Will.i.am wishes he worked on ‘The Voice’ with Pharrell Williams and Madonna.
The Black Eyed Peas singer believes the winners of the BBC show have never done very well because there is no instant connection with a record company, unlike on rival programme ‘The X Factor’, where head judge Simon Cowell signs them to his Syco imprint so thinks it would be better if all the mentors had their own labels.
He said: "I think the problem with ‘The Voice’ is the Simon Cowell factor. Simon has the show and the record label so he can invest money in the artist because it’s all the same money – Simon’s money…
"What should really happen is ‘The Voice’ should be me, Pharrell Williams, Madonna, Ester Dean and Doctor Luke [songwriters and producers].
"That would be a sick show because Madonna has a label, Pharrell has a label, I have a label. We’d be fighting over who to sign – that should be the show."
And Will thinks the current contestants suffer because they should be able to work on their music during the show rather than having to wait until a winner is found.
He added: "We just don’t have the same configuration on ‘The Voice’ [as ‘The X Factor’]. The record company don’t want to invest because it’s two months down the line. We should have been working on music so it’s ready to come out when the show’s over."
This year, Rita Ora was a new addition to the show and Will believes she has a lot more to offer the panel than previous female mentors Kylie Minogue and Jessie J.
He told HELLO! magazine: "Rita is just what the show has been missing – that pizzazz and sexiness and sweetness and someone who’s raw. We needed that.
"[Jessie and Kylie] each had a bit of both. Jessie was edgy and raw and sweet but you only saw the edginess. And Kylie is sweet and kind. Rita is all of that."
Will.i.am’s wish for The Voice
