[Netizen]

I thought the poster was talking about pre idol CD’s and how that made them semi professional. Maybe I misunderstood, I’m tired this morning.

[kevkrom]

As far as I'm concerned, semi-professional is semi-professional, whether it's singing with a family gospel group (Barrino), musical theater (McPhee), part of a touring band (Bice), professional backup singer (Doolittle), or having your own small-distribution CDs (Underwood, Hicks).

Where do you draw the line?

I have no problem with AI's policy of "not under a current recording contract", as that is simple and objective. That said, I am always harsher on the older "pros", because there's usually a reason they're still "undiscovered" talent.

[Sue Perkick]

That’s the impression I got too. I wasn’t aware of most of the ones mentioned having an actual CD prior to Idol. We know Taylor did. I thought Chris Daughtry had a BAND but not a CD. As far as I know he was a service writer at Crown. I wasn’t aware of Fantasia having one. She does come from a family with musical connections.

And no it wasn’t The Flying Burrito Brothers ;-)