Is reality television the right move for musicians?

By Emily Johnston As AC-DC once famously sang ‘It’s a long way to the top …’ but, as two aspiring Perth musicians are discovering, there are many ways to the summit of the entertainment industry. They may only be 22 and 16 but Jake Howard-Bath and Sydnee Carter, have been playing guitar for years and have already turned performing into a passion. “I would love to be a professional musician,” said Jake. “It brings a real sense of fun and enjoyment and at the end of the day it’s happiness, and it is my happiness.” However, they both have different perspectives about the ideal method of furthering their music careers. Jake started playing gigs last year after his friends persuaded him to show his talent to a wider audience. “It took me a while to get the guts to start doing open-mic nights and now that I have started doing them, they are really fun. A lot of my friends come to the gigs to show their support,” said Jake. Sydnee was a contestant in the 2014 X-Factor and believes that reality television shows are a great platform to showcase talent. “The show was life changing and unforgettable… it taught me a new kind of confidence I never thought I had,” said Sydnee. Jake feels that reality television shows like the X-Factor only market pop stars who will suit the image of the sponsoring record label, Sony Music. “I like watching the auditions … however once you get down to the final rounds, it just becomes a big popularity contest and you really lose the sense of musicianship,” said Jake. Contestants on the X-Factor are encouraged to get out of their comfort zones and the show re-shapes their image to teach the contestants to be entertainers on stage. “I think that if I entered the X-Factor, they would want to change me too much. They might make me dance, take away my guitar and make me dress differently, I just want to be me,” said Jake. There is a strong divide in opinions about reality television and if it is the right move in a musician’s career. “I recommend the show to any inspiring musicians because it’s opened up so many doors for me and given me a taste of what life is like in the industry,” said Sydnee. You can meet Jake in the video below.