Why only singers?

[saxy_jag]

What's the media fascination with singing talent as opposed to any other musical talent?

I've just had an email from Avon (I'm a rep), and they're launching a search to find talented singers and songwriters among their ranks.

And I don't take too much notice of shows like X-Factor, but I have noticed that, apart from some of the dancers that have emerged, most of the winners and runners-up are singers.

Why? Why doesn't the media want talented guitarists, keyboard players, brass players and the like? Aren't they as marketable or what? A friend of mine is about to audition for one of these shows (sorry, can't remember which) as a Benny Goodman soundalike. He's incredibly talented but even if he makes it onto the show, I can't imagine people being encouraged to vote for him because he's not a singer.

[B00]

Well XFactor is purely about snging, hence thew singers :P

And as for Britain's got Talent, it was won last year by a gymnastic troop and the two years previous to that it was won by a dance troop and a street dancer.

[jd_1984]

I suppose there is "Britains Got Talent"? You can showcase any musical or instrumental talent on that show. Wasnt there a guy who got to the final stages who played a saxophone?

[Zeuhl]

The pop business is about making money so markets singers not instrumentalists with very few exceptions over the years because hit pop records are rarely instrumentals.

Instrumentalists make their own way in the Music Business not the Pop business.

Sadly, shows like XF don't even want original singers! The safe and lazy option is to recognise and promote someone who could be the new .... George Michael, Beyonce etc

The likes of Bowie, Gaga let alone Radiohead wouldn't get past the first show.
.

[saxy_jag]

I think you've hit it right on the nail, Zeuhl - the 'industry' wants people it can make the most money out of.

It's lovely to see the gymnastic troops and dancers winning through, and I remember the sax guy. I remember saying at the time that we'd probably never hear of him again and that the only reason people went for him was because, as you say, he was a possible 'new' Kenny G (who, in all fairness, is one of the very few sax players known outside the sax or jazz world, so that's no surprise).

Don't get me wrong, I like that people are encouraged to make music in any way, shape or form, but not everyone can sing and I just wish the makers and organisers of these productions would give a little more time to those who can play instruments. Because we need to encourage youngsters to play instruments beyond their teens, but it's hard to convince them when all they see in the media are programmes like BBC Young Musician of the Year, and the brass band programme that Sue Perkins did. It's hardly cool or wicked or whatever word teens use these days.