Outside the Beltway

Alabama Promoting ‘American Idol’ Winners

James Joyner · Thursday, August 3, 2006 · 4 comments

The state of Alabama is using its success in producing ‘American Idol’ winners as a promotional tool.

The state Bureau of Tourism and Travel isn’t missing a beat when it comes to “American Idol” winners Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard and finalist Bo Bice. The agency released artwork Wednesday for billboards featuring the singers from Alabama who became nationally known on the Fox talent competition. The billboards will show photos of the three over the headline, “Where America finds its voice. Alabama.”

Tourism director Lee Sentell said six billboards will be displayed for four months before being moved out of state. “The boards will go up shortly before the `American Idol’ auditions begin in Birmingham on Aug. 21,” Sentell said

I’m not sure anyone is going to go visit Alabama because some good singers have come from there–and, certainly, these guys are pretty low on the list of musical greats from Alabama–but it’s a clever promotion.

FILED UNDER: General, Hollywood, Music, photos, TV

About James Joyner

James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College and a nonresident senior fellow at the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm vet. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

Chris Lawrence says:

Thursday, August 3, 2006 at 20:06

I saw a billboard in either Greensboro or Winston-Salem the other day plugging their local American Idol castoff, but I guess the whole “state-wide” thing could be a new wrinkle.

Of course, Alabama is probably best-known musically because of the band by the same name. Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.