Aussie Rocker Dan Sultan Blasts Reality Singing Shows For Humiliating Contestants
Dan Sultan isn’t a fan of reality singing shows. The Australian rocker said that these talent programs humiliate their contestants to make money from viewers.
The Australasian Performing Right Association Awards-nominated singer has a lot to say about how singing shows manipulate the music industry.
“I think these shows are set up solely for humiliation and making money from (viewer vote) phone calls,” he told Confidential. “They do it under the guise of art, but it’s not art.”
Sultan is worried that kids who join shows such as “The Voice Australia” and “The X Factor Australia” think reality singing shows are the only way to catch a break in the industry.
“It’s really unfair for them.”
As for record companies, they are in favour of these programs because they can promote music on primetime television.
“It’s not good for the music industry; I’m in that industry, my friends are in it, and we earn money getting out there and going the hard yards,” he said.
But before people think that he is against his fellow singers who are products of reality singing shows, such as Ricki-Lee and Jessica Mauboy, Sultan made it clear that his gripe is about the people behind these shows who make money but “have nothing to do with music. It’s disgusting.”
Sultan’s comments come just days after “The Voice Kids Australia” was criticised for airing a crying kid on the show.
Read: The Voice Kids Australia Slammed for Airing Crying 12-Year-Old Romy After Her Rejection [VIDEO]
Romy, who was just 12 during the taped audition, was devastated when the judges – Delta Goodrem, Mel B and Joel and Benji Madden – didn’t turn their chairs for her. Viewers were aghast when the show opted to show the girl’s discomfort on camera rather than cut the heartbreaking scene off air.
The show was inundated with complaints, with people saying that Channel Nine was heartless to air the child’s humiliation just so it can attract ratings.