Why It’s Unfair for Meghan Linsey to Win “The Voice”
The reason why these reality TV singing competitions, dancing competitions, and talent shows have worked so well over the last 15 years is because they tap into the innate desire of every human to be plucked out of the morass of obscurity and get the chance to become a superstar. The children of America and beyond are ingrained with a rock & roll fantasy that some day they can become famous, and that this fate is the ideal that every human being should strive for.
No individual TV show has done better in the last few years at connecting with the American population and awakening this idea of the average individual ascending to superstardom than NBC’s singing competition The Voice. As American Idol flounders and just recently announced it will be entering its last season, and other attempts to battle the show like The X Factor have failed, The Voice has become NBC’s multi-season ratings anchor and signature franchise.
However, by including former Steel Magnolia member Meghan Linsey in their latest season, The Voice is jeopardizing their pact with the viewer that the competition is a true vetting of amateur talent to find a diamond in the rough that can be polished up to shine.
As first pointed out by Saving Country Music when Megan Linsey’s involvement in The Voice was first brought to light, her previous experience in the music business was far from amateur, and not even close to being unsuccessful or unnoticed. Steel Magnolia’s 2011 album was released on Big Machine Records (Taylor Swift’s label) and became a Top 5 album in country, and a Top 10 album overall. The duo had a Top 5 hit with “Keep On Loving You,” and was nominated by both the CMA and ACM Awards for Vocal Duo of the Year. There are many professional mainstream country artists who have yet to achieve any of these accolades during their entire careers.
Moreover, it was another singing competition called Can You Duet that gave Megan Linsey and Steel Magnolia their big break in the first place. They won the competition in 2009 when Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta was one of the judges. Yes, Megan Linsey’s fiance Joshua Scott Jones turned out to be a less than stellar life and singing partner when he ended up in rehab and the duo ended up splitting, but Megan still had the connections and name recognition that even many professional musicians can’t muster, and certainly has more success and connections than any other competitor in The Voice previously.
Some say that it’s not the job of The Voice to showcase amateur talent, or even to help launch the contestant’s musical careers. It’s only the show’s job to put on a competition and entertain viewers. But if you erode the spirit behind the show as something that awakens the dreams of the American public about the opportunity of stardom, then you’re breaking all manner of unwritten rules.
To the credit of The Voice, the show is not trying to hide Meghan Linsey’s past. But at the same time, the judges and producers keep putting this narrative on her of a disadvantaged artist who got the short end of the stick and was unfairly handled by the business, when in reality Meghan Linsey saw stardom and riches 98% of musicians never get a chance to see. It’s not just that Megan Linsey is in the competition, but how The Voice has attempted to portray her as an underdog to make up for her previous successes that gives the whole situation a disingenuous and smarmy feel.
Potentially exacerbating the issue for The Voice is the way the show is automated now to whip the supporters of various contestants into a fevered pitch, pushing them to post on social network with hashtags, and tasking viewers to purchase tracks on iTunes. It makes a segment of viewers of the show so emotionally invested in the outcome that if there’s a question of impropriety, real or perceived, it can fuel a nasty backlash. Like a sports controversy with fans cheering for laundry and blaming the refs, or “Deflategate” for example, people feel personally injured if the outcome is not in their favor, especially if the situation looks less than fair.
Meghan Linsey is likely to win The Voice. She was a front-runner when she entered the competition, she’s been a front runner the entire time, her judge Blake Shelton has won the majority of the show’s seasons, and since there is a fan-voted component to the show, and Meghan comes with a lot of infrastructure and publicity acumen in place compared to the other contestants, she has a competitive advantage.
None of this is Megan Linsey’s fault, and she’s a great singer. Meghan is just trying to do the best by her career. A singing competition started it, so why not use one to revitalize it? But in the process she could do some serious damage to the integrity of the show if the perception is contestants are hand-selected ringers, instead of true amateurs off the street.
May 12, 2015 @ 12:10 pm
She’s actually quite unlikely to be the winner. 16 year old Sawyer Fredericks has been leading at Itunes for most of the season (he currently has 2 songs in the Itunes all genre t10 over Meghan’s 1, and both of his songs are ahead of her highest placing song), the Itunes votes count cumulatively towards the determination of the winner (in other words, it’s not just next week’s votes that’ll count, but also multiple weeks of Itunes sales). Too, people like me who have watched way too many of these talent shows have come to recognize the likely demographic profile of the winner: when in doubt, always predict the white dude with folk/pop/rock tendencies. That would be Sawyer. Meghan will likely be the runner-up.
None of that really refutes your point about the unfairness, but The Voice has been all about plants and experienced contestants since the beginning. Past winners like Javier Colon (season 1) and Cassadee Pope (season 3) were already major label veterans by the time they started to compete, and Cassadee in particular brought a fanbase with her that helped her to get the win. It’s American Idol that has traditionally been more about discovering the unknown, though there have been some plants (none among the winners though).
Fun fact: Likely champ Sawyer Fredericks answered a question about what country song he’d like to cover on The Voice by saying he’d sing “Cover Me Up” by prospective Voice contestant Jason Isbell.
BTW, Meghan Lindsey’s unconvincing rebuttal to the idea that she has an unfair advantage is in that linked article, too.
May 12, 2015 @ 1:35 pm
Thanks for the insight Windmills as you are a much better expert on these matters than I.
As for “The Voice” working with contestants with industry experience previously, I think when it comes to Linsey, it’s the degree of her success that makes her an exception. There’s a lot of artists who have dabbled with major labels and never made it to the major leagues, but when you’re receiving nominations for industry awards and charting Top 5 songs and albums, I think it’s time to take the training wheels off, especially when you started on another competition to begin with. Give that opportunity to another artist that has never been given a chanced to be showcased on a national level.
It think this, and the whole concern about amateur artists is where there is a disconnect between the producers of the show and serious followers, and the flotsam and jetsam of the population who tune in and find themselves emotionally invested in one of these artists. American Idol has been losing a lot of viewers to “The Voice,” and maybe some of those viewers are bringing preconceived notions about the show with them. But as I tried to explain in this article, I think there’s something inherent in the American viewer that draws them to these shows to see average people made into superstars. It gives them a sense of hope, if not for themselves, then maybe for their children, or their friends, or their hometown contestant. That is one of the reasons these shows resonate with people. And if this concern is overlooked, either by including artist who’ve already seen success, or by not caring if winners are successful afterwards, then I think The Voice runs the risk of ending up like American Idol sooner than later. That’s my opinion, at least.
September 26, 2015 @ 11:29 am
I know it’s a little late, but the fact that Jermaine Paul had a Grammy nomination refutes any of the ignorant points made in the previous article. So what, she had a little success before she went on The Voice, not near as much as some of the previous contestants. Not to mention, she didn’t ask to be on The Voice, they called HER to Blind Audition, and she really debated about whether or not to do it. Meghan is very accessible, why wouldn’t you try and get in touch with her to see what her thoughts might be? Why wouldn’t you bring up the previous contestant with a Grammy nomination? It seems to me, that you really didn’t have anything else to write about. Somehow you seemed to think that this would be controversial, and get a lot of hits on the Google search. So, apparently you don’t mind using the fame she does have to bring you attention. Just a thought.
September 26, 2015 @ 12:10 pm
Tigerlili,
This is a country music website. Meghan Linsey was a country music artist. I didn’t purposely exclude Jermaine Paul. Also, the fact that The Voice called Meghan just further proves the point I was attempting to make that they’re stacking the deck. I don’t blame Meghan for taking advantage of an opportunity at exposure. Good for her. But I think including her in the contest goes against the spirit of what people think they’re watching, which is everyday people like them getting a unique chance at stardom.
November 5, 2015 @ 7:37 am
True, plus If she was such a frontrunner why’d NBC have to manipulate by such things as performance order to get her second place over Joshua Davis? Joshua went first or second nearly every time with Meghan often getting the coveted and valuable “pimp” (final) spot?
May 12, 2015 @ 7:34 pm
Oh god. I really hope neither of the two win. Sawyer has such a thin voice that doesn’t sound good out of mid-range. Meghan already has a career. Of course, one of them will win, undoubtedly. What happened to just picking talent (metaphorically) off the street?
May 13, 2015 @ 9:31 am
I have watched the Voice religiously every season and am repeatedly disappointed when I see seasoned talent competing with amateurs. If she wins this season I will never watch this show again. I will be convinced at this point that it is more about winning to at least Blake who I have been a fan of than to really find new talent. Meghan brings unfair experience to the Voice. I am not a fan of her or her sound and don’t feel someone with her past success should be pitted against all of these true amateurs.
May 14, 2015 @ 10:14 am
Thank you! We have been saying this all along. And I can’t understand anyone saying that Sawyer is the front runner. What?! Meghan’s background is totally unfair and Koryn is WAY better and has more genuine heart. India was good too and deserved better. I will not watch it anymore either if Megan or Sawyer win. Good grief!
May 27, 2015 @ 8:24 pm
Also in the last season, the gal who sang backup for Michael Jackson was on. She claims her phone was ringin off the hook after he passed but she didn’t feel right furthering her career like that. Well, why tell anybody about it now??? These people shouldn’t even be allowed to audition!! It’s just not right. It’s unfair to the true amateur aiming to be discovered.
September 17, 2015 @ 2:42 pm
All I have to say is, how pleased I am that she didn’t win. I also have to say I don’t respect her after the look she gave when they announced Sawyer. She thought she had it. It was unfair to the others by bringing her onto the show
May 12, 2015 @ 12:15 pm
What do the winners get out of this show, anyway? Just publicity? I’ve not paid enough attention to figure that out. All I know is that they all seem to disappear without fanfare after the season finale and a few headlines declaring them the victors.
May 12, 2015 @ 1:06 pm
I think that’s part of the problem, though the proponents of the show will tell you it’s not the show’s concern what happens after. However I think the lack of industry success for the winners of these competitions is one of the reasons they’re becoming long in the tooth. If they’re not finding talent that can resonate off the show, then I’m not sure how long they are for this world. I think that’s one of the reasons they brought in Meghan, so hopefully she can be successful on the show, and then ride that success afterwards and be a singing advertisement for The Voice in the future, sort of like Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, and Kelly Clarkson have been for American Idol.
May 18, 2015 @ 10:01 am
The problem for The Voice in not finding winners who become big successes off the show, is that the show itself seems to focus more on the judges than on the contestants. Then when the show is over, people forget about the contestants and even the winner.
May 12, 2015 @ 1:07 pm
What do the winners get out of this show, anyway? Just publicity?
That’s been my impression, yes. I keep thinking Trig did an article on how the show hasn’t produced any big stars a la Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood.
May 12, 2015 @ 1:11 pm
Jake Worthington & The Great Reality Show Hype
https://savingcountrymusic.com/jake-worthington-the-great-reality-show-hype
May 23, 2017 @ 2:00 pm
Trigger
go check out Jake new EP released May 19th 2017 sitting # 54 on itunes chart we need to help him out. solid country music.
May 12, 2015 @ 1:35 pm
Well, I was asking whether they get a record deal or tour or some other promotion?
May 12, 2015 @ 1:44 pm
They get a Whitman’s Sampler I think …
May 12, 2015 @ 2:36 pm
Ha! I suppose that’s better than nothing after your 15 minutes are up. They just need to make sure to keep the box…
May 12, 2015 @ 1:57 pm
“The singers of The Voice compete for the chance to win $100,000 and a record deal with Universal Republic.”
I was curious & googled it and that’s what I found.
May 12, 2015 @ 2:38 pm
I know it might annoy some folks that I ask here instead of just looking it up for myself, but I find it more gratifying for the discussion when someone explains it in more relevant terms. The fact that you yourself had to look it up and no one else seemed to know is telling.
May 12, 2015 @ 7:46 pm
Don’t forget the real money isn’t with the show winning but in the booking afterwards. Craig Wayne boys went from I bet $600 a show before it to about $18,000 a show. For whatever reason he’s since left dot records recently.
May 12, 2015 @ 2:00 pm
I saw former “Voice” Team Blake winner Cassadee Pope and Team Blake runners up The Swon Brothers this year at Stagecoach. Other Team Blake winner Danielle Bradbury pops up and sings a couple of songs with Miranda Lambert at selected shows every now and then. She has some shows scheduled at various places. I believe that Blake’s first winner, Jermaine Paul, returned to singing backup for Alicia Keys…I think. Don’t hear much from him. Other than that…no great shakes I’ve seen with the winners. Even though she didn’t win, I think Gwen Sebastian did the best out of all “Voice” contestants because she is a background singer for both Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. She’s steadily working.
January 13, 2017 @ 8:22 pm
Sawyer Fredericks has certainly not disappeared. He has a huge recording contract, and was on tour all of this past year, long after his time on The Voice ended.
May 12, 2015 @ 12:26 pm
What an odd article. The Voice truly isn’t a show that showcases its winners, clearly, as its ratings are really the only thing that it has going for it. The winners seem to fizzle out just as quickly as they came.
May 12, 2015 @ 1:09 pm
” The winners seem to fizzle out just as quickly as they came.”
I think that’s one of the reasons The Voice recruited Meghan Lindsey for this season, and reached out to people like Jason Isbell and others that are already established in the business so hopefully the winner will actually go on to succeed beyond the show itself. As I attempted to explain above, The Voice counts on viewers becoming emotionally invested in the contestants, and if they feel like there’s nothing else to cheer for after the season finale, eventually there’s going to be a disconnect there, similar to the one American Idol is experiencing.
May 12, 2015 @ 12:29 pm
One thing that I think is worth keeping in mind is that The Voice is not about the contestants at all. The show has never produced a star the way American Idol sometimes did. The only person who appeared on that show who I can name is RaeLynn and that’s only because of that awful single she put out that thankfully flopped.
People tune in to see Shelton, Levine and Aguilera and for the interaction between them. The contestants are really just props and it doesn’t matter who wins or loses.
May 12, 2015 @ 3:19 pm
This is exactly what I was going to say. In fact, it’s really the only reason I tune into the show (although I’ve not watched this season at all). I like the banter between the coaches and the contestant are exactly what you say, fancy props that add a little filler to the show.
That’s not to say the contestants are horrible. There have been a few that I have waited for their records to come out after, but I have not liked a single record from them yet. The closest was Nicholas David, but even that record was unimpressive to me (I had to google the name, I didn’t remember him). I think the biggest problem these contestant have with making it big after the show is due to a single problem. Their fans are used to them singing great singles from various decades, songs that have stood the test of time and have become classics, but their own albums cannot recreate that.
May 15, 2015 @ 9:32 pm
It didn’t flop. It was top 20 and sold 500k copies. She currently has a follow-up on the charts.
May 12, 2015 @ 12:39 pm
I’m SO glad that you wrote this. While she is undeniably talented, I am so sick of seeing “poor Meghan” walking by the river, hands clasped, looking forlornly (is that a word?) off in the distance while the voice over talks about her broken career. How many times are they going to tell the same story?? We get it already! I am also sick of the obvious push given to her by other celebs and a few country music blogs, not to mention the email sent out by her former label hocking Steel Magnolia’s left over cd’s and reminding us that she was on The Voice and would appreciate our vote. That stunt alone smelled rotten to me.
May 12, 2015 @ 1:42 pm
Yes, I think the attempt to create a narrative of failure out of Meghan Linsey’s success is what makes this seem disingenuous. It doesn’t mean that Meghan hasn’t faced adversity because she has. But I have personally told the stories of hundreds of artists out there that never received any break, never had a charting album or song, never were signed to a major label, who are much worse off than Meghan Linsey is, and frankly, may be better musicians. She’s had multiple chances. If The Voice wants to give her another one, then hey, that’s fine. But don’t sell me something that’s untrue. Meghan Linsey and her music career are doing just fine.
May 12, 2015 @ 2:17 pm
One evening I was watching and she came on. I flipped the channel when they started the whole sob story, and there she and her blue lipstick were, singing One Republic’s Counting Stars in a music video on Zuus. I thought, Yeah tell me again how down and out you are. You’ve got a music video playing on one channel while singing the blues of your lost career on another.
May 12, 2015 @ 1:27 pm
I wondered why they would allow Meghan as well, but then again I wondered why they allowed Julie Roberts to try out a few seasons back. Even though she did not make it, the fact that struggling former artists were there for another shot always threw me off a little.
May 12, 2015 @ 1:52 pm
“I think it”™s sad that you don”™t really hear females on country radio at all,” she said. “That”™s been my struggle for the last three or four years that I haven”™t had a record deal and I”™ve been out of my duo. I just think country music needs to start embracing females again and letting our voices be heard on the radio.”
http://www.bustle.com/articles/75135-meghan-linsey-from-the-voice-wants-to-see-more-women-in-country-music-carrie-underwood
Amen to that!
May 12, 2015 @ 2:51 pm
Blake and Adam have done a good job of keeping up with their former team members, Blake most notably, by throwing them on tours, getting them going in the overall nashville arena, etc. Craig Wayne Boyd … I don’t know what will happen. His first single opened huge, but I don’t know what will come of the next one.
Meghan, well … I dunno about it being “unfair” for her to win. If it’s ok for her to be included, then it’s ok for her to win. The show IS a ratings machine. That’s what it is. They’ve produced something like 20 million sold singles (or more). That’s a great thing for them as well. The show is entertainment, pure and simple.
Now, don’t ask me WHY it’s entertainment. For me, Karaoke is best when it’s in a bar with 20 of your best friends. I don’t know why we’ve decided that televising Karaoke is how we want to select future artists. In reality, most of these artists aren’t doing what drives them. They’re doing what producers are telling them. They’re being styled according to what the producers believe America will want to see. They’re being choreographed according to what will look good for camera. That’s not an artist being an artist.
Still, for us to believe that there’s some kind of over-riding diamond in the rough theme is folly. Sure, it can happen. That fact still remains. If Sawyer wins, then you’ll have the ultimate – the unknown kid with interesting choices beats out the mainstream success who the industry threw under the bus. Now there’s a title-fight for you!
And then, he’ll go back to high school and enjoy the money … maybe even put out a sugar pop single for all the girls listening to KROQ to buy. And we’ll all move on to season 9 (which begins shooting this summer).
Trig, if your beef is simply with the narrative of Meghan Lindsey, then you just gotta get over it. It’s television…the stories are always on steroids.
May 12, 2015 @ 9:39 pm
The 20 million sold singles is because The Voice goaded their viewers into purchasing them as part of their voting system.
“Trig, if your beef is simply with the narrative of Meghan Lindsey, then you just gotta get over it. It”™s television”¦the stories are always on steroids.”
And it’s the job of journalists, critics, and columnists to set the record straight and provide a resource for individuals who want to know the true story.
May 12, 2015 @ 10:54 pm
“And it”™s the job of journalists, critics, and columnists to set the record straight and provide a resource for individuals who want to know the true story.”
I never knew The Voice was 60 Minutes. I thought it was a karaoke show.
I think anyone who “wants to know the true story” can google Meghan Linsey and quickly find out that she hasn’t exactly been chewed up and spit out by Country Music. But that being the case, I look forward to the ongoing expose’s of the rest of the cast of this show, and the upcoming season as well. I’m sure they all have ample amounts of “beefing up” in them.
Like I said, The Voice has long given former artists their opportunities. Former American Idol contestants have appeared, one of the guys from Milli Vanilli auditioned, Javier Colon (1st winner) had previous deals, etc. This is nothing new. The show can be a powerful marketing vehicle if utilized correctly…the question is whether or not she’ll capitalize (whether she wins or not).
I think it’s funny that the sentiment of “she had her chance” is why people don’t want her to win.
What?
Is that where we are now as a society? Hey, you were there before, you don’t get another shot. Screw you, we’re moving on! Now THERE’S a narrative to aspire to.
People say “give someone else a chance” – well, if she goes through this whole competition and wins, she will have beaten well over a hundred people who also “had a chance.” People say, “Apparently America didn’t like her” … Well… apparently America feels differently now.
I don’t know man, just seems like the attitude is off on this one.
May 12, 2015 @ 2:56 pm
I saw her tryout and I found it kind of fishy that Blake didn’t turn around. I don’t know how he couldn’t recognize the voice of someone he toured with. Then, he acted all shocked. It seemed staged.
May 12, 2015 @ 3:43 pm
She will have 1 top 10 hit on the Hot country songs chart then disappear. Look at Craig Wayne Boyd he debut at #1 on that chart then the song went off the chart then he left his record label. Cassadee Pope had 1 top 10 hit then she hit top 40 with her second single and vanished and so did Danielle Bradbury with her top 20 hit then her second single flopped.
May 12, 2015 @ 3:56 pm
Wow I never realized that Craig Wayne Boyd had been dropped from Dot Records. That was really fast! I wonder what happened..
May 12, 2015 @ 4:07 pm
Craig was told by Dot records tor record today’s country and he want to record traditional country that why he left Dot Records.
May 12, 2015 @ 4:07 pm
Did Boyd even have a top 10 hit? I think it might have been the most added song at Country radio for a week or two, but I don’t think it did much on the charts at all if I remember.
I don’t see the Voice doesnt go the way of American Idol soon and get canceled. I don’t know what the ratings are, but America seems to be completely over the singing/competitive reality TV shows and that is reflected in the fact that the Voice has never broken a big artist and American Idol hasnt done it for a long time now either.
May 12, 2015 @ 4:09 pm
On the Hot Country songs chart he debut at #1 in January 2015 for 1 week then he fell off the chart but on the country airplay and mediabase he did not chart on neither of them.
May 12, 2015 @ 4:30 pm
It’s winning Emmys and is frequently #1 in its time slot and demographics. The money is there. Sorry, but it probably isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
May 12, 2015 @ 7:09 pm
Can’t say I’m surprised after America’s Got Talent (another NBC show) pulled Emily West from unknown despite her previous career including being featured with Luke Bryan on an episode of Celebrity Apprentice.
May 12, 2015 @ 8:00 pm
Even if she wins she will most likely be singing country music again. Her three solo singles post magnolia were atrocious. Cover of counting stars by one republic, the one with country rapper bubba sparx, and her last one love never sleeps. If that’s the future then I don’t want to be a part of it.
May 12, 2015 @ 8:07 pm
I think that is most people’s gripe with her getting this chance. She has had plenty of time and access to the resources to prove herself as a solo artist, but no one was interested. Why is this show going to make that different?
May 12, 2015 @ 11:02 pm
There is no resource that can compare to being pumped into millions of households on a weekly basis for 12 weeks. Yes, she could produce a single, release it to radio, pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for promotion to radio, and hope to make it a hit … but still, that’s NOTHING compared to what the continued exposure of the top music show on television brings. Plus, as opposed to one song and whatever accompanying publicity she would do could do, this allows fans of ALL genres to hear her story (no matter to what level it is manufactured), get to know her, and decide for themselves if they want to support her as an artist.
For the right artist, this show could be an absolute catapult… and with the growing levels of success that some alumni have had (albeit hidden to many readers of this blog, apparently, because though they like to claim to not be mainstream, they still seem to see mainstream success as the only real mark of success), there’s reason to believe she could turn it into just that.
The Voice has always been more open to the possibility of being a “redemptive” show (“I’ve tried forever and never got my shot”, “I got my shot but I need another one”, “they all said I couldn’t do it, but I’m proving them wrong”, etc.) while Idol was more the “diamond in the rough” show. So why is it that so many are against it playing out that way?
Certainly says a lot about our culture, I suppose.
May 13, 2015 @ 8:32 am
That “sparked” my interest so I went and listened to her song with Bubba Sparx. God that thing is horrible!
I’ve only seen bits and pieces from any season of the Voice and have never thought any of the acts were worth buying a song or album after they finished the show. But I guess I’m just an old curmudgeon…
May 13, 2015 @ 9:58 am
Did a review for it a while back:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/review-meghan-linseys-anti-bro-country-song-try-harder-than-that
May 14, 2015 @ 9:28 pm
I didn’t like her singles either. However, on The Voice, she’s been fantastic!! She recorded what she was told was best for country radio, not for her, but on the show she’s been singing what IS her, BIG difference!! This happens a lot, why you can take most country songs out now and play them all at the same time and they have the EXACT chord progressions. Check out youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD3DY7z-I8o and the sad thing is it’s not just in country it’s in many genre’s. What works is what they do. I call it cookie cutter music. Originality went out of the window, it’s what the Execs think will work so struggling artists do what they’re told whether they fit that mold or not. As for another post about Craig Wayne Boyd, he’s happily booking all over the U.S. and has just released a new single, filmed a commercial with Nissan, and has more exciting things on the horizon. He said himself he left DOT on twitter, he’s not trying to hide it. This all boils down to the same thing I was talking about earlier. He doesn’t want to be a cookie cutter artist and I don’t blame him, he wants to stick with the country music that was out there before it was ‘fixed’. For the last several years the Execs have looked for young country females that sound like they’re on helium when they sing. Notice, not many are around anymore….hmmmm, the old adage if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Most of the males are singing the cookie cutter songs with the same chord progressions. They’ve fixed it til it’s broke. They’re all in it for the money and the heck with the artists, even though it’s the artists blood, sweat, and tears that’s putting $$$ in their pockets.
May 13, 2015 @ 4:46 am
Not to be all hipster, really–but it does surprise me that serious music fans give a shit about these talent shows. I must be the oddball.
May 13, 2015 @ 10:03 am
I would say most serious music fans do not care about these shows. I didn’t write this article for serious music fans, I wrote it to give voice to disgruntled viewers of “The Voice,” and offer a counterbalance to “The Voice” marketing campaign portraying Meghan Linsey as a victim.
May 13, 2015 @ 7:39 am
What would be awesome if past stars started trying out for these shows to re-ignite their careers. It would be awesome to hear Pharrell tell someone like John Conlee or Mark Chesnut, “This is what you were born to do!”
May 14, 2015 @ 8:55 am
lol !
Pharell:
“John, I can hear the improvement in your singing week to week, due to your listening to all the coaching, you’re really coming into your own. I can’t wait to hear your album”
re original post…..
Meghan sings circles around the other contestants. She’s in another category all together way above them.
I hope she wins the thing if for nothing more than the hundred thousand bucks prize.
May 13, 2015 @ 11:34 am
Everyone please out vote Megan, don’t let Nashville win”¦.Let Adam, or Ferral or Christina win for a change If you don’t I will bet on it Megan will win, not fair. I think the everyone should contact The Voice and call NBC and email them, to say Megan should not be on the voice due to she has been a singer already with Brooks and Dunn and a back up for Blake Sheldan, which he should know its not fair, he just cares about no one else winning. Come on every one please Contact the voice call NBC regarding the voice. I bet you this is going to be fixed and Megan will win. I heard her on the Highway country station this morning, talking about how Brooks came and saw her and the Judds what is it she has to talk on a country music station not fair. Megan has a record deal. Like I said she is a singer already. The others have no music contracts and are just as good or better than Megan. India, did awesome. This is not faire at all.What would be awesome if past stars started trying out for these shows to re-ignite their careers. It would be awesome to hear Pharrell tell someone like John Conlee or Mark Chesnut, “This is what you were born to do!”
May 13, 2015 @ 3:08 pm
Anybody else remarkably creeped out by her makeup and hair in that picture? Why in the hell do so many men find that girlish innocence attractive? Ugh. Gives me the heebies.
May 13, 2015 @ 6:23 pm
YES! She and Raelynn both have that look. Like little girl sex dolls. I agree, it gives me the heebies too.
May 13, 2015 @ 7:40 pm
Hmmm…to be fair, I think you’ve missed something here. American Idol is really at heart an amateur show. The Voice is open to artists at any level of their careers and encourages that. It’s called The Voice for just that reason- it’s about their ability, not about making an unknown into a star. There have been a number of major artists compete on The Voice (including Julie Roberts, who didn’t turn a single chair at the blind auditions) and many more who haven’t even made the cut.
On another note, I’d be careful not to judge someone unless you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. I happen to know Meghan and she has gone through some major battles and hardships in her life, none of which she has talked about on the show. Not once! So maybe that forlorn look you’re belittling has some basis in reality.
In the end, though, she may not win this thing as time and time again with these shows, the public chooses the winner over someone else that is obviously the most talented.
May 14, 2015 @ 10:45 pm
The show is called The Voice. That says it all. I hope Meghann wins but I think Sawyer will. However, I’m glad Meghan has another shot at enhancing her career. She has a great voice and a lot of courage. I’m sure she knew people would use this against her but whether she wins the show or not, this was a great move for her career. She has many new fans, myself included. Go Meghan!
May 15, 2015 @ 12:49 am
Meghan has the best voice on the show this season . But if success in this industry was just about having an amazing voice , Taylor Swift would be working at Starbucks . It takes WAY more than an unbelievable set of pipes . It takes backing , promoting , youth sex appeal , twittering -up a following , exposure , exposure , exposure and more exposure . The actual song you choose to release doesn’t seem to matter if all else is in place . Meghan Linsey could sing the best song ever written in any genre and make it a profound emotional experience. And she could also sing the phone book and do the same .
May 15, 2015 @ 9:31 am
If John Lennon auditioned on “The Voice”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxwHA9kXDKw&feature=youtu.be
do I have to mention it’s funny?
May 16, 2015 @ 7:06 pm
During the blinds when Megan got a 3 of the judges to turn then Blake states she use to tour with him and oddly he didn’t turn…but… Stole her the following week I call Bull Shit! I believe Blake is arrogant and will stop at nothing to win again. Are Voice fans as ignorant as he hopes?! I’m NOT…the relationship he has with Megan makes my skin crawl. It is my opinion Miranda needs to wake up and smell the fishy coffee!!! Megan has been nominated with Steele Magnolias for County music awards, her song was in the top 5 on the Billboard charts. She won another TV show competition in the past! I believe her past musical accomplishments make her a Professional giving her and team Blake a unfair advantage! If she wins I hope the other contestants Scream foul!!! I know I will!!
May 17, 2015 @ 9:48 pm
I like Meghan and she has had a tremendous struggle. She is very talented and if you hear some of her blues songs, they are incredible. I like her blues even more than country. I realize that on this blog everyone is supposed to agree. She has literally had the shit beat out of her on the Voice facebook. “she had her chance”, etc. Sounds like a bunch of third grader whiners where all should get a trophy;) I can’t stand pious people. The Voice is about MONEY, first and foremost. Downloads are top priority. I read their contract that the contestants had to sign. Voice has the right to do whatever they want. That Sawyer kid had a couple good songs that were folk. He will be ready in about four years. Right now he’s a two song three chord kid. He will win because the preteens and teens like the hat and the hair, but he will not be a big star because teens want all the bells and whistles, high energy of a Beyounce concert. They don’t know what folk music is and never will. And don’t have the attention span of a gnat. I have seen many other professionals on the Voice. The one that won two years ago from Puerto Rico was/is a huge star there. The Voice invites whoever they want to be a contestant. I would rather hear Meghan than any of these asinine bro-country multimillionaires who make me puke.
May 17, 2015 @ 10:35 pm
” I realize that on this blog everyone is supposed to agree.”
Not true at all Jen. Dissent and differing perspective are always welcomed and encouraged here, even if I may not agree with them 😉
May 19, 2015 @ 6:28 pm
whatever
May 18, 2015 @ 12:55 am
Absolutely an unfair advantage…She has over 72k followers on twitter under her Steel Magnolia twitter account and is still “using ” her success with Steel Magnolia to promote herself on the Voice and ask her Steel Magnolia followers to download her Voice performances….and She has major county stars already on her band wagon. I think she is extremely talented, but she is not humble or grateful in my perception, I get the feeling she thinks she is better than the competition and I truly thinks she has always believed she could and would win! Sadly she may.
May 18, 2015 @ 12:47 pm
I would say that the voice is a variety show disguised as a singing competition. They make it look like American Idol because that was what was selling at the time. At the end of the day they are employing a lot of musicians (The Voice house band is amazing BTW) and that is a good thing. I actually like the fact that the show is an invite only. It makes for a more quality musical experience. It you just look past the “competition” aspect it’s actually a really good show. I started watching because my wife likes it but I keep watching it mainly because the house band is so flipping good. A dream gig for sure. The guitarist Justin Derrico went to Musician’s Institute and so did I so I have to stick up for him! His wife is one of Taylor Swift’s back up singers. I’m all about the working class musicians.
May 18, 2015 @ 5:40 pm
Meghan should have never been given a chance to audition on The Voice! She has had a professional career.
I am rooting for Koryn. She has improved the most and now, with the help of her coach and the show, she has become a real top contender.
She is what the show is all about.
May 18, 2015 @ 9:08 pm
I really get tired of people judging. And women are much more brutal then men;) We live in such a tense time. What the hell happened? Actually, I know. But I won’t go there;) If you have a different opinion these days, you get tarred and feathered;) Oh….can I say that? I hope Meghan takes names and kicks ass. Will it happen? No. Because the Voice doesn’t work that way. It’s all about $$$$. Everything has a shelf life and I think it’s about over for the Voice. I’ll just listen to my favorite guy, Chris Stapelton and read books. It’s much better for me.
May 19, 2015 @ 1:06 am
I only latched on to this season of ‘The Voice’ because a friend of mine was competing, by the name of Cody Wickline. After he was eliminated in the knockout round, I simply stopped watching, and I lost some respect for Blake Shelton in the process, besides.
May 19, 2015 @ 9:20 am
Meghan Lindsey should be disqualified
May 19, 2015 @ 6:25 pm
Do Not care for Meghan @ all. She tries way to hard! Sorry I really do not mean to be negative.. But she is old news! Her style is so out-dated and she does not have that meekness or purity. How old is she??? Anyway, Sawyer is the voice! What an Awesome guy with a superb voice! OMG
May 20, 2015 @ 4:50 pm
Did anyone catch the look on Meghan’s face after Sawyer was announced the winner? After she hugged him, she walked past him and gave him a high five with the snootiest look on her face, and then took off as quickly as she could to get away from him.I do admit that she is a good singer, and may have even gotten my votes had she showed some sort of humility on the show instead of the “I’m better than everyone else here” attitude that she portrayed. Not to mention in that article that I posted above where she said that it was “a bitter pill to swallow to have to go on a show like this.” Given the controversy as to whether she should have been on the show in the first place (and I personally don’t think it was appropriate for her to be on the show in the first place, least of all under a coach who she used to tour with), her snooty attitude really didn’t help her image. I’m not sure she even deserved to be the runner-up, but I am glad that she did not win.
May 22, 2015 @ 9:30 am
There is so much criticism of The Voice because the winning contestants do not ultimately make big names for themselves. The show isn’t centered around producing future stars as much as it provides them with exposure while engaging in entertainment among both contestants and judges. To call the show karaoke is absurd since the whole appeal is watching supposedly amateur contestants compete and grow. If you’re looking for professional entertainment, a singing competition is not the place to find it.
I agree with the comment that the degree of Meghan’s success is what makes her unfit for a show of this nature, and her prior very close connection to Blake made her participation that much more inappropriate. I’m so happy that Sawyer won and deservedly so. He was my favorite from his very first note. And if any genre or region of music seems to have an edge in these singing competitions, it’s country music. The numbers and results speak for themselves,