Idol, X Factor, Or The Voice: Who Will Fans Watch?

Things are heating up in the world of singing competition shows on American television.  One year after the departure of famed judge and record producer Simon Cowell, American Idol has made headlines for teaming up with music industry juggernaut Interscope Records, and selecting who they have described as, their most talented crop of singers in the ten years they’ve been on the air.  Not to be out done Cowell has been prepping to import his successful British singing competition, X Factor, which like Idol, will air on Fox. They too have made headlines recently for beefing up   their roster of music industry heavy weights by scooping up the former chairman of the Island Def Jam Music Group, Antonio “LA” Reid.

An entirely unique perspective twards this happening was provided when Cowell and Reid joined American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, on his nationally syndicated radio show.  The three talk American Idol, X Factor auditions, and  even make mention of singing competitions’ new kid on the block, NBC’s The Voice, who is clearly under Simon’s skin.

Simon Cowell & Antonio “LA” Reid

On Air With Ryan Seacrest

Ryan Seacrest Productions, Inc.

Perhaps Cowell is worried that he has been beaten to the punch.  The Voice, which premiers on NBC in April has taken some of XFactor’s most definitive qualities, put their own twist on it, and amped the show’s on air talent up with some well known and likable faces.  The show has enlisted the help of Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, and Blake Shelton to all serve as “coaches.” Making competition that much steeper , it was recently confirmed, that NBC has brought in their own late night talk show host, and New Years Eve Host, Carson Daly, to also handle Voice’s hosting duties.  Daly’s contribution is likely to also be significant, because of his career as a pop music DJ, and past of hosting several music related television programs via his time as a VJ at MTV.  Most notably, pop music fans of the 90s and early 2000’s remember Carson rising to fame as the host of MTV’s music video request show Total Request Live, or “TRL”.

The Voice Promo

NBC Networks

Will The Voice be heard in this sea of music shows?  Only time will tell.  But one thing is for sure, music fans will have a lot of TV to pick from, and like in the many cases with of the voting for the show contestants, who will be successful will ultimately be up to them Happy TV watching everyone.