The new season of “American Idol” brings little to the table. In the beginning talented young stars sing on our television screens with eyes glowing and hopes of stardom. By the end of the program, Hollywood, along with voting America, create the true American Idol, someone without talent, who looks pretty and above all knows how to smile.

There is no doubt that these people still have talent. They still have the ability to sing those virgin notes that we heard in their tryouts, but by the time they are declared the winner, we don’t really care. Yes, by the end, that voice is being held inside while we feed off of the “MTV” persona that has become the epitome of an American Idol.

The problem began in 1985 when Viacom, a large media giant, bought a small, unique television company. Although the station became a huge success in economic terms, its creativity died along with its original mission, to promote music on TV. This station was MTV.

From a musical standpoint, after 1985, music was no longer an art, it was business. Today, other large companies tell you what to listen to, and the likelihood of original music being played on the radio is worse than slim to none. Artists don’t need to be talented, they can lip sync (or be the famed younger sister of a once famous bubble gum pop singer). All an “artist” needs is to look pretty and smile for the cameras.

Then along comes American Idol and it seems all is not lost. There is a quality program that seeks talented artists with amazing ability and the looks. Is American Idol really our savior though? Is it our knight in shining armor? Can it save us from the deep, dark, gloomy future that MTV holds for us?

Yes, American Idol brings talented musicians into our homes, but once the winner is crowned and the artist is officially a super star, we are still at a loss. The fact is, when that talented singer is crowned he or she is still shipped off to Hollywood and told what to sing, how to look, and how to smile. Behind almost every musician on MTV today is a great song writer with ability, and behind every American Idol contestant is a media company making sure that everything that was ever creative or unique about that person is no longer there.

Popular Music today is a continuing fad and a joke thanks to American Idol and MTV. William Hung (the “Hong Kong Ricky Martin”) last year debuted at number one on the Billboard Independent Album Chart and number 34 on the Billboard Top 200 in its first week of release. When I see this, it makes me realize the phony aspects of American Idol and today’s music industry.

In the end, the reality is that everyone you hear in today’s music is an American idol. Almost every musician or band has been given ridiculous contracts and has been told what to sound like. Even throughout the show the contestants are being molded and sculpted to fit into the persona of being a superstar. This is where American Idol becomes inherently evil and superficial. It says it promotes unique talents and gives the chance to the good ol’ American Joe. Contestants are molded to fit the ideal of what Hollywood tells them to be and when it comes down to it, each final contestant is as valiant of a singer as the next. When Ruben Studdard won in a past season there was a chance, to break from the mold, but, alas, his records failed, and the runner up ended up selling more albums and going on to bigger things.

We will continue to go into this trend of music that you forget in a month and artists that come and go like a irritating itch if we don’t act against it. Go out to your local music venues see real people with real talent and buy their CD’s. I guarantee there is a local musician that plays the same type of music that you listen to and has the equal amount of talent, if not more, than what is on MTV or American Idol. Support your local musician and create a variety of music in popular culture; create a breath of fresh air and give real working musicians a chance before they, too, become on the extinct list.