Make It Better: Boy Band (TV Series)
During the summer of 2017, ABC aired a reality show trying to assemble the newest boy band phenomenon. This formula made it big in the early 2000’s with ABC/MTV’s Making the Band. They made groups like O-Town and Danity Kane that achieved huge success and gave other groups a great platform and a real chance at making it big. You may not remember Da Band, Day 26, or Donnie Klang but seeing all of these acts put together and watching their journey to their first album release was great. Even though this show wasn’t able to make every act a success, the fact that O-Town and Danity Kane made the impact that they did shows that this format was a viable way to construct and promote a new musical act. The times have changed drastically in the time Making the Band was last on the air, but it's time to dust off the equation and apply it to today's television and music industries.
The formula isn’t rocket science and in fact was used by Lou Pearlman when he constructed the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. Get 5 guys that can sing and dance and appeal to teenage girls who’s rabid fandom will help to sell albums, merchandise, and worldwide tours. He took that formula and applied it to the first season of Making the Band where he formed O-Town over the course of the first season. Seasons 2 & 3 followed O-Town, highlighting their success and how they recorded and released their second album. It was amazing to see very different people try to work together and after their first album, improve and demand legitimacy from the critics for their work.
From New Edition to the Backstreet Boys and even newer groups like One Direction and PRETTYMUCH, the public loves a good boy band. Boy bands blend harmonies, choreography, and lyrics into one package that makes for great albums and concerts. They're not here to revolutionize the music scene, but they're a force to be reckoned with if they catch-on with the young female demographic they're intended for. Boy Bands were all the rage back in the 80’s (New Edition and New Kids on the Block), made a resurgence in the 90’s and early 2000’s (Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC) and became “uncool” again in the mid-2000’s thanks to the rise of rap and how music gravitated towards a ‘fat’ bassline and away from those sweet multi-part harmonies. One Direction became a world-wide phenomenon but the boy band genre needs another act (or two) to bring it back to its deserved relevancy.
I thought that bringing this formula back was a great idea. At the time of the Boy Band going on the air, One Direction just went on hiatus (after they too formed on the reality show X-Factor) and became one of the most successful groups ever. The public wanted something to fill that vacancy and even though there were groups poised and ready to make it big (Midnight Red), their lack of a promotional platform kept them from moving up to the next level and achieving the success they deserved. Because no boy band capitalized on this opportunity, K-pop has continued to grow in popularity since they fill that same category.
ABC put together Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys), Emma Bunton (Spice Girls), and hit-making producer Timbaland as the judging panel that would help, along with America’s votes, to construct the final lineup of the band. It seems great in theory but when the show aired I had majors issues with every episode and with the way they implemented the overall concept of the show. I believe that a show like this can work and produce a musical act that can achieve success in the music industry.
Here are my main issues with ABC’s Boy Band:
The host was wrong for the show.
The Judges were too corny and gave little to no usable advice.
It had a very show-choir look and feel.
Song selection was poor and misguided.
Not enough behind the scenes footage.
America had too much influence on this show.
Here’s what I would do:
Let’s start with the host. In Boy Band they had Rita Ora as the host. She’s gorgeous and charismatic but she was too much of a free spirit in front of the camera. A lot of the time she came off as clumsy as she steered the show. Also, she’s a solo act and has never had success as part of a group so she couldn’t relate to the struggle of relying on your bandmates and sharing the spotlight. Since this is a show about making a boy band, we need a former boy band member to host it. If it were up to me, my first choice would be would be Joey Fatone from *NSYNC. Joey is great in front of the camera and has enough experience with this process (*NSYNC was formed in the same way by Lou Pearlman) that I think he would be able to offer great advice and explain to the viewer what the contestants are going through and the work that is required to be successful in this industry.
The judges (architects) for this show were all wrong. Nick Carter has too much of an ego and tries too hard to seem dramatic & insightful when really he was doing a poor Simon Cowell impression. Emma Bunton was “Baby Spice” in the Spice Girls but she had nothing to offer the show other than letting people know how attractive she thought the contestants were. Timbaland was an interesting choice since he has consistently been on the Billboard Charts since the 90’s, but he’s a beat maker and the best boy bands are built are harmonies which is not his forte.
I would take a very different approach to the judges panel. First off, I believe that when building a boy band you need judges that have been through the same process and can predict how this band will grow into the future. You need people that contributed to their own boy bands or worked closely with them. These judges also need to be analytical enough to understand and convey their thoughts to the audience while evaluating and giving a fair chance to the 30+ contestants that will start on the show. If I were to make a panel of three people to aid in making this boy band, I’d choose Nicole Scherzinger, Joey McIntyre and Nick Lachey.
Nicole Scherzinger was the lead of The Pussycat Dolls from 2003-2010. During that time PCD was one of the biggest groups in music. Scherzinger was required to dance and perform lead vocals and her dancing and skill made her one of the most captivating performers of the 2000’s. She's been a judge on X-Factor and has the ability to be very insightful when given the opportunity. She understands the 'machine' and the sacrifice needed to get to the top. She exudes elegance while have the poise and composure to speak eloquently about the minutia of the job.
Joey McIntyre was in the band New Kids on the Block, joining the band right before his 13th birthday. He joined a group that were already friends and initially found it difficult to fit in with them. Over time he meshed with the others and they became one of the biggest boy bands of all time. He is the perfect person to talk about growing up in the spotlight and the pressures that will be put on them while they might be too young to fully comprehend everything. He is the perfect person to remind them to take a moment and take everything in because it’s not only their career, but their youth; and focusing on one too much will cause you to miss out on the other.
Nick Lachey is an obvious one for me. He is great in front of the camera and has made a name for himself as a host with his work on NBC’s The Sing-Off. He was one of the members of 98 Degrees and performed most of the lead vocals for the band. 98 Degrees was unique in how they weren’t created by a label; they were four friends who formed independently and were later signed to a label. 98 Degrees never wanted to be a song & dance act. They instead saw themselves as a vocal harmony group, similar to Boyz II Men and Jodeci. The harmonies were everything to 98 Degrees and Nick will be great to have for the ballads that every boy band needs and his insight into the record business from how his group formed is very different to Scherzinger and McIntyre.
Over the course of the season, I’d have Guest Advisors work with the contestants for at least two days of their week. They'd be there to answer questions and give advice as well as see the contestant’s rehearsals and give feedback and criticism. My list of guest advisors would be a mix of accomplished boy bands and individual members. The dream list of advisors would be:
Maurice Starr (formed New Edition and NKOTB) - During the early rounds Maurice can assist in the opening auditions and working to get the final 30 boys that will begin the show. During this period he can give insight and anecdotes to how he made New Edition and NKOTB. He can give the contestants initial (constructive) criticism so if they make the first cut, they know their strong and weak points and a baseline can be registered so when compared to where they are later on in the show, any progress or regression can be seen.
K-Ci & Jojo (Jodeci) - Being half of the group Jodeci, K-Ci & Jojo have been a part of R&B excellence for nearly 30 years. They sold 20+ million records with Jodeci and also had viable careers as a duo while Jodeci was on hiatus. They have experience making music as a duo but also continue to work with Jodeci too. There are times when the music you want to make doesn’t fit in the style or narrative of the group and that’s when making your own music can be an option. Wanting to do something different doesn’t mean you have to stop everything else. You can be in two different acts at the same time. Groups need to take breaks due to their constant touring and recording. During these breaks there is time to work on other projects. K-Ci & Jojo know this as well as anyone and their continued allegiance to Jodeci while having their own successful career as a duo, is an achievement no one should overlook.
Max George (The Wanted) - The Wanted was one of the bands that tried to take on One Direction at the height of their power. The Wanted had some great singles and looked to be ready to make a major impact in the genre but after a couple years of not breaking through to the next level, they disbanded and they are all doing their own thing now. Max George was a focal point of the group and learning what happened to that band from Max’s point of view can show the contestants how complacency can lead to unrest and eventually break up a group with great potential. The Wanted was better as a whole than the individuals that made it. They may not know it now while they take their turns with solo careers, but once it sinks in, regret will linger. No boy band should expect a career as long as Boyz II Men or the Backstreet Boys, but working to get to the apex of what the group can achieve as a collective is something every member owes themselves and many don’t have that mindset.
O-Town - The last band Lou Pearlman formed before going to prison for fraud, O-Town was the subject of the show Making the Band. They had great success during the show until they broke up after their second album. They had a rigorous schedule from the time they were formed until they went their separate ways. 10 years later, they reformed as a foursome and continue to make music today. They are touring and recording today without the big budget funding of a major record label so they’ve proven that they can do this on their own and proof of that can go a long way in the eyes of people new to the industry. Not everything is luxurious and hard work is required whether you’re in a state of the art recording studio or playing live in a club or small theater. Success doesn’t have a single definition and being able to appreciate your accomplishments, no matter the scale, is crucial to keeping morale high and continuing to move forward in the industry.
Boyz II Men - A self-formed group, Boyz II Men’s achievements as a vocal harmony group are as good as anyone’s. They’ve spent more time at the top of Billboard’s Music Charts than any other boy band. They’ve always operated as true professionals and continue to record and tour to this day. There is much to learn from a group like this - they’ve inspired too many people to not give the contestants a chance to learn from them as well.
Liam Payne (One Direction) - Liam is a member of One Direction (the biggest boy band since the Backstreet Boys). While they are officially on an indefinite hiatus, all of them are doing well as solo acts. Liam recently had a baby and has been dropping singles with the public anxiously awaiting his inevitable solo album. Liam knows what it’s like to tour nonstop for years at a time and to be on top of the music industry in the social media age. He can educate the contestants on the importance of taking breaks to preserve their sanity. Too much for too long is a big factor in groups breaking up or a person leaving to attempt a solo career. One Direction showed that even though one person left, they were able to stay just as successful as a foursome and resilient enough to remain a group when all of them had reasons to call it quits after Zayn left. They were assembled on the UK’s X-Factor and what was once five strangers all vying for a chance at stardom, they became brothers. That is important to share with the upcoming group.
PRETTYMUCH - The newest boy band on the scene, PRETTYMUCH is trying to break into the mainstream as the next big thing. This is a great chance to show the contestants what they’ll be competing with as their main competition and PRETTYMUCH will participate due to the exposure it will give them. This is a risky move since it sets the bar of what this new band must deliver, but at the same time if we aren’t trying to make one of the best group out there, then what's the point? The live show should open with a performance by PRETTYMUCH and then while the rest of the show continues (showing behind the scenes what the contestants have gone through over the last week and working with PRETTYMUCH) their momentum from opening the show will be neutralized and the contestants will be able to perform their acts without directly competing against a finished product like PRETTYMUCH. The early part of the band’s promotion is important and any information that these contestants can learn might be able to better prepare them for what is coming their way.
JC Chasez (*NSYNC) - JC was one of the leads of the band *NSYNC. *NSYNC was the best dancing boy band of the 90's which helped to make their live shows some of the most exciting live entertainment available. *NSYNC sang live and danced their entire show (excluding their ballads where they slowed things down to catch their breath) and the breath control combined with the fact that over a 100+ show worldwide tour, they were all able to deal with sickness, fatigue, injury, and repetition to always give their fans the show they wanted. *NSYNC’s accomplishments can’t be overlooked and even now, 16 years after their breakup, their achievements and impact on the genre is a behemoth new groups have to contend with. JC has also tried his hand at making a girl group, Girl Radical, so he can explain in depth about the differences he had breaking through with *NSYNC and trying to steer a new group to fame years later.
The Backstreet Boys - The most successful boy band ever, BSB has sold over 130+ million albums worldwide. With 25 years of success, they have dealt with every obstacle a band could go through: changing lead in the early years, rising to the top of the industry at a young age, the stress of their schedule lead to corrective heart surgery for Brian, AJ’s alcoholism lead to the group’s hiatus and subsequent solo albums by Brian and Nick, Kevin quit the group, the group carried on as a foursome for several albums, the group reunited as a whole for their 20th anniversary and released an album, Brian’s vocal issues and persevering, etc. The Backstreet Boys understand they are always capable of more as a whole than ever as solo acts and even though all of them have made solo music apart from the group, the remain together. They have become brothers and a bond like that is something every architect hopes to create with the right meshing of members. The amount of knowledge that BSB can bestow upon the young contestants is priceless. I think the most underrated part of BSB’s legacy is how they have persevered over everything and continue to make music to this day. They are the perfect advisors to help with preparing for the final cut and finalizing the official roster of the group.
The look of the show was very similar to a show choir competition and the stage didn’t always give performances the correct presentation. A simple backdrop and lighting would’ve been better than the week they opened the show to “Uptown Girl” and had a Grease-themed setup on the stage. It had a very corny feel to it and came off as poorly arranged and choreographed rather than fun (which is what I’m hoping they were going for). You can’t have a fun, playful performance when we don’t know the people singing. We have had little to no insight on them and their personalities so this was a bad idea from the beginning. The performances should be tight and choreographed to show everyone these guys can be professional and deliver as a brand. If they want to do Broadway or perform on cruise ships that can be done elsewhere - our only job is to make the best boy band possible with the talent available to us. The opening of the show should never be a show choir-styled performance; boy bands deal with enough issues of not be taken seriously that it’s best to not add fuel to the hater’s fire. I would open with an acapella performance on weeks without a guest advisor. If there is a guest advisor, I would have the advisor(s) perform on their own and then have a breakdown where they perform with the standout performers from the week before. This could be acapella or just a harmony section but the best performers from the previous week should be rewarded with a stand out moment.
One thing I would never do is use this platform to promote another musical act without them offering something to the band being made! Boy Band had a random performance by Sofia Carson on one of their episodes. There was no reason for her to be there - she did nothing else on the show. Now don't get me wrong, I think she did a great job and I think she's got great potential, but her performance was the best performance of the night and made me judge the contestants on the show more critically because they couldn't compete with her. The dynamics of a solo artist compared to a group are numerous. There is a balance required to group performances that can be outshined in this early stage of development by a performer who's had more than a few days to perfect their performance. Bringing on an attractive, charismatic singer with great stage presence (and experience in front of cameras) is a momentum killer for the show as well as all of the contestants on the show. It was a dumb idea. So you might be asking, "Why would they do something so stupid?" Well the answer is pretty obvious: Sofia Carson is signed to Hollywood Records which is owned by Disney. You know what else is owned by Disney? ABC, the company that airs Boy Band. A little cross platform exposure seems nice from a Disney executive's chair; He/She might think it's pretty clever and benefits both the show and Ms. Carson. In reality, it was an extremely short-sighted move that hurt the show. Sofia Carson is a regular presence on the Disney Channel. They seem to throw her into several shows, hoping she'll click with the audience and then they can build a show around her (they've been doing it for 4 years), but her only recurring role has been as Evie on the Disney Channel Movie Descendants. She didn't have an upcoming album to promote. It was like they needed to fill time.
There was another time that they had Rita Ora perform her song, Your Song. I understand this move if it's used in the season finale since that episode is supposed to have a celebratory feel similar to an awards show (and she's the host of the show). Having people, associated with the show, performing makes sense and is a nice thing for the audience to see. Also, maintaining suspense for the entire show is difficult so it's nice to break things up with performances here and there.
Next, I want to take a moment and berate the song choices Boy Band made throughout the season. Here are the songs covered by the contestants on Boy Band:
“That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars
“Stay” by Rihanna
“There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” by Shawn Mendes
“Despacito” by Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee
“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
“Don’t Let Me Down” by the Chainsmokers
“Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
“True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli
“How Far I’ll Go” from the movie soundtrack for Moana
“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
“See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
“Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson
“Without You” by David Guetta feat. Usher
“Jealous” by Nick Jonas
“Titanium” by Sia
“Fighter” by Christina Aguilera
“The Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga
Not one of these songs is by a boy band. This selection of songs is closer to a “Now That’s What I Call Music!” album than a good way to evaluate a boy band and its members. I could understand being creative and choosing songs by girl groups and rearranging them for a boy band but that apparently never dawned on the people running the show.
There must be careful attention put towards choosing the songs covered by the contestants; they should be songs that allow for harmonies, solo verses for each member, and allow for a well choreographed performance (if it’s a ballad, it will lean more on arrangement, melody, and harmony, but faster songs will rely more on dancing and choreography). There are many songs that are so iconic they cannot be performed without being (unfairly) compared to the original song so songs like “I Want It That Way”, “What Makes You Beautiful”, “Bye Bye Bye”, “Step by Step”, “ABC”, etc. are poor choices. Deep cuts or lesser known singles from a boy band’s archive are great selections since the comparisons for the cover and the original song won’t be as impactful on the listener. I'd select songs like "Strong" by One Direction, "Safest Place to Hide" by the Backstreet Boys, "Summertime" by New Kids on the Black, "Black Box" by Blue, "Beat Again" by JLS, "I Drive Myself Crazy" by *NSYNC, and "You Are My Everything" by 98 Degrees.
Each week needs to bring a new challenge to the contestants. There is a lot to learn and being able to put that knowledge and training into use quickly shows teachability, and since no one will be good at learning everything that will be thrown at them, they will need to be resourceful and adapt to the best of their abilities in the given time. Things like harmony, dance choreography, correctly using a microphone, ad libs & vocal runs, etc. will be taught to them and growth will be expected in order to continue. Being able to adjust your voice while harmonizing is a skill so acapella songs/breakdowns will be used on that week. Learning choreography in a class is very different than one on one training so one week having someone teach them in a closed environment will give them an idea of where they are. Later, after several weeks of being able to improve, they should go to regular dance classes at Millennium Dance Complex or The Movement Lifestyle in Los Angeles to improve and learn from a range of people 1-2 classes every other day will help them and not require much time away from their weekly task. Most of the songs they do will require a dance breakdown since no one should expect them to have the breath control to dance and sing for an entire show and sound good- we’re hoping for but not expecting Justin Timberlake. Choreographed formations will work until the dance breakdown of the song. There are great choreographers for this like David Moore, Lando Wilkins, Bam Martin, Lyle Beniga, etc. and being able to put any of those choreographer’s style into their routine will be big. Also, we need these performances to go viral the week afterwards to attract more viewers and raise awareness of the upcoming act and the individual performers. Each week they will record their singles for release to go along with the live version that aired on the show. All of this can be used as behind the scenes footage for the show and the stuff that doesn’t make it can be released online as bonus content. With the songs and video content being released, people can vote with their purchases, streams, and views.
America should have a very different role than the one they had on Boy Band. America voting people through to the next round works for solo acts but making a group requires other factors since we need 5 people to blend together to create one sound, dance in unison, and function as a unit in everyday life. Also, we can no longer leave things up to the public as a whole. The majority of people are emotional and inexperienced in this field. They have ruined things with their voting in the past so moving forward (on this show) their input will be more of a suggestion rather than law.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't think they made a bad final lineup. I would've kept Jaden Gray over Brady Tutton but the rest of the group is exactly what I would've chosen as well. One thing I would tell them is Michael Conor is a star with his mix of singing/rapping and his skill with a violin. Don't label him as merely the rapper of the group. He's a capable singer and some songs don't need a rap verse (don't overuse his rapping). I do think the name of the band, In Real Life, is ridiculous and I believe it hurts them overall. IRL (in real life) is an expression used all of the time - I wouldn't want them getting lost in the phrase's frequent use. They came up with better names over the course of the show and should've saved some for the finished product. Also, the should shouldn't have ended with the finalizing of the lineup unless you're following them next season. Give an extra episode or two to show the journey they are starting and how to follow them on social media. This show should be a launching pad to start their career as a group, not the overall destination. They've only just begun and I wish the show conveyed that better.
In closing, I believe a great group can be made using this method and seeing their journey makes for exciting and compelling television. I hope someone sees this post that can put this to use. Don’t make an amalgam of shows that have worked in the past - all trends fade. Instead, take the basic concept of what worked before and create a formula that factors in the pertinent variables of today. People need to be shown what is good and what it took to get there. There is a lot of work that goes into being in a boy band and this show is the perfect way to help educate everyone that watches and to legitimize the people that makeup the final lineup.
