Since 2011, The Voice has remained a fan-favorite singing competition, known for the hilarious banter between all of the A-list singers who've sat in those famous spinning red chairs. The premise is simple: If an artist passes the blind audition, they choose their celebrity coach and move on to the competition part of the show. If contestants want to bring home the $100,000 prize and a record deal with Universal Music Group, though, they have to work hard — and follow a set of rules. From what goes on behind the scenes during the battle rounds to the contestants' intense wardrobe makeovers, read on to learn everything there is to know about appearing on The Voice.
You have to be least 13 years old to apply.
The Voice allows young teens to compete alongside adults: Anyone 13 years or older can apply, and many kids have found success after appearing on the show. The youngest winner to date is Danielle Bradbury, who won season 4 at just 16 years old.
All applicants must create an artist account.
The very first step of the casting process occurs online, as everyone must register an artist account. It's through this account that they are able to provide personal information and confirm a date and time for the first audition.
Performers audition virtually first.
Applicants don't just jump in front of the producers right away. First, they must record themselves singing and submit the clip for the casting team to review.
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Hopefuls have just a minute and a half to wow the casting team.
During the virtual casting call, singers have exactly one minute and 30 seconds to introduce themselves, explain the song they've chosen and belt out their chosen song's verse and chorus.
Getting recruited is another way in.
Producers also reach out to local musicians across the country and ask them to audition, according to season 1 contestant Vicci Martinez. "What I realized is they wanted to make it a show that had real artists, people who were serious about doing music and not just people who sing in the bathroom," Martinez told Cosmopolitan.
Groups compete alongside solo acts.
Duos and trios can register and compete, though this rule has caused some viewer backlash in the past. After folk trio A Girl Named Tom won season 21, fans debated whether groups have an unfair advantage against solo acts.
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A round of callbacks comes next.
After passing the virtual casting call, it's not time to sing in front of the A-list gang just yet. The pool goes from thousands to hundreds during callbacks in Los Angeles. That's where producers listen to live performances and determine the TV-ready group of contestants they'd like to bring onto the show.
Applicants are free to try and try again.
Some singers who don't make it to the blind auditions return for another chance in later seasons. Ddendyl Hoyt tried out for season 5 and didn't make the cut, but she came back and joined Shakira's team the following year.
Those selected go through intense training before the blind auditions.
Season 6's Kat Perkins revealed that the show provided her with training on every scenario imaginable, from getting sick onstage to handling social media attention. This seems to be something that the show has implemented over time, as season 1 contestants didn't recall receiving such training.
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They get to rehearse their audition songs beforehand.
For several days leading up to the big moment, singers are allowed to practice with the live band and camera-block with producers on the audition stage.
Coaches only hear about 20 auditions per day.
It may seem like the coaches listen to hundreds of singers in a single day on TV, but it's actually not that many. Blind auditions tape "for five or six days with approximately 18 to 20 auditions per day," former executive producer Audrey Morrissey revealed to SheKnows.
Contestants can't be scared to sing in front of a big crowd.
Despite rehearsing, nothing can fully prepare someone to audition in front of the coaches — and the huge audience cheering behind them. The room can get really loud, so it's important to stay focused.
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Singers only get to choose their coach if more than one chair turns.
If a contestant is lucky enough to see two (or even all four!) coaches turn around, the decision that comes next is pretty difficult. Performers have to pick the coach they want to work with the most.
Contestants might get offered some cool perks from the celebrities.
While it's not exactly a rule, it is pretty fun. The stars often have a few tricks up their sleeve from season to season. When fighting over the same singer, they'll often pull out all the stops to get someone to choose their team. From custom apparel to emotional serenades, they've tried everything.
Everyone gets a style makeover after the blind auditions.
"We shop for each artist to come up with great looks. Once we get to the live shows, looks are customized for each specific performance," Morrissey told SheKnows.
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Singers don't usually get to choose their songs.
For the most part, coaches select the songs throughout the season — even if the contestants don't always agree. "It's always hysterical when the judges say, 'I don’t think that was a good song choice for you,' and I'm thinking, You picked that song," season 1's Frenchie Davis told Cosmopolitan.
But they should always trust their coach.
Coaches want to see their teams succeed, and more often than not, they make the right call. "Sometimes he suggested things that I wouldn’t have done and then they ended up being big moments for me," season 16 winner Maelyn Jarmon said of John Legend when the two spoke to Country Living about the experience.
"I told her, I said, '['Hallelujah'] is gonna be the most streamed song of the finale,'" John recounted. "I was right about that."
Don't expect those red chairs to be as dramatic in person.
The chairs aren't as loud as they appear to be on TV. That "whoosh" sound that happens when a coach hits their button and spins around? "It's [added] in postproduction! You almost don't notice it, especially when you're focusing and singing to the crowd that's in the studio," Perkins told Cosmopolitan.
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Coaches can steal one artist from another team.
Coaches have a one-time opportunity to use their "steal" button for a singer who loses during the battle round — giving the contestant a second chance in the competition.
They can steal during the knockout round, too.
After coaches choose the knockout round winner, they have an additional opportunity to steal a remaining artist. "The coaches love that because there was jeopardy. People didn't necessarily go back to the [team] they had been on," producer Morrissey told Variety.
FAQs
What are all the rules on The Voice? ›
- The First Auditions Are Held Virtually. ...
- The Contestants Have To Go Through Pre-Audition Training. ...
- Contestants Don't Get To Choose The Songs. ...
- Contestants Have To Wear What The Producers Decide For Them. ...
- Contestants Have To Work According To The Coaches' Schedules.
After the vocal battle, the coach must choose which of his/her singers will advance to the next round of competition, while the losing artist is available to be stolen by another coach. Each coach has two steals during the battle rounds.
What are the save rules on The Voice? ›SAVES: Each coach gets 1 save during the Battle Rounds and 1 save during the Knockouts.
How much time do The Voice coaches actually spend with the contestants? ›Singers get to meet their competition and rehearse with their coach for four days, while filming takes about two additional days.
Is any of The Voice scripted? ›The Voice is a reality show but because it is mandatory to make good TV moments, considerable things in the show are planned and scripted. In spite of the fabrication, The Voice remains a fan favorite.
Has anyone from The Voice made it big? ›Since its debut in 2011, “The Voice” has been responsible for creating some of the biggest chart-toppers in the music industry. Superstars like Jordan Smith, Sawyer Fredericks and Cassadee Pope all have NBC's reality TV program to thank for making them household names.
Has a stolen contestant won The Voice? ›Craig Wayne Boyd (Season 6, Team Blake)
Boyd has the distinction of being the only artist to win “The Voice” after being stolen twice.
It really depends on who the contestant is, and what the creative is, though, and we go from there," she said. "I do mostly online [sourcing] now. Then, of course, there are like costume houses and rental places. But online, it's fair game to bring in what we feel like is the most suitable."
What is locked on The Voice? ›The block button can only be used once by coaches on the show. It allows for a coach to block out another coach of their choice so they can't work with the contestant. However, the coach Clarkson really had to worry about was Niall Horan, not Shelton. Horan also turned his chair for Littleton.
Does it cost money to audition for The Voice? ›You Have to Pay Your Way to the Tryouts.
If you make it through to the next round, pre-approved economy travel and lodging will be taken care of during the final selection process.
Who is the most successful winner of The Voice? ›
Former Hey Monday singer and season three champ Cassadee Pope, who won in December 2012, is still the most successful winner of "The Voice."
Why do The Voice coaches wear the same clothes? ›The reason for this is pretty simple — it's for continuity. If the show wants to edit auditions from various days into the same episode, it won't be as obvious that they were filmed in a different order if the coaches are in the same outfits the whole time.
Does The Voice pay for your stay? ›Eliminated Contestants Don't Even Get To Say Goodbye
As for where The Voice contestants stay on the show, it is a hotel paid for by NBC and they have to leave the hotel almost immediately after their elimination.
Each judge (and contestant) is different, which is why The Voice salaries and how much coaches make per season on the NBC show aren't the same either. Of The Voice's 19-plus seasons, Shelton is the only coach who has been there since day one, so it's assumed that he earns the most.
Do the contestants on The Voice pay for their clothes? ›Contestants have to supply their own clothes for the blind auditions, but things get a little easier once they are attached to a team. Morrissey shared, “We shop for each artist to come up with great looks. Once we get to the live shows, looks are customized for each specific performance.”
Are the blind auditions on The Voice real? ›During the Blind Auditions, the decisions from the Coaches are based solely on voice and not looks. The Coaches hear the Artists perform, but they don't get to see them, thanks to rotating chairs.
Do they drink on The Voice? ›Viewers of The Voice will notice that the judges keep drinks nearby during the taping and Blake previously revealed what he really sips on during the show, and it's certainly not water.
Who has the most beautiful voice ever? ›- 1 of 35. Celine Dion. Kevin Winter/Getty Images. ...
- 2 of 35. Barbra Streisand. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for BSB. ...
- 3 of 35. Etta James. ...
- 4 of 35. Nina Simone. ...
- 5 of 35. Aretha Franklin. ...
- 6 of 35. Whitney Houston. ...
- 7 of 35. Smokey Robinson. ...
- 8 of 35. Mariah Carey.
"I was just constantly working for so many years—very lucky, very fortunate, very blessed and all that—but to just be able to stop in this moment to spend time with my new young family and just have the greatest time ever," he explained. "Now I'm just, like, a stay-at-home dad."
Who became famous from The Voice? ›The Voice Can't Match The Track Record Of American Idol
When it comes to The Voice, the most prominent stars who've been on the show include Cassadee Pope (season 3 winner), Danielle Bradbery (season 4 winner), Sawyer Fredericks (season 8 winner), and Jordan Smith (season 9 winner).
Has The Voice ever been sued? ›
The American Federation of Musicians has sued the maker of NBC's “The Voice,” alleging that the Beverly Hills-based producer of the reality singing competition shortchanged its members.
Is Blake leaving The Voice? ›The country singer announced in October that he would be ending his tenure with the NBC singing competition. Shelton is the only judge who has remained on the show since its debut in 2011. During his time on "The Voice," he's coached the most winning contestants and met his wife, former judge Gwen Stefani.
How much do contestants on The Voice get paid? ›But they don't get paid in the same way that the coaches of the show or staff get paid. According to Newsweek, they do get a stipend, not a paycheck. Although it's unclear just how much the stipend is. Apparently, this stipend is only meant to cover their living expenses during their time on The Voice.
Can a 13 year old go on The Voice? ›Watch The Voice on NBC Mondays at 8/7c and next day on Peacock. New faces will start auditioning for the coaches as Season 23 of The Voice premieres, and the only age limit is that contestants must be at least 13 years old. In fact, there have been many younger people who have been featured on the show.
How many acts do the judges get on The Voice? ›The four coaches are all assisted by guest mentors to help make their decisions. They all have their ten acts from the 'Blind Auditions'. From here, the artists are put into a group of three or four where they will all take individual turns to perform the same song - given to them by their coach.
Why did Adam quit The Voice? ›"I was just constantly working for so many years—very lucky, very fortunate, very blessed and all that—but to just be able to stop in this moment to spend time with my new young family and just have the greatest time ever," he explained. "Now I'm just, like, a stay-at-home dad."
Who is the highest paid singer on The Voice? ›Shelton reportedly makes $13 million per season on The Voice. Seeing as he's appeared on every season of the show thus far, Shelton makes about $26 million annually from The Voice alone, and because he has the most wins in Voice history, he may receive bonuses for that as well.
Who is the richest coach on The Voice? ›OG coach Blake Shelton, who is the richest with an estimated net worth of $120 million, will make his final appearance on the show this season, following which, he will bid goodbye to the show.
Who got famous from The Voice? ›The Voice Can't Match The Track Record Of American Idol
When it comes to The Voice, the most prominent stars who've been on the show include Cassadee Pope (season 3 winner), Danielle Bradbery (season 4 winner), Sawyer Fredericks (season 8 winner), and Jordan Smith (season 9 winner).
Each judge (and contestant) is different, which is why The Voice salaries and how much coaches make per season on the NBC show aren't the same either.
Do voice judges get paid? ›
How much do judges get paid on The Voice? The price tag per judge varies based on their personal fame, their tenure on the show, and the number of wins they have from past seasons. Most of the judges average around $13million per season.
Who is the owner of The Voice? ›The current owner is ITV Studios. Originated in the Netherlands, many other countries adapted the format and began airing their own versions starting in 2010.
Are voice actors expensive? ›Word count recording duration
0 – 1 minute with 150 words or less costs $50 – $200. 2 – 5 minutes with 150 – 750 words costs $200 – $350. 5 – 15 minutes with 750 – 2250 words costs $350 – $500.
After producers select the auditioners they like, the batch of potential competitors goes from thousands to hundreds. From there, the remaining singers perform more songs at callbacks, in which they sing to a backing track or perform with an instrument.
How long does it take for The Voice to get back to you? ›The bottom line? Most of the time your laryngitis will resolve itself in a week or two, with no lasting effects. But if the problem lingers on toward a month, it's a good idea to get checked by a otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat) doctor to make sure there isn't something serious at work.