X-Factor/Talent Shows - Does they make or break a career?

Wurly

Just watching the x-factor at the moment. There are some amazing singers out there (and even more crap-lol).

Most of the winners of these shows have had a flash in the pan 'career'. But when you look at Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson, Girls Aloud.....

Fair enough, it's not groundbreaking music that they come out with. But they've still got a gaff, a nice car and a comfortable living out of it.

I personally have always been opposed to the idea of auditioning for these types of shows as I feel they wreck careers.

But considering the music industry can be a very closed business, I suspect that some amazing talent may not ever be discovered without these kinds of shows. Would it be possible, do you reckon, to get a record deal from a show like this and then go on to do music you actually want to do? Just to get your foot in the door, like? Or will you always be labelled as a naffmeister, unable to shake the label of a glorified cover singer?

Leona, Kelly and Girls aloud have managed to do this quite well (music quality aside)....

So, people, would you audition for the X-factor to get your foot in the door of the industry?

Kold

The X-factor is a 'marketability' factor. Most music heads will see right through this so what they're looking for is the immediacy of an act. One of the most important things they want is for the person to be young and beautiful, now for most girls applying for it, they only have this trait (in a marketable sense) for a limited time. They also want the person to be squeaky clean so the network can't be seen as promoting damaging lifestyles, if they've done something bad, the paps'll destroy them. Now think of the world's most respected acts; not a lot of squeaky cleaners there, if it's not drugs and alcohol it's horrific depression.

Simply, good musicians tend to have lived a life prior to their career so I wouldn't hold much hope of getting good music out of any of those shows.


As for a career, well that's certainly doable. Just look at Myleene. Girls Aloud still shift records which will change when they hit 35 at the lastest.

The problem is the amount of impotance they put on looks and voice when, realistically, a great musician doesn't have to have either.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

They're just in it for the cash. What better way of promoting the next big thing once a year every year?

Although I also believe that if any of the winners had any brains they'd learn as much as possible about the industry while having their 'year in the sun' so to speak, get to know the business side of things and work out how to market themselves and to adapt to changing trends so as to prolong their career.

Unfortunately, though...