Expected to be released his ninth studio album with the band in the first half of 2012, Public Image Ltd. frontman John Lydon, has taken aim at TV talent shows such as the X Factor for creating an environment in which innovative acts struggle to find attention.
Describing talent shows as ‘unimportant’, Lydon told: “And it’s a shame that the music industry has been taken over and dominated by them. Particularly American Idol – you know, the way they love to awards themselves every year, those institutions.” It’s all artists from that ilk, isn’t it? If you want to call them artists. Unfortunately there’s some fantastic singers that come out of that, but they’re karaoke.”
In turning his attention to record companies, Lydon said: “If you ever want to know why I’m not on a record label, look at The X Factor. Honestly, of all the people that strive to break barriers in music and do good things and write great lyrics, not one of them would ever pass the first round on any of these competitions".
