CONTRACT CHAOS: VOICE WINNERS EXPOSE LABEL HELL
The dark truth behind the shiny spectacle of The Voice is finally coming to light, with multiple former champions exposing a devastating reality of broken promises, dropped contracts, and a shocking lack of label support. For many, winning the NBC reality show was just the start of a brutal, cutthroat industry war.
Season winner Javier Colon—who walked away with the grand prize and a Universal Music Group contract—was the first to go nuclear, slamming his label for essentially abandoning him. He later told Buddy TV that he “poured your heart and soul into a new album” only for the label to fail to “support, market and promote your music.” Colon eventually cut ties with the label entirely, moving to a smaller entity just to survive.
This pattern of winning the war only to lose the battle is a recurring scandal. Season champion Sawyer Fredericks also severed ties with both his label (Republic Records) and management (Mick Management), opting to work independently rather than suffer under the constraints of the corporate music machine.
THE GREAT PIVOT: FROM COUNTRY TO ROCK AND BROADWAY
The failure of the label system has forced many winners into chaotic career pivots just to stay relevant. The most dramatic shift came from Season winner Cassadee Pope, who recently announced she was officially ditching country music for rock.
Pope confessed to Rolling Stone that the way women are treated in country music was a major factor in her move, claiming that in rock, “you’re not completely ostracized and shamed for speaking out.” The country music world clearly was not ready for her outspoken personality, forcing her to follow the rock she claims is “in my bones more.”
Meanwhile, Season winner Josh Kaufman abandoned the mainstream music path entirely, finding success instead on Broadway, performing in Home for the Holidays. This move proves that the recording contract prize often leads to a quick dead end, with winners forced to use their exposure for stability in other entertainment fields.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING: THE COVID CURSE
Even those who escaped the label chaos were hit by bad luck and unforeseen circumstances. Season winner Todd Tilghman, the show’s oldest champion, saw his victory hit during the COVID- pandemic, meaning he was unable to get out and perform much after his win. This loss of crucial touring revenue and exposure likely stalled his debut album.
Similarly, Season winner Chris Blue revealed the frustrating truth of the post-show reality: “One of the things that I have learned in the music industry is timing is everything.” He explained that even with a good song, the moment you “release music actually makes a world of difference,” suggesting he felt rushed or poorly positioned after his victory.
These stories confirm that the prize money and contract are often secondary to the devastating timing and strategic mistakes that define a post-Voice career.
It’s brutal. They win a grand prize and immediately get chewed up and spit out by the labels. The Voice Curse is real. They need to start putting a therapist in the winner’s package, not just a contract.
THE RARE BREAKTHROUGH: SHELTON’S LEGACY AND FILIPINO PRIDE
Despite the overwhelming evidence of a “Voice Curse,” there are glimmers of hope. Season winner Jordan Smith was named the best-selling artist in the show’s history, proving that commercial success is possible, though he hasn’t released a full-length album since .
Season winner Sofronio Vasquez is riding a massive wave of success, becoming the show’s first Filipino winner and immediately working on music projects in both the Philippines and the United States. His success is linked to collaborations with heavy hitters like David Foster and his coach, Michael Bublé.
The overall tally, however, proves that for every Jordan Smith, there are multiple winners forced into hiatus, independent recording, or career-saving pivots. The power of the celebrity coaches—like the one win secured by Gwen Stefani with Carter Rubin in Season —often fails to translate into sustained industry success.
️ THE ULTIMATE QUESTION: WAS IT WORTH IT?
From Jermaine Paul finding control over his own destiny after working with Alicia Keys to Sundance Head having his record deal shelved while the label searched for a partner, the winners’ experiences are a chaotic mix of triumph and betrayal.
The journey confirms that the emotional highs of winning are quickly offset by the ruthless reality of the music business. The competition doesn’t end when the confetti drops; it simply moves backstage to a more vicious arena.
The ultimate cliffhanger is: Given the history of broken deals, dropped artists, and forced career pivots, are future contestants truly fighting for a career, or are they simply competing for a dramatic, temporary moment in the spotlight that is doomed to fade?
The chair may have turned, but the winner is often left standing alone.
