This is really interesting: Adam Lambert was on The Kelly Clarkson Show this week (have I mentioned I’m a fan of that show? I’m a fan of that show), and was asked about how much progress he feels has been made by the music industry in terms of working with queer artists.

Although it couldn’t have been easy at times, Adam was a massively popular contestant on American Idol’s eighth season back in 2009 – and ended up polling second, behind only Kris Allan (who even said himself, “Adam deserved this“).

His debut album For Your Entertainment came out just months after Idol wrapped, soaring to No3 on the Billboard 200 and being certified Gold.

Asked by Kelly how things have changed in the last 12 years, he said: “It’s a big change. I remember coming off of Idol and going into the mainstream music industry label systems, and even if they were excited themselves, there was a lot of question marks. There was a lot of fear, like, ‘is this gonna sell? Is this gonna work?’

“And as you know, that’s the name of the game for the commercial music business. It’s a business!

“So it was a bit of a struggle to hold my ground and keep focussed on my part of the deal, which was being the artist, being the musician, being the guy that wears those weird shoes!”

He added: “There were a lot of ups and downs but I’m really thankful for my experience.

“And I think the world has changed. I think we’re in a place within the music industry, the entertainment industry and in the world where yes, there is still discrimination and there are still problems and work to be done – but there has been so much progress made.”

Adam has had continued success over the years, and – of course – has gone down a storm singing with Queen in their recent live shows.

He also brought out a (very good) new album, Velvet, last March.