Is ‘AGT’ Becoming Just Another Singing Show?

In recent years, a common complaint from viewers of America’s Got Talent is that the show focuses too much on singers – thereby making it too similar to singing competition shows such as The Voice and American Idol. Is it about time AGT gave more attention to non-singing acts?

Does AGT Focus Too Much on Singers?

AGT is a show for performers with a wide range of talents, which happens to include singing. While some viewers love hearing performances from talented vocalists each week, others have expressed frustration over how much attention singers tend to get each year.

Just this past season, singer Jessica Sanchez took home the million-dollar prize, while singer Jourdan Blue finished in third place. There were also two other singing acts competing in the finale – Steve Ray Ladson and Leo High School Choir. Rappers Chris Turner, Mama Duke, and Micah Palace were also finalists, bringing even more music to the show.

Several singing acts also received Golden Buzzers this season, including Jessica Sanchez, Jourdan Blue, Charity Lockhart, Birmingham Youth Fellowship Choir, and Steve Ray Ladson. Although a Golden Buzzer isn’t a must-have for an act to go viral, it definitely helps bring more attention to a performance.

Singing is undoubtedly the most-awarded talent on the show. Over 20 seasons, more than half the winners of AGT have been singers. That’s including ventriloquists Terry Fator and Darci Lynne Farmer, whose acts heavily featured singing.

In future seasons, should the judges make more of an effort to press the Golden Buzzer for non-singing acts? Should the show ban singing acts altogether? Some fans have expressed their thoughts on the situation.

Should the Show Ban Singers from Auditioning?

Last year, a user on the AGT subreddit posted their opinion that there should be “no more singing acts on the show,” adding, “I’m so sick of a singing act beating out something spectacular.”

A few years ago, another Reddit user expressed a similar sentiment, writing, “My girlfriend and I have been watching AGT together for the past 5 years, and the sheer number of singers they put through is absurd. Don’t get me wrong, some of those singers are incredible, but that number is so low compared to how many make it through Judge Cuts.”

Although the show has phased out the Judge Cuts round in recent years, the first round of the competition is still decided entirely by the judging panel. Should the judges make more of an effort to balance the number of acts in each category when sending performers through to the live shows?
What do you think? Are there too many singers on AGT each season? If so, what do you suggest as a solution? Let us know in the comments below.