Seal slams TV talent shows

OHMYGOSSIP — Seal has hit out at shows such as ‘The X Factor’ and ‘The Voice’ for not protecting its artists once the programme ends.

Although the 52-year-old singer took part in the first two seasons of the Australian version of ‘The Voice’ he insisted that TV music and talent shows suffer from a number of format issues, including a lack of support when the programme ends.

Speaking to John Leslie on his Key 2 Greatest Hits radio show in Manchester, he said: “I think that the format [of ‘The Voice’] has some issues and I think that they need to be resolved. And not just that show, music or talent shows in general, I think they all kind of suffer from a similar thing.

“I’ve had a really great infrastructure. And these shows don’t offer that. It’s all mainly about great TV, and then after that it’s like, wham, bam, thank you, right, you’re off.”

Seal went on to add: “When the artists are on the show, there’s an infrastructure that supports them. And so basically it’s like being signed to a record company and management and you have this whole kind of infrastructure. But when they’re off the show, even when they win it, that infrastructure ceases to exist. Even when they’re signed to record companies, they don’t have the same infrastructure and the same support system. And that’s why seldom does it yield any real major stars. It’s not that the artists aren’t talented. It’s that there isn’t an infrastructure that cultivates their talent and helps them grow as an artist.

Seal also ruled taking on a role on the judging panel of ‘The X Factor’.

He said: “Well, I don’t know if I would. I’ve got an album to… and I’ve also got four kids who are demanding and more deserving of my time. So I don’t know.”