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As “American Idol” presents its 15th and final season this spring, it’s fun to look at back at its legacy.

The FOX weekly performance program certainly boosted the careers of today’s hottest performers, including Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert and Carrie Underwood.

It also gave celebrity status to judges, and their sometimes constructive criticism – or just criticism – made great water cooler talk, whether we agreed with them or not, or whether we thought our Text Voting may have made a difference in a contestant’s final outcome.

The popularity of “Idol” inspired other judge-ey format TV performance shows, including ones where contestants would sing, dance, or perform other feats.

So what makes these shows so special? The “perform in front of a live audience and a TV audience” has been going on since the days of Dick Clark and Ed Sullivan. And the “let others decide your fate” also goes back decades, including “The Gong Show” where pure entertainment, not necessarily talent, kept people on stage.

Part of the appeal, which has been imitated by other talent shows, is how the TV audience is involved in deciding who stays or goes. Though the judges also play a role, along with occasional semi-secret backstage manipulations from show producers, viewer votes on favorite and least favorite performers are significant.

In Idol’s surprisingly democratic case, people could express their opinion in several ways: via Text Voting, Facebook, Google Search or the FOX Now App. Voting is free and you can vote up to 20 times per contestant each voting period.

The Voice, an NBC show, also allows viewers to vote by calling a toll-free number, Text Voting or downloading the app.  “So You Think You Can Dance,” another FOX show, follows the same voting mechanics as “Idol,” including Text Voting.

Interestingly, “X-Factor,” which features former “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell, allowed unlimited Text Voting in the now defunct U.S. version, but specifically prohibited it for the United Kingdom version. Their reason was that text messaging may be delayed due to high demand on wireless systems, and show officials feared texts would arrive after the close of the voting period. This accusation occasionally plagues “American Idol” – that an unknown number of votes don’t always get through for technical reasons.  

With the ongoing popularity of these types of shows, it’s clear that Text Voting is still a useful option, which can be excellent news for anyone planning new music/judging format shows in the future. Here’s why it works:

• People enjoy being part of something. “American Idol” reaffirms the classic lesson of rock n’roll – it’s a long way to the top, and lots of acts crash and burn along the way. Through the season arc, we see everyone’s trials and tribulations, including how few even make it into the first televised round. But if you can’t perform, you can at least text, and “Idol” gives plenty of options, including being able to SuperVote 20 times at once. How many have voted is kind of a vague number: it isn’t necessarily broken out by phone, social media or text, and isn’t clear whether the number of votes even corresponds to the number of voters. Plus, some seasons, only episode totals are listed. Available show totals report that 3 million to 15 million voted each episode in its first season, giving a grand total of about 150 million.Some finales since have exceeded 100 million voters. Viewership was provided on “The Voice,” but not votes. In X-Factor’s case, vote totals per performer were never given at all, other than Cowell sharing that 10 million people voted on the first episode.
  
  
• It can be inexpensive. Though “data charges may apply,” the process of Text Voting for a favorite performer is quite easy. Plus it’s free, unlike some services that may charge users a small fee for voting.
  
  
• It can provide real-time results. Some of the earlier preliminary rounds in individual cities were pre-recorded and edited to include just highlights, rather than all the long and likely painful moments where lines of contestants tried and failed. But the main “Idol” and “Voice” shows were mostly all live, which made it easy to see during the episode or at least find out the next day if your vote may have contributed to helping someone go or stay.  Plus the short timeframe encouraged you to get your votes in fast before getting the dreaded message “voting closed” if you took your time. There are other opportunities to vote, like the “Save,” an almost instant push for votes at the end of a show to keep an “on the fence” performer around at least one more episode.
  
  
• It’s easy. Texters don’t even have to compose a message – just look on their TV, the site or the app to find the correct code and a keyword, and send it in. Once that is inputted, it is automatically registered and included with that specific person’s tally. Instructions are clearly given, since show creators don’t want anyone being stuck or not be able to cast their vote because they find the process to confusing or complicated. Even better is the ability to offer the opportunity to cast multiple votes if you really like someone, something that even political elections with one-person-one-vote philosophy don’t allow.
  
  
• Increase participation. Repeat reminders throughout the show encourage viewers to cast their votes through whatever means they prefer, from their mobile devices or Text Voting. The options do offer a certain appeal to mobile phone owners, which continue to gain in popularity. Within the community of phone owners, texting is becoming the most preferred option. A Pew Center survey said 81 percent of cell phone owners use theirs to send and receive text.
  
  
• “Talk to others via voice” isn’t even on the list. So if the opportunity is given to text, owners will likely take it.
  
  

Some tech professionals credit “American Idol” and other similar music shows with helping to grow the popularity of texting. Washington Post columnist Lydia DePillis said “Idol” presented a perfect win-win – more texts led to more viewers, and more viewers texting/watching helped keep the show on the air.

However, her piece, written at the beginning of 2014, did erroneously conclude that both “Idol” and texting were beginning to slow down.

Today, texting continues to grow, and Idol had two seasons ahead of it. The program also likely could have continued indefinitely with decreasing ratings; however FOX is notorious for tinkering with its older lineup to make way for new programs.

For more strategies on ways texting can boost your business, musical or non-musical, visit www.trumpia.com.