My Open Letter to X Factor, ITV and Simon Cowell!
This is an open letter, from a passionate fan of the show, and who wants to see it go from strength to strength.
Headlines this week have centred on the X Factor, another judge has departed, this time, Cheryl, who joins Nick Grimshaw, Caroline Flack and Olly Murs to leave the entertainment show. We have been told the viewers are getting “exciting” “innovative” and “new” changes to the show. All I am seeing is bringing back old ideas, old faces, and a simply “tired” formula.
I see journalists, writers, bloggers, the list goes on, with people listing why the X Factor needs to be axed. I could simply join this bandwagon, however I actually love the show, how it discovers new talent, gives the viewers some laughs, and in places light hearted entertainment. What I feel X Factor is now missing, is that raw, simplistic feeling, off simply finding and developing new talent.
All juggernaut shows, like when X Factor and American Idol launched, the two greatest formats for finding stars, was that it had a simple and effective method of sitting and listening to people singing and critiquing them. In today’s age this is deemed “boring”, there is a thought, lights, cameras, swinging chairs and action is needed.
I admire the likes of Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller for what they created, X Factor is the show I have grown up with since 2004 and it is something I still consider to be a relevant today. However I feel that producers, ITV, TV executives, and yes I am going to say it, Simon Cowell, have lost the vision of what makes X Factor successful.
The names, Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne, Nicole Scherzinger, Dermot O’Leary and the “room auditions” have been mentioned for the next series. These aren’t changes, this is going back to the past, and this is Simon and co playing it “safe”. I accustomed myself with describing Simon as a shrewd business man and a risk taker, but since 2013 I think he has stopped taking risks and making necessary changes to the show.
So what should Simon Cowell, ITV, and Syco be looking to do? Well they are more qualified than me to make changes etc, but these changes are coming from a fan of X Factor for 12 years, and for the first time I am actually thinking, why bother anymore? So maybe people should even listen to what a music lover and fan of the show thinks.
The names I mentioned above, will bring the same comments, the same outlook, we have heard it all before. Simon needs to make changes, and in some cases drastic, but still keep the foundations of what made the show successful, finding legitimate stars and recording artists.
The audition rooms I actually like, they are intimate, focus on the contestant, and helps the judges/mentors to see each individual entirely raw without the glitz and glamour of the live arenas. Ultimately it highlights if they have talent and potential, so I welcome that change.
What I have missed is the judges actually getting involved in the competition, I feel the viewers need to see the mentors fighting more for their acts, and at the end of the series they have something to really gain or lose. IMO singers don’t make the best judges, and spot the best talent, I have always believed that, to make a great artist, talent only takes you so far. Even the great Adele, Beyonce, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, have a great team behind them, to help manage and develop their success.
The first change I would make is have 4 figure heads of the “music industry” not the “music world” on the judging table. This ideally for me would be Music Managers, or influential music producers. A great quote by former A & R expert Ben Wardle was that,
“Of course anyone can go online and find new talent, but it takes a genuine fan of music, doing it all the time to find anything that is unique and interesting”
This is why I believe the centre of the X Factor panel in 2016 and beyond should be judges who can find that something unique and interesting, and who genuinely loves music and the industry they work in.
Personally I would assign each of these 4 figure heads a category at the beginning of the series, from the first episode. The judges would have a team of 2 alongside them, one being a songwriter, the other a producer. These “industry experts” work with artists on a daily basis, and know what it takes to be a star, and can ultimately find that something different. The question people may ask how is that exciting for television?
With every judge, and every advisor, comes a different opinion, a different judgement, each contestant will have a different backstory, both musically and privately. Stress, excitement, tension are everyday things in the industry, this can still create gripping television. The best auditions on the show, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, James Arthur, Ella Henderson, Lucy Spraggan etc, all focused on the talent.
If the judges have their own category, and advisors from the beginning this can create a better competition, the judges are looking for the best. I personally wouldn’t have the other judges meet each other until the live shows, their job is to find the talent first, then showcase it to their colleagues from the first live show. It creates expense, excitement, and a rivalry.
During the auditions the contestants should also be able to play their own instruments and play original songs – this has been implemented since 2012 however I would like to see it done in a greater capacity. It really allows the viewer to distinguish the type of artist the contestant wants to be and what their own unique style is. In a category change I would love Live Bands with instruments to have the opportunity to audition for the show. McBusted, Busted, McFly, The Killers, Years and Years, 5SOS, the list goes on of successful bands, and I personally believe the show needs to tap into this market.
Also a greater variety of contestants would be greatly appreciate, I always believe that the success of 2010 was due to the variety in contestants. We had Pop, Soul, Jazz, Indie Pop, soft pop rock, RnB – It gave us a great show. Contestants included, One Direction, Cher Lloyd, Rebecca Ferguson, Matt Cardle, Aidan Grimshaw, Treyc Cohen. I think by searching for and welcoming a greater variety of musicians on the show it would greatly enhance the viewer appeal.
For Bootcamp, I would axe the 6 chair challenge, while dramatic, it doesn’t provide artistic growth, or is beneficial to the contestants. What I would have is a group round for each individual category, where they are choose a song and must sing it simply acapella, much like the older series yes, however they will be competing in their individual categories. This will make it much more competitive, and will show the judges who truly stands out in each group, basically who the stars are. There should be a cut in this round, of half the contestants.
The next stage of bootcamp should feature 3 key “workshops” which helps to develop the contestant’s growth – Vocal Workshop, Stage Presence/Choreography, Music Production. The judge and their 2 key advisors will shadow the contestants and look at their ability, work ethic and musical knowledge. They will be working with the X Factors own vocal coaches, Creative Directors and producers during this round. The knowledge they gain from this will be result in a live performance in an intimate setting in front of the judge and the 2 key advisors who will give a critique of the performance, and of how they believe they have progressed throughout bootcamp. The judges then select their top 6.
Judges houses will be a unique experience – The two key advisors along with the judge will get the first opportunity to mentor the contestant before they perform to a live musical guest. This will help the judge understand how they can help the contestant, and if they could work with them and nurture their talent. The judge will ultimately make the decision on who to send through, after listening to the musical guests opinions, and that of their advisors.
For the live shows, I would completely axe the themes, and let the act deliver a song they feel best suits them. If there are to be certain themes, make them broad, such as unplugged week, song that defines me as an artist etc, but make it as broad as possible, it shouldn’t be specific to a certain genre or era. More songs should be available, a broader and more current song list is needed. I would have a special mentor each week, or musical guest as it is beneficial for artists to learn from others, I think this is very important to have.
For voting, I would keep it quite similar however, I believe that studio versions of the live show performances should be made available. Each purchase should count for a vote, as we need to ensure that those who get the most votes will sell the most in the real world. I still agree with the bottom 2 idea, however I believe the judges at this stage of the competition should be prevented from deciding who goes. The bottom 2 should perform, then a twitter/voting app poll should be opened, the contestant who polled the lowest out of those votes, after singing for survival should leave. The judges can comment after the performance, but their job is ultimately done, the public should choose.
I think the final prize should be changed, the winning mentor gets to in some capacity work with the artist, on their winning single, and first record. As shown last year, I think an original single would be perfect, and X Factor Australia has shown that can be done and be incredibly successful. Work with their individual mentor and advisors on developing that winning single. It allows the viewers to hear something different and unique, and something new for “radio, internet and television” to listen, rather than a tired cover. It will show the type of artists the contestant should really want to be.
The question we are left asking, is who the judges should be? I think talent shows in recent years have went for a popular name, someone in the headlines, however that doesn’t make the best just – we need that passionate person on the panel and on the advisory team. The names I about to mention most probably haven’t heard off, however nobody really knew Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh or Sharon Osbourne when they were introduced to primetime TV. It’s about finding a panel with the correct industry knowledge passion and belief in the show and contestants.
The Judging Panel
I firmly believe Simon Cowell needs to stay, he is the figure head of the show, but his three colleagues who would mentor a category alongside him, should be people he feels challenged against. People he wants to compete against, and someone where his reputation is on the line. That is how X Factor was being pitched at the beginning.
Colin Barlow:- He began his career as a talent scout and A & R man, and has worked with Warner Music, Polydor, before joining Sony Music as managing director of RCA Records in 2012. He has worked with Paloma Faith, Kodaline and Laura Mvula, while he plotted the rise of Boyzone and Girls Aloud. While Director of Polydor he worked with The Kaiser Chiefs, The Scissor Sisters, James Morrison and Take That. This highlights a man who has worked with the best, he knows who a star is, and ultimately what will sell.
Alison Donald:- Instead of bringing back Sharon Osbourne, replace her with someone who is out their signing and managing people now. Alison Donald, has been senior director of A & R at Columbia Records UK and was promoted to co president of the label in May 2012. She has helped develop the careers of artists such as Calvin Harris and Rita Ora, while signing Grammy Award Winners Civil wars. She has also worked with british artist Tom Odell and prides herself in signing the finest artists that she can find.
Fraser T Smith:- Isn’t it about time that a major producer was on the judging table of one of these “music” shows. Frazer T Smith is one of the greatest in his field of music, and has worked with the world’s greatest artists. He has worked with X Factor artists before, including Leona Lewis and James artists, he knows how to make hit records, and who sounds good on them. He has worked with the world’s best artists, Britney Spears and Adele, and won a Grammy for the Adele’s set fire to the rain. His mixing skills have contributed to 6 UK and US number ones. This is a guy who is needed on a panel, someone who is out there working with the world’s best, and knows whose voice and image will sell a song.
Nicola Tuer:- Nicola was appointed chief operating officer of Sony Music UK and Ireland in 2014 and was executive vice president until 2011. She has been part of the company since 1995. She has also been part of the gaining Sony Music UK their first ever country music signing, known as Ward Thomas. She looks for refreshing talent with infectious personalities, and is an executive who looks for something different and new, to what is already out there.
The Advisors
So the advisors, this can include a range of people, Radio Djs, songwriters, management, producers, vocal coaches people who work daily in the music environment. Some potential advisors could include people like Amy Wodge, Trevor Nelson, FKA Twigs, Naughty Boy, Ed Drewett, Yvie Burnett. Its people with insider knowledge of what happened daily in the music industry.
My final message, if by somehow the X Factor Team reads this, for people to care about the show again, you need to care. The time and effort needs to be put into the show, to bring new ideas, constructive critiques, and those on the panel need to have the time, ability and passion to help find a star. I’m not saying that these changes will all work, however X Factor needs to remember the foundations of the show when it first started. This was getting the British public to feel part of something special, something meaningful, and where they could make a difference, and watch the birth of a star on a Saturday night. I feel those working on the show lost that message, or have become blinded by the lights camera action.
Also people may say when reading my opinions, these people will never be judges….well if they knew they were part of something special again, which was raw, organic, and moved away from cat fights, and the glitz and glamor I think they would. These people are in the industry to find talent, and talent will flock to something they believe to be worthwhile. If X Factor puts the love and passion back into finding the correct panel, offering the best advice and opportunity, while also welcoming a variety and abundance of talent, it may well be able to be saved.
The question is are the X Factor Team willing to make changes, and do they want the show to succeed anymore. I certainly don’t want this show to fail, that’s why I offered my insight as a viewer and someone passionate about music.
), Naughty Boy, Mark Ronson, Timbaland... Likewise, there are big musicians who run their own labels - P Diddy, Jay Z (obviously some of these names are too big for the show)... 