The Current State of British Music - How Does an Artist Sustain Success?

Jessie J, Adele, Leona, Tinie - these British singers have made a successful name in music on both sides of the Atlantic which, once upon a time, was a rarity amongst UK acts. Each artist is different to each other, yet has managed to capture the attention of listeners worldwide, so how exactly do we define the makings of a UK popstar?

Each of these artists have come from diverse backgrounds which has led them to where they are today, so we cannot simply direct success towards exposure gained from talent shows such as X Factor. It is what these budding singers decide to do with this exposure and opportunity of creating and selling good music, that is the determining factor in longevity within the industry. 

    Leona Lewis is an example of this, she waited after she won X Factor to hone in her suitable music style while her audience waited in anticipation. Rebecca Ferguson followed this method, staying true to the musical sound within her. 

It is also a matter of sheer talent, of course, which Leona and Rebecca possess - if the talent is strong enough, people will listen as shown with Adele's career. She is the epitome of a true singer, relying on only her voice to carry her through music, revealing her honest self in this way. Jessie J is another recent UK success with the same undeniable raw talent, however I believe her quirky image has helped her success which keeps the music industry exciting.

I am most proud of Tinie Tempah as I have followed his career from underground grime beats to the mainstream and he has managed to stay true to his hard-edged roots, while simultaneously adapting his music style to the current trends of music today. People may argue that this is selling out, but I disagree. 

Tinie has not left where he started. Selling out is when an artist departs from their roots simply to achieve sales. Dignity is lost and money is (hopefully) gained. I see this in so many artists and it particularly hurts when they're from the UK. They may achieve higher chart positions, but in the end, what are they left with?

A barely credible discography and a deflation of musical inspiration. Some artists have been signed purely for the image when the singing talent is not special enough. Pixie Lott is an example of this as she can sing, but has no distinction, I feel, in her voice. Her songs are unoriginal and uninventive which explains her recent chart failings. Isn't there something wrong, when her style is discussed in magazines rather than her music?

Some artists resist the commercial root which I have respect for such as Kano who is dedicated to grime, and does it best frankly. He may have not reached mainstream success as Dizzee but at least, he has not sold his soul to reap the takings.

UK artists are breaking barriers, but only a lucky few do not have to sell out to achieve sales. The rest that remain should fall back and understand why artists such as Adele and Florence Welch have broken through - they have a special voice to offer and at the end of the day, that is the road to success in music.