NBC’s ‘The Voice’: Adam Levine gets VERY candid on record labels, post-show success for artists

Clearly, Adam Levine has a lot to say about the process for artists after “The Voice,” and let’s just say that he is not exactly pleased with how the majority of the record labels out there are handling these artists.

For those unaware of how this works, the easy way to sum it up is that after the show ends, the winner / significant artist from the season is sent to a different imprint within the Universal label depending on their genre. So far, the only one that we’ve seen do a good job is Big Machine Records, which has done wonders with Cassadee Pope, Danielle Bradbery, and RaeLynn. Everyone else has done next to nothing. Are the contestants at times to blame? Sure, and Adam even acknowledges that in a new interview on Howard Stern’s radio show. However, he also makes it clear that the majority of the blame does go to how the label handles these artists after the fact:

“The rollout of all that is still such a mess … And by the way, just to clarify, this has nothing to do with what happens on NBC or with the people. In that time, we do so much great s— for these singers, and then they go to a record label that I won’t mention. But they go to a record label that f—s it up.”

We do feel like by and large much of this is true in that NBC, while they do focus heavily on the coaches, do try to give the singers relatively good platforms. They could do more (releasing full videos of montaged contestants’ performances), but at least you feel like there are many people who care. We’ve even seen Adam and Blake repeatedly try to promote work that their former artists have done since the show ended.

The biggest thing we’d change about the show is to switch the grand prize over to just cash, and don’t actually make it a requirement for a label to pick up the champion. That produces apathy. Instead, give the artist the ability to find a destination that genuinely wants them, or do something without some of the interference. Then, forge a connection between the chosen label and the show to further cross-promote down the road. The only other thing to do is to keep the current plan and produce better environments for the artists to succeed. We just think the current system is broken, and artists are forced to rush out songs that feel at times over-produced in the studio.

What do you think about Adam’s comments; do you see truth to them? Share below, and head over here to read our take on this past episode of “The Voice”! Also, sign up now to get some other TV scoop worth singing about via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: NBC.)