talented ones until one person is picked by the fan base, then you package the winner, offer a record contract and a tour package, all of which you own and profit by..... brilliant, and then strat all over again. Only in America.

Regards,
Dropthumbs