As the golden buzzer goes off for another contestant at America’s Got Talent, critics may argue that talent shows have sped up the process of becoming a musician and a famed celebrity, reducing the need for hard work. However, this essay will analyse the inherent nature of the music industry and how it has never been a question of hard work, arguing against the statement.
The statement assumes that hard-work was present before television talent shows had proliferated. Yet, this is dubious at best. In many cases, being successful in the music industry – like Hollywood – relies a lot on luck. For example, whether or not your “vibe” or “style” is suited to the current genre of music, or whether or not a label is scouting for young blood. In other cases, producers are looking for the entire package – the looks, the smile, and perhaps, the music. These are often factors out of one’s control: there is only so much one can do about their physical appearance, the sound of their voice, or society’s musical interests. In addition, money plays a huge role in striking fame – take Rebecca Black’s infamous “Friday” as an example, where it was discovered that her mother paid millions of dollars for her to produce a hit single. Hence, success in the music industry has rarely been about hard-work, countering the idea that television talent shows have put an end to hard work.
In the minority of situations where hard work is the determining factor for one’s success in the music industry, talent shows can actually boost perseverance and commitment in contestants. By constantly being in competition with others, contestants always feel the desire to improve and work hard, whilst gaining inspiration from judges, coaches and other participants. This accentuates the desire for hard work, contrary to the statement. Furthermore, the aspect of ‘coaching’ is prominent in many talent shows – for example, in the X factor, participants are assigned to celebrities to get feedback on their performances. This motivates them to work harder.
Some may argue that television talent shows provide an easy, simple road for the path to a music career. They may point to winners, such as James Bay, Susan Boyle, One Direction, who have all succeeded in their music careers after being in the spotlight of America’s Got Talent or American Idol. They rose to fame and gained publicity simply through participating in a contest. Yet, their success should not be overlooked: they had to compete with many other participants, endure years of vocal training, and suffer setbacks too. Although they were provided a platform to showcase their work, the skills needed to arrive at that platform must have come from hard work, dedication and perseverance. It takes bravery and courage to stand up on stage in front of national television.
In conclusion, hard work has never been the sole part of the music industry, so talent shows cannot be said to have sounded its dead-knell. Yet, in the minority of circumstances where hard work does play a major role in succeeding, talent shows have served to enhance perseverance and commitment in contestants.
IB Wisdom 