Well, isn't that the beauty of it!!?!?!? It's a shot in the dark opportunity at something that some of these contestants may never have had a chance to experience without AI ... it's a long shot avenue to a crazy dream!!! grin

You know, many of this year's participants ARE people who have been working in the music business.
IDK ... I am a working musician. If American Idol came through my neighbor (when i was much younger, of course) and I had been banging on doors trying to break into the music world .. you bet your butt I would be in line at the audition!
I don't see how going after a new opportunity would make me any less of an artist! That's just plain silly thinking!

In the meantime, I will continue to write songs, play gigs .. submit songs and hope that maybe I'll hear some "karaoke" singer singing my songs!!!
JMHO
Joanne