Making a Reality TV mistake Part: Three

O-Town. D-A-B-A-N-D. And now Diddy’s done it again with Danity Kane. Even though Sean “P. Diddy” Combs had nothing to do with the first “Making the Band,” something has to be said about the creditably of shows that hold contests to create groups.
The criteria for these groups varies little-banging bodies, Janet Jackson like dancing skills and just enough singing talent to harmonize with the other girls.
Throughout the entertainment industry, P. Diddy is known for his shady business deals-just ask former Bad Boy artist 112, The Lox, Faith Evans, Mary J Blige, Lil Kim, Total, Mase and a list of others.
Granted, all record labels have hit and misses with artists, but why is it that whenever an artist leaves Bad Boy Records they are on MTV News with a lawsuit for back royalties? Are artists that desperate for fame that they’ll sign away their souls? To P. Diddy of all people! This is the same man who has remixed remixes! He has pimped Biggie Small’s death for every dime it was worth, then has the nerve to shuffle on every artist on his label’s music video.
But the Harlem Shake was hot for a minute…
Watching the show, I tried to think of presently successful bands that were put together by a contest.
I cannot think of one.
Do not get me wrong, Danity Kane’s single, “Show Stopper” is nice and I think with no other really hot girl group out right now as competition, they may have a shot, but not on Bad Boy Records and not from a reality series.
As I sat in my room and watched Aubrey, Aundrea, Dawn, Shannon and D. Woods belt out songs in the studio, I could not help but think to myself, “Is the entertainment industry really going to take them seriously?”
I mean, “Making the Band” is no “American Idol”. At least on that show it is just one person trying to make it and their lives are not on display.
I guess my problem stems from the idea that a successful musical group can be formed in a matter of months just by combining random, halfway talented people.
Does P. Diddy not know how long Destiny’s Child practiced before they hit it big? Or that the men from Boyz II Men started off in high school singing. Hell, Big Boi and Andre 3000 used to battle rap each other in high school!
It is a sad day in the music industry when instead of visiting nightclubs, college campuses and listening to homemade demos record labels hold contests to make groups.
And if these labels are so pressed to fill a void, then maybe they need to find already formed groups instead getting solo artist to form a group.
And Bad Boy would not be my first, second or third choice. I would like to be a part of a company that can boast at least one current success.
I hope Danity Kane finds success. And I also hope they have a good accountant and lawyer and realize spending their advance at Jacob the Jeweler may not be such a bright idea.