It’s down to Amber Bullock and Andrea Helms as the finalists of this season’s Sunday Best on BET. Public voting opened this past Sunday, and we’ll know the winner this Sunday, September 4th. But, then what?
Sure, the winner will release her debut album on the Music World Gospel label, after Mathew Knowles struck a deal with BET to sign the winners of last season and this season. But after the buzz of winning dies down, and the album runs its cycle… what for the winner?
Big album sales? More performance opportunities? Big money? Maybe not…
The problem, as I see it, is similar across most talent competition shows– interest in the program does not equal interest in the winner’s album or long-term career.
We have cared enough to tune in, cared enough to comment, and we may even care enough to vote. It costs us nothing but our time. But to spend $10 on any one of the finalists’ albums is clearly more of a “vote” than even a fraction of the show’s millions of viewers are willing to make.
See, the audience cares, just not that much. So, the biggest challenge for the winners– and the labels to which they’re signed– is to make more of the viewers into consumers. It’s to make us fall so in love with the product– the artist, that is, not the show itself– that we still care even once a new season begins.
This is particularly important for Amber and/or Andrea, by the way, as I’m hearing rumblings that BET will start auditions for its next season sooner than ever, within the next month or two.
Which begs another question– does it even matter who wins? With the exception of Elder Goldwire McLendon last season, both the winner and runner-up have received album contracts. In fact, Crystal Aikin and runner-up Shari Addison released their albums on the same day in 2009.
So, maybe Sunday Best is more of just a fun weekly showcase of this nation’s homegrown gospel talent than a platform to become ‘the next big’ whatever. Maybe it’s just a resume builder, as opposed to the grand career launch pad that many think it is.
Don’t get me wrong– I enjoy the show and plan to tune in each season. Without question, Sunday Best is one of the most entertaining television programs to ever hit the gospel industry.
But what if that’s all it is?
Wow, honestly, I love that EJ decided to post this. This opens up a discussion that will have everyone asking the question, "Will things speed up, in a good way, or in a bad way?"
I concur EJ. To me, the show is nothing more than a platform for wanna be gospel stars to get their shine. At chuch, they've been told they can sing, and Sunday Best allows them a large platform to become a household name for a second. People tell the auditioners, "Girl you can blow! The world needs to see how great you are!!!" Next thing you know, people are lining up in the cold (and heat) in order to audition for a "contest" that has wishy-washy judges, inconsistent mentoring, and themes that don't even line up with the genre!!! Sunday Best is nothing more than YOUTUBE magnified. Get attention; gain fans/followers, and present your talent and hope that something big comes out of it. Becuase Sunday Best is surely not the "something big" that auditioners have expected to take their careers to the stratosphere. All auditioners: Use Sunday Best as a platform ONLY. You have NOT "arrived" if you win Sunday Best. Just my opinion....
Why didn't Elder Goldwire McLendon get a contract?
Hopefully when Andrea Helms wins this season she will have a wider audience to draw from. Letting Amber Bullock would only give you more of the same with past SB winners. Andrea will have a broader appeal. My hope is that Matthew Knowles doesn't take her out of her element of singing and songs like they've done with Crystal, Le'Andria and Y'anna and give them songs that don't fit the sound they had on Sunday Best. I'm looking for the song Le'Andria sung when she won to be her first single and its not even on the shortened cd coming out. What a shame. Mr. Knowles, I enjoyed the T5:7 album so do right by Andrea Helms.
I certainly had no problem going from viewer to consumer for Crytal Aiken or Shari Addison--I loved them both after watching the show and it didn't matter to me who won. I was worried that the runner up would not get the same amount of attention and advertising, and the the production quality would not be equal, but that was not at all the case. I still love both of their projects equally. I'm ready to go from viewer to consumer of Le'Andria's project and I knew I would as soon as I heard her during the audition phase. She just had that voice that I knew could make a great album. This year...I'm not so sure I feel that way about both contestants. I don't necessarily blame the contestants, but perhaps the focus of the show has gotten such that the producers have forgotten that we have to want to be consumers after it's all over; otherwise it was just a talent show. But a lot can happen between choosing a winner and the winner's project hitting the shelves. I'm praying for the best for all of the contestants and definitely the winner.
I couldn't have said it better myself! My sentiments exactly! I am one whom loves gospel music! It's first sacred to me! Yet so many other inspirational, wonderful, encouraging, motivating forces are involved that begin with hearing, then feeling, relating, experiencing, and conveying heartfelt sentiments close to the heart; that feed my spirit. I as a consumer am most definitely not into collecting music solely upon the basis of it's popularity or the artist whom ministers, or performs it. In these economical times I just want great quality muisc that gets a vital, true, triumphant, edifying, or uplifiting message across without all the plastic, commercial, merchandising frills.
Yes, it matters who wins....don't they get a car LOL? On the other hand....I'm going to need the record label to invest more into these artist....are they ever on the radio or just not in my town? Yes, I always wonder what happens to them and I support their projects, but as you stated most ppl don't. It's a case of out of sight out of mind.
Sad to say, but there is NOTHING in store for either Andrea or Amber in the gospel music community. Despite Mary Mary's comments about knowing what the community wants and Andrea has it, she doesn't. She's had pitch problems since the finalists began singing on stage and her anointing and passion must be confined to the Sunday Best stage b/c I NEVER feel it in my living room. Amber on the other hand is a better singer, but she hides her emotion and doesn't give us much stage presence. You could notice from her 'I gotta go' comment last week after she SLAYED the audience. Instead of embracing the worship moment she runs off stage. I can't see a future beyond this "given" album for either of them. I'm not sure what gospel artists look for in other artists, but at the end of the day, we are the consumers who buy their products and if we don't like you ...WE DON'T LIKE YOU. It's hard to be a successful artist without the support of the people.
I didn't think of her running off stage like that. She might have embraced the moment off stage as well....
WOW EJ!! you just said just what ive been thinking for the last few years! Even with the Leandria.. they have not done her justice as an artist, giving her an album with only 5 tracks and two medleys from sunday best ( THE RAW AUDIO) not to add the single sounds "home-made" and isn't mixed well. I THINK THE BEST THING FOR ANY ARTIST TO DO IS TO GO ON SUNDAY BEST.. MAKE IT FAR.. AND LOSE. it appears that Jessica Reedy is the only person that has gotten it right.
To start, I like both finalists and have enjoyed them, for different reasons. Putting the singing aside (which I get is important but there are other things that go into the WHOLE PACKAGE of a worthy contestant/winner), one stands out over the other in terms of their approach to ministering in song. One is ministering in song; the other is simply singing a song and there's a BIG DIFFERENCE between the two. I have to chuckle at the comment about the audience being "SLAYED" at Amber's performance (that's one's personal opiniona), which she then runs off the stage. It reminded me of the scene from the movie Coming to America when Randy Watson "sang" his song at the fundraiser, shouted "Sexual Chocolate", dropped the mike, and exited the stage. Amber's leaving the stage like that was, in a word, UNPROFESSIONAL and defines the most of what she did: sing a song versus Andrea who remained on stage and continued to minister in song. This sets the tone for who has earned the title. But this is BET with a certain audience so it will be what it will be, from the type of audience BET attracts and the faulty (suggest: RIGGED?) voting mishap. Selah.
This season of Sundays Best was a joke! Broadway tunes......ah this is a Gospel singing competiion how can the players sound too churchy! Ugh! Way to ruin a good spiritual show. The final two I am sorry to say suck! What happend to Mama Sue and the last guy standing?.........................
You have some great points EJ, we tune into the show but have we bought the project? My question is before Matthew Knowles got this deal did anyone consider giving the viewers a discount on the upcoming project of the winner? Do the producers of the show really care what happens to winner after the season is over? I would think they do, because if the winner becomes a chart topper other people will be more interested in competing on the show. More people will mean more talented people, and after what we saw this season Sunday Best needs more talented contestants.
I'm sure it's not cheap, but Sunday Best -- and the artists it presents -- would be more successful if the show did not employ such severe cuts and if it also allowed more audience input: 1) Severe Cuts: The elimination system that the show currently uses is too aggressive. The current system doesn't allow the audience to really get to know the artists. Instead, the show could, for instance, go from 20 to 15, then 10, with one eliminated each week. Or, even if the show went from 20 to 10, the top 10 eliminations rate should be 1 per week -- not from 10 to 5 to 3. That does not allow enough time for the audience to really become familiar with the artists, nor is it fair to the artists, many of whom have never ministered on such a far-reaching platform before millions. Show participants should be allowed to grow. 2) Audience Input: Again, I'm sure it's expensive, but BET/Sunday Best/Music World would give the artists a better chance to succeed if they allowed the public to vote earlier in the process. Once the competition gets to the top 10, the voters should be allowed to call in and vote. Winners (and probably even those who don't win) would have a better chance at success if they are able to build a support base. Additionally, viewers would be more inclined to offer longer-term support to someone that they feel is more their choice, and not mostly the choice of the judges. Switching gears a bit, a couple other points about humility with the show... The show needs to get rid of their tagline: "Many are called, but only one will be chosen." I completely get what the show is trying to do with the tagline, but that's not what the Word of God says. Don't twist the Word like that. Even is someone doesn't win, he or she may still be one of God's chosen. Also, the show has dropped some lines about "creating" artists. God creates the artists, their ministry, their craft. The show should be an instrument to help HONE their craft for maximal impact in their ministry to the Body of Christ and the world, if that's their mandate. (By the way, that is another reason to allow the artists more time to grow on the national platform. It would help better hone the artists for they type of ministry need for such a large platform.)
You hit the nail right on the head. this season they ask god to leave and he did... why would they ask the contestantsnot to sound churchey that confused me.
I believe that this is a show for entertainment purposes. The songs that move us move us because of what we feel or believe. I have been in my church and listened to a singer and got the same result. Jesus is not confined to a box or a show, we spend our money on what we like when we like and that is your choice but I have church everyday. However the show needs to get back to its advertised roots.
I was disappoinfed with the results of the 2011 contest. I think that the results were rigged. Everyone could see that Andrea Helms was a more talented versatile performer than Amber Bullock
Not to get off topic, but, has anyone heard anything from Elder Goldwire McLendon?
sorry to say,church today is not what Jesus meant for it to be. in what we call the black church,we quick to now say dont judge me god is not finished we me yet! and contuine to live in sin wilfully, now to sundays best it isanother case of church folks love entertainment more then the anointing.
I am very disappointed with Sunday's Best this season. I do not think that the contestants should have sung Broadway songs. If the show is called Sunday's Best; well, I want to hear Gospel singing not anything from Broadway. I also hope that next year you will change Judges. It would be good to see some new judges. I think that "one" of the judges is just a little too hard on the contestants. Too many of the winners sound like Jazz singers instead of Gospel singers if the winners keep sounding like Jazz singers the name of the show should change to the Best of Jazz instead of Sunday's Best. The winner for this year 2011 Sunday Best only sang one good song that sounded like a gospel song. I really hope that next year I will SEE new judges and HEAR only Gospel singing.
@chieflevite. I like your comments. Sounks like you are familiar with Gospel music, praise and worship, etc and all that goes along with it. I would like to talk to you further in that regard.
Can someone explain to me why so many gospel artists are taking unusual photos like with only one eye showing. It sounds crazy, but if you know anything about secret societies and their symbology, etc. I'm seeing it a lot. Dawkins & Dawkings, Kierra Sheard and I even received a Black Gospel Promo advertisement of Greg Davis formerly of The Word Network with a photo of one eye showing and the other one not. Something is going on. People are selling out for $$$$$$$$$$$$$ and zeros not only in the secular world but also in the world of religion. It's a shame and it's a sin. God is not pleased. Wake up and smell the coffee music lovers and Christians there are more people bowing, selling out and shaking hands with secret societies FOR SUCCESS, MONEY AND FAME than meets the eye.
Deoondra, enuff said!!!!!!! These folks need to read up on the devil in the music industry. They need to youtube illuminati and all the mess that goes on with the industry, and realize although we are a part of this world, we are not of it. So while the world is suffering God's people should be blessed. While their music curses people, ours is to be a blessing, whether the CEO of the gospel label is reporting to a secular boss. Someone has to take a stand......
But back to Sundays Best, it is what it is. Its just a platform that can be used. If you dont like it or dont support it, don't watch. There will be someone else there to take your place. It is for the entertainment of your household, without all the naked ladies and cursing and blood slashing. It is WHOLESOME entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less. Some artists will get something out of it, some just received an experience. Same goes for any other TV show. If you are looking for anointing, go to Church on Sunday morning. If you are looking for Christian folk to sing about Jesus and give some entertainment, turn on BET from time to time. For those who wanted Andrea to win, stop crying and send in money to her to help her jumpstart her career and get an album out there. For those that wanted Amber to win, she did. Life goes on, and God still blesses. Happy day, bloggers!
@people please.ha I like your name. Ha ha ha
Hate to say it, but that thought has crossed my mine too. Amber's performance Sunday night was her best , but the results were in by then. Going back to the original editorial, I would have agreed except that after having little interest in Leandria last season, she totally blew me away on Sunday and I'll be buying her album.
This Show is WRONG and for each and every individual who really understands TRUE WORSHIP and PRAISE would not stand for such a Show.....This is a show that puts the Children of God in a Circus and condones us as Believers to put on Theatrics to get others to scream and shout. I don't understand how people who LOVE the Lord would compete to be seen for fame and glory and think that its okay. This show has good intentions but there going about it in a WORLDLY MATTER; to get up on a stage and to be JUDGED and BASED off of how well you SING and many votes you get, NOT TO MENTION if you can get the judges Moving and also (keep in mind these are men and women just like us)....Then your considered ANOINTED....come on that is taking Christianity to a whole NEW LOW and now we need APPROVAL from men and women on HOW STRONG OUR FAITH is by how well we perform....I think the editors and writers need to go back to the drawing board on this show.