The show is all about big ratings & making money out of the phone-lines votes.

 

Finding a future popstar comes a distant third in the list of priorities.

 

 

My thoughts exactly.Maria's left it far too long to release a single too.

Is it even in the top 40 in the mid week chart?

Is it even in the top 40 in the mid week chart?

 

yep top 20 which whilst it could be better, isn't bad. Whilst I suppose The X Factor can be criticised for various reasons, it is always consistantly popular and successful without fail and this year yet again a new record for auditioners has been set. Also, the guy who started this thread says besides shane, none of the other acts have been successful well thats not entirely true as Journey South have had a number 1 album one of the biggest sellers of the year, Andy got a number 2 album the same week Journey South got to number 1, and Chico has had a number 1 and after only just scraping top 75 in wednesdays midweeks, his new single 'D.I.S.C.O' is now confortably top 30 due to lots of PA on TV and Radio so considering he is such a novelty act with an awful voice, two singles one a number 1 and another top 30, really isn't that bad. Chenai is also releasing in a few weeks and is signed to a very small record label whilst Brenda is performing in Chicago in The West End so y'know thats six acts from the show with record contracts so they can't have done that badly. Tabby Callaghan who finished third in the first series has now signed a record contract and is releasing in a few months so The X Factor has also helped him.

 

X-Factor seems to be more about stroking the judge's egos rather than actually finding and nurturing some 'new talent' out there...

 

And let's face it, there's more than an air of Karaoke about the whole proceedings anyway. It's all about who can sing what cover version the best, and frankly, that's just a bit c**p to be honest. I give more credit to "Rock School" because, even though it does have the air of it being about Gene Simmons' ego, he really does actually encourage these kids to go out and do something with their lives and doesn't give them any bullsh!t or mollycoddling...

yep top 20 which whilst it could be better, isn't bad. Whilst I suppose The X Factor can be criticised for various reasons, it is always consistantly popular and successful without fail and this year yet again a new record for auditioners has been set. Also, the guy who started this thread says besides shane, none of the other acts have been successful well thats not entirely true as Journey South have had a number 1 album one of the biggest sellers of the year, Andy got a number 2 album the same week Journey South got to number 1, and Chico has had a number 1 and after only just scraping top 75 in wednesdays midweeks, his new single 'D.I.S.C.O' is now confortably top 30 due to lots of PA on TV and Radio so considering he is such a novelty act with an awful voice, two singles one a number 1 and another top 30, really isn't that bad. Chenai is also releasing in a few weeks and is signed to a very small record label whilst Brenda is performing in Chicago in The West End so y'know thats six acts from the show with record contracts so they can't have done that badly. Tabby Callaghan who finished third in the first series has now signed a record contract and is releasing in a few months so The X Factor has also helped him.

 

I don't think Journey South & Andy have been that successful. Both their albums have only sold a paltry 300k which isnt much on the back of what is claimed a successful tv programme. Also, both their singles flopped badly by failing to reach the top40...Chico did have a number 1 but it hardly sold anything and will probably fade into the background over time with his current trend of performance.

is Marias chart position downloads only, or physical as well?

 

Journey South's first and only single The Circle/Desparado was chart inelligable.

I don't believe they're actually interested in making an act successful. They're just interested in advertising revenues from the programme and the money they get from our votes. I am now completely cynical! :lol: So I will definitely not vote again, as anyone's career success doesn't have anything to do with winning (see Lemar).

 

If I end up having any favourites this year, I will hope that they don't win. As far back as PI1 (final 3), somebody wise called winning "a poisoned chalice" and I think he's been proved right a few times since.

 

 

yes indeed, I recall it well -

I have only ever voted in PI 1, becuase I was interested in one person. I was proved right in my choice and have bought his work.

Why people vote in such large numbers for people they don't go on to support is beyond me. No one has interested me since for me to invest my hard earned cash in! and I will not make the "men in black" richer.(some one wise spoke about those people too)

However, when Darius said that talking about Will's win, he wasn't to know how Will would overcome the "poisoned chalice".

this is true, Will bucked the trend, although we don't know the ins and outs or catches(I wonder how much of Will's hard earnt cash went into SF and SC's pockets under the PI contract for example). I would love to know the whole story, for sure SC isnt interested in any artist who wants creative control and we know they arent in it for the artists sakes only the money to be made.

as for X factor, getting back on track, it seems to me the releasing of records and a career for winners are treated shoddily once the program is over

Edited August 18, 200618 yr by prettyinpink

It's a bit like coffee to me, you try all the new brands and special offers, but you nearly always go back to Nescafe.

this is true, Will bucked the trend, although we don't know the ins and outs or catches(I wonder how much of Will's hard earnt cash went into SF and SC's pockets under the PI contract for example). I would love to know the whole story, for sure SC isnt interested in any artist who wants creative control and we know they arent in it for the artists sakes only the money to be made.

as for X factor, getting back on track, it seems to me the releasing of records and a career for winners are treated shoddily once the program is over

 

Simon Fullers 19 still holds all the recording contracts, so they'd all have to give him a percentage of their music earnings. Will as the biggest earner, is obviously forking out the most.

 

A few of the contestants have had more than 1 bite at similar cherries, Shayne & Darius to name two. It may not be perfect, the upper hand and the biggest slice of the cake going to the men in suits, but I bet none of the finalists really regret that they entered, if they do, they are free to turn their backs on it all and go back to earning their living doing what they did before.

I think at the time Darius probably felt that there was no way SC and PW would ever let the winner have any creative input at all. He'd first locked horns with Simon over that at a music debate immediately after Popstars.

 

I think the current single releases by last year's contestants in X Factor 2 are deliberately timed to get the publicity from the return of the show and possibly X factor One Year One. Good Luck to them.

 

IMHO kids take a gamble going on these shows now because however talented they are, they get stuck with the reality TV label and disrespected by the bulk of the GBP. Their best hope is not to win it, hope they get someone in the music business to take them under their wing, develop their own style and steer clear of cover versions.

 

What do you mean by more than one bite at similar cherries?

 

Darius, Hayley and others who were in Popstars did not get selected by public vote. It was a documentary about auditioning for a group and Darius was back in university when the "Pick me, Nigel teasers" first started to appear - the band had been chosen and the programme had been edited before it hit our screens.

 

I can't remember was Will Young's first bite at the cherry - the ill-fated morning TV group with Lee from Blue by public vote?

Edited August 18, 200618 yr by Baytree

I think there's a lot more resentment around today whether you've won or not Baytree, it seems to apply to them as a whole now, the GBP and the music industry don't seem too eager to take them on like they did in the beginning. I think all the spin-offs and copycat style shows haven't helped, I think we need a rest from them for a couple of years to be honest. I also think the tv companies have got greedy and lazy with what they're offering the veiwing public, they've realised how much money they can make off the public and as far as I'm concerned, they're ripping the viewers off by churning out all these never ending "easy money" and ratings shows.

Edited August 18, 200618 yr by suggy

I think at the time Darius probably felt that there was no way SC and PW would ever let the winner have any creative input at all. He'd first locked horns with Simon over that at a music debate immediately after Popstars.

 

I think the current single releases by last year's contestants in X Factor 2 are deliberately timed to get the publicity from the return of the show and possibly X factor One Year One. Good Luck to them.

 

IMHO kids take a gamble going on these shows now because however talented they are, they get stuck with the reality TV label and disrespected by the bulk of the GBP. Their best hope is not to win it, hope they get someone in the music business to take them under their wing, develop their own style and steer clear of cover versions.

 

What do you mean by more than one bite at similar cherries?

 

Darius, Hayley and others who were in Popstars did not get selected by public vote. It was a documentary about auditioning for a group and Darius was back in university when the "Pick me, Nigel teasers" first started to appear - the band had been chosen and the programme had been edited before it hit our screens.

 

I can't remember was Will Young's first bite at the cherry - the ill-fated morning TV group with Lee from Blue by public vote?

 

 

 

 

Well you've answered your own question haven't you.

 

Darius & Hayley both entered Pop Stars, but if Darius only took part in a documentary with no wish to become part of the group, who am I to argue? :rolleyes:

 

Anyway, he and Hayley must have enjoyed the experience, cos there they were again, auditioning for PI.

 

Shayne got to the final 20/30 in Pop Stars the Rivals, and likewise, must have enjoyed it, 'cos he came back for more.

 

Will took part in This Morning search for a boyband, along with Andy Scott Lee and both of them like the others, came back for more. Maybe Lee Blue would have too had he not already signed to his group.

 

The second bite of the cherry reference. They all auditioned, more than once, in front of a TV audience, whether it was a public vote or not.

to make lots of money from the stupid public thats why

I would love to know the whole story, for sure SC isnt interested in any artist who wants creative control and we know they arent in it for the artists sakes only the money to be made.

 

I found it very interesting listening to the repeat of Simon Cowell on Desert Island Discs this morning

 

He openly said he hated anyone getting more popular than himself and will strive to be better than anyone else (can't remember if those were his actual words, but the same meaning).

 

I think he's made this very obvious. He lends support to contestants, he believes will do well for Simon Cowell, until they start to get too popular or have their own opinions, then he turns his back on them.

 

I found it very interesting listening to the repeat of Simon Cowell on Desert Island Discs this morning

 

He openly said he hated anyone getting more popular than himself and will strive to be better than anyone else (can't remember if those were his actual words, but the same meaning).

 

I think he's made this very obvious. He lends support to contestants, he believes will do well for Simon Cowell, until they start to get too popular or have their own opinions, then he turns his back on them.

 

Very true Val. Only the astute ones see him for what he is & give him the push first before things begin to go pear shaped ;)

Edited August 18, 200618 yr by truly talented

"Darius & Hayley both entered Pop Stars, but if Darius only took part in a documentary with no wish to become part of the group, who am I to argue? "

 

Firstly, Darius did not enter himself for Popstars and hadn't a clue what it was all about when he first sang for the judges. (see Sink or Swim, chapter 2)

 

Secondly, after he'd decided to go along with it for fun, he specifically asked the judges several times what kind of group they were intending to form and was given the impression it would be a male/female group along the lines of All Saints i.e one where the members of the group would be allowed to write their own songs. Hear'say were very far removed from that. If that had been made clear during the auditions, perhaps Darius would have walked out, just as he threatened to do behind the scenes of the final 4 stage in PI but didn't have to when the judges backed down.

 

Darius had management, record producers and finished demos for his own songs viz. Colourblind and Mockingbird, before he auditioned for PI. His motive for entering PI, his second bite as you put it, was a matter of personal pride - it was to redress the very wrong picture of him created by the editing of Popstars and the adverse media storm which followed. PI was to be a live show. He was content when he didn't make it into the final ten because he felt the show had served its purpose. He replaced Rik thinking he'd only last a couple of weeks but would use whatever time he had, to get free tuition from some of the best people in the business.

 

Those kids in the original UK shows weren't to know that they would be manipulated nor did they understand that the media would add their tuppennyworth.

 

The success of PI and continuing high ratings for BB encouraged a plethora of reality shows, some of which were dire but nevertheless got reasonable ratings.

 

The contestants nowadays are much more savvy, they've watched enough of these programmes to know exactly what they're getting themselves into.

 

IMHO another X Factor so soon is pure and simply all about making money. If it was a genuine talent search they'd wait another year to replenish the talent pool and audition all the hopefuls themselves instead of getting TV producers to do it and in the process send away singers who are technically proficient but not judged to be "good TV".

 

"Darius & Hayley both entered Pop Stars, but if Darius only took part in a documentary with no wish to become part of the group, who am I to argue? "

 

Firstly, Darius did not enter himself for Popstars and hadn't a clue what it was all about when he first sang for the judges. (see Sink or Swim, chapter 2)

 

Secondly, after he'd decided to go along with it for fun, he specifically asked the judges several times what kind of group they were intending to form and was given the impression it would be a male/female group along the lines of All Saints i.e one where the members of the group would be allowed to write their own songs. Hear'say were very far removed from that. If that had been made clear during the auditions, perhaps Darius would have walked out, just as he threatened to do behind the scenes of the final 4 stage in PI but didn't have to when the judges backed down.

 

Darius had management, record producers and finished demos for his own songs viz. Colourblind and Mockingbird, before he auditioned for PI. His motive for entering PI, his second bite as you put it, was a matter of personal pride - it was to redress the very wrong picture of him created by the editing of Popstars and the adverse media storm which followed. PI was to be a live show. He was content when he didn't make it into the final ten because he felt the show had served its purpose. He replaced Rik thinking he'd only last a couple of weeks but would use whatever time he had, to get free tuition from some of the best people in the business.

 

Those kids in the original UK shows weren't to know that they would be manipulated nor did they understand that the media would add their tuppennyworth.

 

The success of PI and continuing high ratings for BB encouraged a plethora of reality shows, some of which were dire but nevertheless got reasonable ratings.

 

The contestants nowadays are much more savvy, they've watched enough of these programmes to know exactly what they're getting themselves into.

 

IMHO another X Factor so soon is pure and simply all about making money. If it was a genuine talent search they'd wait another year to replenish the talent pool and audition all the hopefuls themselves instead of getting TV producers to do it and in the process send away singers who are technically proficient but not judged to be "good TV".

 

Did Darius receive his Honorary degree for English Literature before or after he wrote this great work? :rofl: