TBF to Ben, and it pains me to say this, the album is pretty decent. Not totally unlike the kind of stuff you hear from OneRepublic, he just has pretty shoddy promotion

and marketability, and that cover is dire.

Overall everytime the runner-up or below.. gets more fame and sucess than winner. Except 2011.

 

Well that's not entirely true, Leona's far outperformed anyone else in her year :kink: I'd say Shayne Ward was the most successful from his year too, easily. JLS outperformed Alexandra but we can't undermine her huge success with that debut album either!

The problem is the voting audience.

 

On all these singing shows all around the world the audience heavily favors male contestants. Male singers, over 20, possibly even over 25 years old, adult contemporary, pop rockers. Females of all ages, but especially those middle aged and older women heavily gravitate towards those types. Ben Haenow totally fits in. I knew he would be dangerous when he made it to the live shows and it soon became clear that he had it in the bag. When they showed his female fans on the finale from his homecoming, it was very clear that he was unstoppable.

 

So guys of that type easily win these shows, but later on they struggle to stay relevant in the music business.

 

Ben turned 30 in January. Hit radio stations (Capital, BBC Radio 1) think he is too old for their target audience and that he is too uncool. And the support of Capital ans BBC Radio 1 are crucial for post show success.

Here's hoping he goes down the route of Shayne and Matt and strips down for a magazine shoot. That'll gain some fans.

Ben turned 30 in January. Hit radio stations (Capital, BBC Radio 1) think he is too old for their target audience and that he is too uncool. And the support of Capital ans BBC Radio 1 are crucial for post show success.

Why do radio stations have to be so ageist? They play David Guetta all the time and do they not realise he is nearing 50?

Why do radio stations have to be so ageist? They play David Guetta all the time and do they not realise he is nearing 50?

 

Guetta is a DJ, not a singer. He usually has much younger guest vocalists featured.

Radio isn't ageist by default. It's all about the audience of a radio channel. Pop stars over 50 do get some airplay but not on the stations that aim at teens or under 30 year olds. It's the same in tv.

 

If Madonna isn't relevant for teenagers in 2015 why would a channel playing music for teenagers play Madonna? The quality of music is not really the (only) factor.

Edited November 15, 201510 yr by SKOB

I understand the general point about Radio 1/Capital catering for the young/teenagers etc but Ben fits pretty much the same demographic as Olly Murs (women of all ages and men like him too) and he gets playlisted all the time. Isn't he also a couple of years past 30? You only have to look at the people queuing at Ben's signing in Newcastle today (as well as his Facebook/Twitter) to see there are plenty of teenager there. Who's to say if he got that Radio 1/Capital airplay he wouldn't pick up many more? I would love to understand how they make these decisions. Why does Olly get hammered and Ben gets nothing? He hasn't released covers, its all original and written/co written by him etc. If it was X Factor snobbery (which is a hurdle) surely Olly who is so involved in the XF machine would be a prime candidate for no airplay, Maybe actually winning is a curse as some people say! !

Edited November 15, 201510 yr by torresgirl

Here's hoping he goes down the route of Shayne and Matt and strips down for a magazine shoot. That'll gain some fans.

 

Well I wouldn't mind that regardless :cheer: And nice post of the previous page, Very fair as I know you are not Ben's biggest fan.

I think it's quite clear that Olly and Ben are not the same type of artist. Olly's music is current and appeals to a wide range of ages. Second Hand Heart (which I do quite like, for the record) is quite clearly a Radio 2 song. Sure, Ben may have some younger fans, but typically he'll be aiming at a Radio 2 audience with that type of music whereas Olly's music is catered to both I think. It's not even to do with ages, it's the type of music they make. Olly and Ben are very different artists.

I understand the general point about Radio 1/Capital catering for the young/teenagers etc but Ben fits pretty much the same demographic as Olly Murs (women of all ages and men like him too) and he gets playlisted all the time. Isn't he also a couple of years past 30? You only have to look at the people queuing at Ben's signing in Newcastle today (as well as his Facebook/Twitter) to see there are plenty of teenager there. Who's to say if he got that Radio 1/Capital airplay he wouldn't pick up many more? I would love to understand how they make these decisions. Why does Olly get hammered and Ben gets nothing? He hasn't released covers, its all original and written/co written by him etc. If it was X Factor snobbery (which is a hurdle) surely Olly who is so involved in the XF machine would be a prime candidate for no airplay, Maybe actually winning is a curse as some people say! !

 

Olly started out significantly younger. He was 25 when he was on the X Factor. Also, his music is way more poppy.

Had Ben entered at a younger age he would have probably got more support, that's just the way it is.

Appreciate all the comments above. I just think its a shame. I've listened to his album 5/6 times now and its really good. Just feel if more people could hear it, it would do very well. The music biz is tough... :(

There are lots of successful and relevant male artists over 30 (Bruno Mars, Adam Levine, Calvin Harris, Kanye, Eminem etc etc). Age is a factor but those shows are so narrow and dated in terms of musical content and production it doesnt do the contestants (or winner) any favours in the 'cool stakes'.

Ben Haenow's album is a solid, i hope he can manage to sell through the x mas market and build up sales. Another factor performance would be great help but it wont happen as the winners like everyone else get one performance only.

 

 

Appreciate all the comments above. I just think its a shame. I've listened to his album 5/6 times now and its really good. Just feel if more people could hear it, it would do very well. The music biz is tough... :(

 

He better release Start Again or Lions next tbh, if they don't get people interested, nothing will.

 

The problem is the voting audience.

 

On all these singing shows all around the world the audience heavily favors male contestants. Male singers, over 20, possibly even over 25 years old, adult contemporary, pop rockers. Females of all ages, but especially those middle aged and older women heavily gravitate towards those types. Ben Haenow totally fits in. I knew he would be dangerous when he made it to the live shows and it soon became clear that he had it in the bag. When they showed his female fans on the finale from his homecoming, it was very clear that he was unstoppable.

 

So guys of that type easily win these shows, but later on they struggle to stay relevant in the music business.

 

Ben turned 30 in January. Hit radio stations (Capital, BBC Radio 1) think he is too old for their target audience and that he is too uncool. And the support of Capital ans BBC Radio 1 are crucial for post show success.

 

I'm not too sure about that. I think if he can get Heart/BBC Radio 2/Magic FM support, that should be enough to sustain album sales and singles. Heart play has been keeping the single nice and stable on iTunes in the 15-20 region. I can see it going silver and the album going gold at least, which I think is good. He just needs good marketing, but it seems Syco are paying more attention to Fleur than Ben, whiich isn't helping.

He better release Start Again or Lions next tbh, if they don't get people interested, nothing will.

 

Yes they are two of my favs along with Testify/Every Tear You Cry. It's been rumoured for a long time that the second single will be Slamming Doors, which I do like and is a good solid song but not as good as those imo.

All Yours is my fave from his album, it is a cracking song.

All Yours is my fave from his album, it is a cracking song.

 

Oh how could I forget that one?! There are so many good songs there though, so forgive me :)