As Simon Cowell launches another singing competition this fall, we will watch as talents are discovered and dreams are crushed. There is no denying the entertainment value of these shows but are they simply a fun distraction from life’s stresses or do they have an impact on the future of the music industry?
The demographic for these shows encompass a wide age range due to their family-friendly nature. They offer dramatic stories of people overcoming adversity to pursue their dream.
For many families, this provides a great opportunity to discuss their own dreams, perhaps even a desire to learn how to sing. There can be few people who are not familiar with Susan Boyle and her dramatic performance. She reminded us all that appearances do not matter when you have a truly great talent, and she certainly knows how to sing!
While Susan Boyle and the other success stories may have inspired many people to try a few singing lessons, these shows can sometimes have the opposite effect. Rejection may be part of real life, particularly in the music business, but the rejection on a reality show is particularly harsh. The hurtful comments and public humiliation may be a ratings winner but it certainly isn’t encouraging for those watching who have a talent to share. Perhaps there are people who have chosen not to pursue a career in singing because of this. It may be argued that they would not have been strong enough to make it; we shall never know.