American Idol Has Massive Impact On Radio Airplay

-- Clarkson and Underwood Lead, while Daughtry, McPhee and Many Others Emerge --

LOS ANGELES, March 13, 2007 – American Idol, has had a massive impact on radio airplay since its debut six years ago, according to Mediabase, which monitors more than 1,800 radio stations 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, in more than 180 U.S. and Canadian markets. The blockbuster hit television show is now responsible for generating more than six million radio spins. This week alone, 12 former American Idol contestants are on the charts or close to making it on.

The airplay derby has been led by Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, who have dominated the radio airplay charts in recent years, among American Idol alumni. The winners of season one and four respectively, have racked up an impressive four million plus radio spins between them. Others who have become household names include Fantasia, Josh Gracin, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry and 2007 Oscar and Soul Train Award Winner, Jennifer Hudson.

According to Mediabase, Clarkson has received a staggering 3.3 million spins since winning the American Idol title in its inaugural season. American Idol, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, is now midway into its sixth year of competition, translating to an average of more than 730,000 spins annually for Clarkson, since winning the coveted crown. Underwood has amassed 725,000 spins, and is firmly entrenched in the number two position, averaging more than 450,000 spins per year according to the radio monitoring firm.

"American Idol has become a dominant force in radio, particularly in the current driven formats," commented Mediabase President Rich Meyer. "The vast majority of radio programmers obviously feel that Clarkson and Underwood possess major star power and feel the same about a number of emerging Idol talent following in their footsteps. Finalists like Chris Daughtry, Katharine McPhee, Josh Gracin and Kimberley Locke are bursting on to the scene in a big way with their new releases, and other contestants like Mario Vazquez and Clay Aiken have certainly been formidable forces in radio as well."

Here are the airplay leaders, September 1, 2002, through March 11, 2007.

Here are the song leaders, September 1, 2002, through March 11, 2007.

ABOUT MEDIABASE

Mediabase monitors more than 1,800 radio stations in 180 U.S. and Canadian markets, 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. In addition to providing vital airplay and programming information to more than 1,700 affiliate radio stations and every major broadcast group, Mediabase 24/7, a division of Premiere Radio Networks, is the data source for popular countdown and syndicated shows like American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest, American Top 20 with Casey Kasem, After MidNite with Blair Garner, Ben & Brian’s Big Top 20 Country Countdown, Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton, Jeff Foxworthy Countdown, Country Top 40 Countdown with Bob Kingsley, and others. Mediabase also provides its airplay research to every major record label in North America. Mediabase pioneered the concept of monitored airplay in 1987. Its charts can be found weekly in numerous trade and consumer publications and websites.