Will Simon Fuller’s Group The Future X Mark the End of Talent Competition Shows?
DENNIS LEUPOLD Reading Time: 3 minutes
Will TikTok kill TV talent competition shows? That’s the question on everyone’s mind, as Simon Fuller just revealed the first group formed through the popular social media app. The American Idol creator’s The Future X is made up of three singers and four dancers, each “discovered” on the platform. The rise of TikTok can peak special interest from producers and advertisers who are looking to attract bigger audiences.
Hopefuls auditioned last fall for Fuller’s group by posting a video of their talent on TikTok. Contestants used the hashtag #NextInMusic in an effort to be seen. More than 300 million views were generated from the hashtag. It is easy for such a number to make people wonder if TV is dead.
As America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer winner Angie Green learned, TikTok may be a better way to showcase talent. The performer, who is not part of the newly formed The Future X, went from TV screens to phone screens to make it big with the new group.
Talent show competitions have remained top ranking shows on TV. As streaming continues to change the way we watch our favorite dramas and comedies, shows like The Masked Singer, and America’s Got Talent, draws in millions of viewers each week. Still, those ratings fail in comparison to the audience that TikTok brings.
Fuller knows what he is doing. This is the man who changed talent show competitions by creating American Idol. He is also the man who changed music groups by managing The Spice Girls during their peak success. Fuller has combined two industries that he has conquered and introduced it to a platform that has 3 billion downloads.
If video killed the radio star, then TikTok can very well change the way we watch talent competition shows. TikTok has already crept into the music industry. Dance challenges have been created by music artists far and wide, hoping their music goes viral. The social media platform even has a TikTok music chart, that helps artists on the actual Billboard music charts.
Contestants That Came From TikTok
TikTok’s music domination has slowly grown over the years. Some of our favorite past talent TV show competition contestants already made their appearance on TV. It is not unheard of for producers to scout TikTok stars to compete during an upcoming season. However, this doesn’t take away from the contestant’s talent.
Tory Vagasy racked up over 8 million likes on the app before auditioning for Season 16 of America’s Got Talent. The singer received 3 yeses after singing “Into The Unknown,” from Frozen. Claudia Conway built her follower count to over 1 million before auditioning for American Idol Season 19. Benson Boone’s TikTok also surpasses over 1 million followers. Boone was so popular with talent to match, that he dropped out of Idol after his audition. Instead, Boone signed a deal with Warner Records and Dan Reynolds from Imagine Dragons.
Only time will tell if viewers would rather sit on their phones to enjoy aspiring entertainers competing for a chance at their dreams or if the old pastime of sitting around the TV to vote for their favorite contestants is still ideal.
