With the 2009 festival season right around the corner, it’s time to get the investigative reporters at the Fox 2 Problem Solvers on the horn and talk about an issue that has been drawing more attention lately. Inevitably, everybody has noticed at one point or another the so-called “talent searches” that come with the announcements of festival lineups each spring.

These talent searches are generally responsible for rounding out the smaller stages at the festivals and comprise many of those bands that you may have heard of, but never actually heard. You know, the ones tend to get added to the lineup a month or so after the initial release?
Here’s the thing; after hearing complaints on multiple occasions about the way these searches get conducted, I contacted six different bands to assess their thoughts. The results were alarmingly similar and the reviews were all mixed… and definitely less than glowing.
As three of the bands requested to comment off the record due to the fact that they are still participating in these searches for the upcoming festival season, I decided to keep all of the band’s names off the record, so as not to throw anybody under the bus. Regardless, the results were pretty interesting.
READ ON for more of Ryan’s editorial on festival talent searches…