The reality show has been here a long time. In my next article I will go through a quick history of the when and whats of the reality show. In this article I will address the significance of the reality show to the music business and more importantly, how can a musician take advantage of it?
In order to look at the question I have used a mix of quantitative and qualitative information. In writing today’s article I have taken statistics collected by groups like the Whitburn Project, from information and articles posted by digital music news and of course through my continuous contacts and interviews with other music professionals.
It is a new music business, we need to stop wishing back the old and looking at the new.
“The recorded music business was an historical anomaly. Get over it. We need something entirely new.” Dave Kusek, Berklee Music.
Reality shows have been here for a long time and have always had a role in the music business as I will discus in my next article. So if you are wishing them to be over or hoping they stop affecting the music business so heavily. Well I can only advise you not to make any bets on it or to use an old cliche, don’t hold your breath.
The first; do talent shows really bring talent to the market? I often hear the gut and non-fact based answer…”No way! If they had talent they wouldn’t need to go to a talent show.” Yes, I admit that at one time you would have heard even I, joining this angry crowd.
I now challenge this opinion with a growing list of names, Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, JLS, Susan Boyle… These are all most definitely talented people. Each has used their opportunity well.
Leona follows the system and the traditional role. Kelly followed until she decided to break out, at which point her career began to Breakaway (sorry, I could not resist that terrible word play). Daughtry didn’t win nor did JLS and they are bringing in top hit after hit. Susan Boyle stepped into controversy from the day she won and has already broken all records. Old, young, single or group; there is great talent there and plenty of success to be had.
So why all the criticism? Because failure makes more news than success. The thing about failure is that it is everywhere. Some fail a little all the time some fail a lot some of the time, but now one fails a lot all of the time (yes I have coined a phrase, no clues for knowing the original).
It is the negative side. Replace the word fail with success, or win or lose or even sneeze. It is a good universal rule. The thing is that it happens in the music business all over. Most people who even get a record label deal fail to make it, no matter how they get discovered.
So is there a trick to making it? If you don’t play you can’t win… I know many talented people who will not go even to the auditions. They do not want to be turned down by “the idiots who are just looking for someone to make a fool of”. Well if all they have are those who have no real talent, then they will make a show with those people. If an artist is afraid of being rejected then they really have not experienced very much. Like models, artists spend most of their career, particularly their early career being rejected. So if you are afraid of being rejected, get a job in a bank.