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Soundcheck

Wednesday, May 24, 2006
  • May 17th American Idol results
    May 17th American Idol results (americanidol.com)

    American Idol Worship

    Over 30 million viewers are expected to tune into the American Idol finale, which airs tonight. Soundcheck looks into the reasons behind phenomenon. Beyond the passionate singing and pop tunes, the show has become a barometer of popular culture. We'll look at why it's so influential on the music industry, how it embraces the notion of failure, and how it stems from a long tradition of amateur talent contests. Later in the show an Americana idol, bluegrass musician Del McCoury performs live in studio. He'll talk about what it was like singing lead with Bill Monroe in 1963 and winning a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album last year.

American Idol Worship

The next American Idol will be announced tonight, and over 30 million viewers are expected to tune in for the occasion. We look into the reasons behind the frenzy with Robert Thompson, director of Syracuse University's Center for the Study of Popular Television and Katherine Meizel, a PhD candidate in ethnomusicology at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
» Katherine Meizel on American Idol

Del McCoury at the Soundcheck Studios on May 24, 2006 (WNYC/Irene Trudel)

Del McCoury: Americana Idol

Bluegrass musician Del McCoury performs live in-studio. He's performed with Bill Monroe and won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album last year.

The Ill Effects of Urban Noise

Soundcheck

Soundcheck received an overwhelming response to our segment on the effects of urban noise. So much so that Arline Bronzaft decided to address the feedback. Listen to the original segment and read Bronzaft's response.