Lessons Miley Cyrus Can Learn from Lindsay Lohan and Christina Aguilera

Miley Cyrus has been in the headlines recently for appearing on stage and in her music video for "Can't Be Tamed" in provocative outfit after provocative outfit. While these types of performances and costumes are no new concept in pop music, they are a marked change for the former Hannah Montana star. Sometimes such a rapid change does little for the career of a star, and sometimes too much provocativeness becomes lame. Before she takes to the stage one more time in a skimpy leotard, Miley Cyrus should take a closer look at Lindsay Lohan and Christina Aguilera and learn from their bad examples.

What can Miley Cyrus learn from Lindsay Lohan?

Miley Cyrus has spent the last several years straddling the lines of Disney actress and recording artist along with being a regular recording artist and actress. Another young woman filmed the same role to a lesser degree, Lindsay Lohan. Lohan starred in multiple Disney films, including the Parent Trap before her major breakout role in the film Mean Girls, and then transitioned into a moderately successful recording artist for a brief moment.

The larger part of Lindsay Lohan's downfall can be blamed on her numerous problems with drugs and alcohol, but an additional aspect of it is the fact that Lohan strayed away from her core audience after Mean Girls. Her roles in Prairie Home Companion, Bobby, and Georgia Rule may have been personally fulfilling, but they did not register with fans used to seeing her in teen friendly comedic roles.

Miley needs to take a lesson from Lindsay Lohan's flailing career and always remember the tween and teen fans who made her career. Firmly leaving behind one fan group before securing another could leave her in a Lohan like limbo that is difficult to emerge from.

What can Miley Cyrus learn from Christina Aguilera?

Christina Aguilera is a powerhouse singer while Miley Cyrus is merely so-so. However, despite the difference in vocalization capability, Christina has made a mistake Miley can learn from. When Christina Aguilera released her new album Bionic in June of 2010, it was her weakest first-week debut on the Billboard Top 200 ever with sales of only 110,000 according to MTV.com. Her mistake was being too eclectic. Christina Aguilera is an artist without a defined identity at this point.

While it seemed she was going to be a "dirty" girl forever, she transitioned into a talent focused singer for Back to Basics. With the release of Bionic, Aguilera decided to flip-flop back to a more provocative persona to suit the times and to release music not especially suited to her talents. Miley can benefit from this by noting that provocativeness does not equate to album sales, and by realizing that a consistent voice is better than following the musical flavor of the week. Transitioning back and forth between country, pop, dance, and rock-esque music may work for some, but it is typically not a wise career move.

In the coming months and years, Miley Cyrus should follow the opposite path of the bad examples demonstrated by the bigger stars of days gone by. Christina Aguilera and Lindsay Lohan, both thought of as at the top of their game a few years ago, are now only moderately successful. If Miley Cyrus does not want to share their fate, she needs to find a consistency in her career now and play to her current fan base while developing a new one.

Additional Sources:

Lindsay Lohan. IMDB.com.