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Why Doesn’t ‘The Voice’ Go Out on Tour?

Music competitions have become a staple of 21st century television. It’s a fad that’s entirely understandable; most people like music, and they also enjoy watching competition in action — especially the drama that results from them. The Voice is a testament to that. There are few things more dramatic than seeing young performers that aspire to be stars, singing their hearts out twice a week while knowing that elimination could be the end of their dreams. Even the judges will tell eliminated contestants to carry on with their musical aspirations, but they know along with the audience: this was their big shot, and they lost.

Although those seeking the ultimate in drama may not prefer, there is a way to ease the pain felt by eliminated contestants. American Idol, which has set a precedent for most music competition shows, routinely brings out contestants from recent seasons for touring purposes. Not only does this increase the show’s already-wide reach, but it provides these singers another chance to flaunt their vocal chords. You never know what talent agent or A&R manager may be in the crowd. With the American Idol tour, previously eliminated contestants have broadened their fan base, which at the very least provides them with an increased social media following, which elevates their chances of being signed to a major label. Just sing your heart out, and you may become a viral sensation.

Ever since The Voice premiered in April 2011, it has achieved massive ratings. It’s something executive producer Mark Burnett, who also created reality show king Survivor, is accustomed to. The Voice is not the first of his programs to premiere directly after the Super Bowl, a coveted spot that guarantees ratings and potentially introduces the show to a whole new audience. So with such a broad and exposed audience, it again begs the question: Why doesn’t The Voice go out on tour? The answer is because they already have, and it didn’t have the best results. The Voice went on tour in 2011 with its first season’s top 8 contestants, though sales for the six-city tour wasn’t very impressive. Still, it’s hard to expect much by only traveling to six cities. With the cities including stops in Illinois and Connecticut, it’s not like organizers chose the most buzzing markets. Most importantly, only six shows meant that a very limited audience had access to the opportunity. Increasing the number of shows and reducing the ticket price to a more realistic level would surely result in improved ticket sales. Unfortunately, the show has decided to not tour since.

Another idea that would highlight a potential new The Voice tour is to have the judges perform as well, perhaps alongside the contestants. With the likes of Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Usher, and Shakira on the judging panel, that’s a chock full of musical talent that The Voice could potentially employ for another go at a tour. The cost to have them aboard would be significant, but there’s no doubting that fans would pay a pretty penny to see the judges and contestants on the same stage. It would be an eclectic experience that would compare to a music festival, so charging festival-like prices would not be out of the question. Similar pricing to Warped tour, which utilizes a comparable idea, would be expected, not scoffed at. While it’s understandable that The Voice wants to have its own voice, there would be no shame in following American Idol’s annual tradition of having contestants perform for a generally accessible tour. Not only would it provide recognition for The Voice, but more importantly the aspiring artists who would the second opportunity to show crowds their vocal talents.

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