Fantasia and Diana “are stalling [on radio] despite the contest’s enormous launch.”
Despite high ratings for their season of the show and moderate sales for their singles, American Idol 3 “winner Fantasia Barrino and runner-up Diana DeGarmo are stalling [on radio] despite the contest’s enormous launch.” Why is this the case? One analyst tells USA TODAY that “Popular radio is edgy and urban right now, so obviously programmers and TV networks aren’t necessarily looking to serve the same audiences. No doubt, there has to be a point of diminishing returns for the American Idol franchise.” Airplay Monitor’s Chuck Taylor also suggests that people just don’t like Fantasia or Diana any more: “Viewers played the game by watching and voting. That doesn’t mean they necessarily care about these folks now that the contest is over.” In Fantasia’s state of North Carolina, WKZL’s program director says her single is a “verifiable slam-dunk, home-run smash hit.” He says her management at 19 Entertainment might be to blame: “Everyone who deals with them says they’re notoriously difficult. Maybe they’re too hard-nosed. That’s the only theory I have.”