NBC’s ‘The Voice’ lowers age limit to 13

“The Voice” is always casting ahead talent for future seasons, and if there is one thing that is definitely surprising us at present, it is this: The average age for contestants on future seasons could be significantly lower.

Why is that? It has to do with the show bumping down its age limit. In the video below, the show’s official casting account made it clear that artists 13 and older can try out. This is two years younger than the previous age limit of 13.

As for why this is in our mind a terrible idea, much of it comes down to the preparedness of these people. Having 13-year olds leads to added pressure, and artists whose voices are not always fully formed. We just have to look back at the American version of “The X Factor,” where watching young contestants get eliminated proved to be exceptionally cruel. Seeing kids cry does not equal good TV. Sure, there are mature 13-year olds out there, but how do you know that immediately in casting?

As for when you could see this take effect on the show, we’d be shocked if it impacts the upcoming 11th season. After all, that show has already gone through the casting process and is in the next phase: Production.

From a talent perspective, we do get why lowering the age limit could be beneficial. After all, young contestants are easier to mold, and they also tend to resonate well on the pop charts. This show is still looking for a star to dominate there after ten seasons of producing very few big artists.

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