Even hopefuls on The Voice had contracts with Universal

Best frieds: Tyler James, the best friend of Amy Winehouse, was among the hopefuls who got through to the next stage of The Voice this Saturday

It has already been called an ‘expensive advert’ for Universal.
And now it has emerged that some of the contestants on The Voice already have links with the record label.
Despite billing itself as a search for new talent, the BBC show featured on Saturday two singers who have had recording contracts with Universal – which is meant to be the main prize.
It comes a week after the Mail revealed that three of the four ‘coaches’ on the programme – Sir Tom Jones, Jessie J and Will.i.am – are all signed to Universal.
Politicians are calling for an inquiry into the £22million show, claiming it is a ‘big advert’ for the record label, which would be in breach of strict advertising rules.
On Saturday night, angry viewers turned to Twitter to expose contestants Tyler James and Cassius Henry for their previous links with Universal.

Controversy: Politicians are calling for an inquiry into The Voice after suggestions it is acting as an advert for Universal

More than nine million people saw Mr James, 30, who was best friends with the late Amy Winehouse, perform Otis Redding’s Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay.
But producers failed to reveal he was signed to Island Records in 2003, which is now owned by Universal, and released three singles before being dropped in 2005.

 

Mr Henry, also released three singles while signed to Island Records and even performed on Top Of The Pops. One viewer tweeted: ‘I wish they’d stop putting defunct pop stars on The Voice. I want them to bring attention to unknown voices.’
A second viewer said: ‘I own a single from Tyler James. Is this some kind of semi-professional talent show?’ while another added: ‘They (Universal) are just rolling out acts previously on their rota and it smacks of a dodgy old boys’ club. You have to question if this is on when you consider all the taxpayers’ money being pumped into this show.’

Familiar face: Cassius Henry auditions for The Voice despite having a top 40 hit in 2002 entitled 'broke'

On March 31, West End star Kerry Ellis, 32, also appeared in the audition stage of The Voice.
But viewers were not told that the singer, a mentor on BBC talent shows Over The Rainbow and I’d Do Anything, is signed to Decca Records, owned by Universal.

From the Mail, April 3

The actress, who starred in Wicked and Oliver!, did not make it through to the next round of the show.
Steve Rotheram MP, who sits on the media select committee, said: ‘These are supposed to be fresh acts. I’m sure if it is being sold to an audience one way and we find out it is not as it should be we will look at it.’
Conservative MP Philip Davies, who also sits on the committee, added: ‘The BBC has paid a fortune for The Voice. This looks to be a very expensive advert for Universal which not only gets a heavily promoted winner but also a boost for its existing artists on the show.’

Mentor: West End star Kerry Ellis, a mentor on a number of BBC talent auditioned on The Voice despite previously being signed up to a label owned by Universal

Judges: Will.i.am, Jessie J, Danny O'Donoghue and Tom Jones in their role as judges on the BBC show

Universal has also been accused of ‘cashing in’ after figures last week showed a rise in all the judges’ album sales. Since the first show, sales of  Jessie J’s album have soared 89 per cent, Sir Tom’s sales are up by a third and Will.i.am’s by 6 per cent.
Last night the BBC said: ‘The Voice is purely about talent. The only criteria is entrants must not be under current recording contract.
‘In addition to strict editorial measures, the BBC have taken appropriate steps to ensure there can be no editorial influence. Any suggestion otherwise is entirely without foundation.’