The Voice vs America's Got Talent
Not all competition shows are made equal. Which one is the best fit for indie artists? Let's find out.

Singing competitions are one of the best ways to showcase your talent and win over a bigger audience as an indie artist. You don't even have to win, but if you make a good impression, you would've won an audience that will continue to follow you after the competition. The United States is blessed with many such competitions, two of which I'll compare in this article.

The Voice and America's Got Talent are two of the biggest competitive shows not just in the US, but the whole world. Different countries also have their versions of both competitions such as Britain's Got Talent or The Voice Nigeria. That said, which of these competitions is better for you as an artist? If you had to pick one to participate in, which one should you go for?

I'll compare the two competitions in two categories. First, which format gives you a better competitive experience? To answer that, we'll compare the format for both competitions. Second, which competition is more effective for producing actual stars? To answer that, we'll compare how participants fared after the competition. So let's begin.

Format

America's Got Talent

One of the longest-running shows on American TV, America's Got Talent (AGT) has been running for over eighteen seasons. The format has changed a bit over the years, but this is how it looks now. There are four judges on the show. Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel, and Heidi Klum are the current judges, and Terry Crews is the host.

There are two sets of rounds, the auditions, and the live shows. The auditions are recorded and televised while the live shows, as the name implies, happen live. Each contestant will have to get a "yes" from at least three out of the four to make it to the next round of auditions, but if you get a golden buzzer, you go straight to the live shows. Note that AGT is not limited to musicians but is open to all talents.

At each round of the auditions, the judges will vote to either let you continue or send you home, but the live shows are different. Once you get there, it's the fans who will vote you out or into the finale, and vote to decide the winner of the grand prize of one million dollars.

The Voice

Unlike AGT, The Voice is limited to singers. Like AGT, it features four judges except they're called coaches. This leads to one major difference in the format of the Voice. While AGT has different acts competing against each other, The Voice gives every coach a team of singers to work with and mentor throughout their stay in the competition. The coaches are Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, Chance the Rapper, and Niall Horan.

There are five categories here: the blind auditions, the battles, the knockouts, the playoffs, and the live shows. The blind auditions feature each contestant singing while the coaches have their backs turned to them. If the coaches like what they hear, they'll turn around to add the contestant to their team. If more than one coach turns for a contestant, they have to slug it out for who gets the contestant. The final decision belongs to the contestant, though.

Once broken into teams, the contestants will compete against each other in the blinds and knockouts, then perform for the fans from the live shows. The final winner is also voted by the American people.

Verdict

When it comes to format, I prefer the setup of The Voice. The fact that it allows you to learn from established artists is one big advantage. It's limited to singers and features a much more interesting run to the finale. The fight for singers in the blind auditions is also fun to watch.

The Voice takes this round.

Effectiveness

America's Got Talent

AGT contestants have enjoyed plenty of success even after the show. One prime example is Lindsey Stirling. She didn't even win the competition, but she has gone on to build one of the biggest YouTube channels I've come across, racking over a billion views. She's one of the best examples of how you can use a competition to boost your music to the next level.

Other good examples of AGT successes include Shin Lim, a magician who has gone on to start his own show in Las Vegas; Terry Fator, a ventriloquist who went on to bag a deal worth five million dollars with the Mirage in Las Vegas; and Jackie Evancho, an exceptional classical singer who won AGT at only ten years old and has gone on to become the youngest artists to ever go platinum.

Two things are certain. If you use the publicity correctly, your talent and hard work can push you to the very top. On the other hand, winning a competition alone is not enough to launch you to the heights you desire.

The Voice

Contestants from the voice have also enjoyed some success, but none of them have become massive stars. This has been a major criticism of the competition, but the organizers of The Voice have argued that stardom is something every artist can reach out for given the platform, and this is what they have done. Another argument in their favor would be that many of the contestants have gone on to make a decent living from their music.

To many of those people, being able to make a decent living from their music is probably victory enough.

Verdict

I agree with the organizers of The Voice. The best a competition can do for you is to give you a good platform to show off your talent. If you handle it right, stardom is very easily within your reach. Working with some of the biggest names in the business can only be an advantage to anyone looking to build a massive music career.

That said, AGT edges this round for me on account of their more successful cast of contestants, albeit not limited to singers.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, indie artist. The Voice has a better competition format and a much more engaging competition that helps improve you as an artist. AGT has a better record for success beyond the competition. Ultimately, you'll make your own choice.

As you do that, remember that there are no right answers. Both these competitions are excellent platforms to build a bigger audience. Do your research and go for the one you think serves your interests better.