The American Idol ball and chain

[Miguel]

USA Today has a slideshow of 20 pictures from Lollapalooza. All of the acts that are featured have boring captions like, "James Mercer from The Shins performs Friday."

Except Haley:



The photo is from The Daily Herald via the Associated Post. Someone at USA Today apparently wrote the caption. Someone who didn't see Haley perform and wrote the caption based on their bias against American Idol.

This bias is common and a big reason it is hard for Haley to get traction. She is pigeonholed as an American Idol contestant. Vast numbers of people who are seeking new music dismiss her without a listen as soon as they hear the words, American Idol.

I think the only thing that can help her overcome this in the near future is a Grammy nomination for Listen Up!. I really hope that is possible.


In an attempt to get the caption changed, I used their website to address this complaint to them:

Snarky picture caption under "Photos:"

"In a possible sign that Lollapalooza has jumped the shark, 2011 American Idol contestant Haley Reinhart performed Friday."

In making such an ignorant statement, it's clear your picture-caption writer dragged their bias against American Idol into their job.

Haley can sing. Her debut album was critically acclaimed in the New York Times and the LA Times.

There were acts at Lollapalooza who don't even sing. They use laptops to create their "music." That's jumping the shark, if anything.

[midnightblues]

Thankx for sticking up for Haley

[Babbs234]

M, your comments are so true. Many of my friends have wrinkled up their noses, shook their heads and laughed at me when I mention Haley Reinhart from AI.... Then they hear her cd....and say "Hey who is that?? She is really good!!!" I am proud to say I have many converts now listening to her cd.

[alpha7388]

I think USA Today jumped the shark letting Bissell write for them.

[Haleylvr4evr]

Thank you for helping tell them off!

[alpha7388]

Joel Bissell
@Bissell2300

[Asian Dude]

At least Haley has a picture in the Lolla day 1 slideshow of Huffingtonpost.

[john]

Joel is a photographer doing an internship with the Daily Herald. He needs to get up to speed or he'll be stuck taking pictures like this:

[Miguel]

Joel took the picture but I don't think he wrote the USA Today caption.

This is the caption for the same photo on The Daily Herald site:

"Haley Reinhart performs during Lollapalooza in Grant Park on Friday at the BMI stage."

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120...50/photos/

"Joel Bissell | Staff Photographer"

---

At least Haley has a picture in the Lolla day 1 slideshow of Huffingtonpost.

I believe that's from the same set of photos and The Daily Herald made them available to the AP. Other media outlets then picked them up and with the freedom to add their own captions.

The caption I see for that pic is, "Haley Reinhart makes her point at Lollapalooza 2012."

[john]

^^ Yeah, the Daily Herald has many Haley pics with straightforward captions. He was probably thrilled to have the assignment at Lolla.