I'd like to think I could safely say that last week's news about JLS splitting is good news for at least 99% of the UK population over the age of 12. Not that JLS have had much of an effect on my personal life as I've managed to simply avoid them for the 5 years they've existed and could easily have continued to do so for however long they would have attempted to milk their fame. However, knowing that they will never release another one of their shocking charity singles or manufactured pop albums again (given they do not reunite, I pray), it does allow make me to feel slightly more content that the so-called "dead" music industry is not as its 100% worse for now, allowing me to feel at ease that one of the UK's worst bands have finally called it a day.
When JLS came on the scene from a stint on X Factor, there was a considerable level of hysteria from every delusional teenage girl in the country. Thinking about One Directions success now, perhaps their initial reception was comparably trivial, however I can quite vividly recall their monstrosity of a music video for their debut single "Beat Again" played frequently across every pop-based music channel on TV, as well as having to abandon any commercial radio station whilst driving my car in order to refrain from ear damage in result from consuming such direness. I couldn't quite comprehend what all the commotion was about, but with the type of material that is usually put out from X Factor I wasn't surprised. From then on it was clear they would be Simon Cowell's latest prodigy.
Five years down the line what I think went wrong for them would arguably be opposed by any A&R exec who only expected the band to sustain longevity of five years. However, whether Simon Cowell truly believes any muse of his from the X Factor will last on a long term scale is another question. In an extremely fast turnaround, we've seen the band put out four records on a yearly basis. Like most commercial acts, an annual record assembled by hundreds of industry top producers and song writers, later promoted up by a bunch marketing execs, is the norm for any record label to cash in on their well-performing pop acts that can breakthrough to the masses on a commercial scale. JLS were simply the face of a number of expensive projects solely produced for commercial purpose and nothing prolific. For four years JLS followed a formulaic schedule of a lead single release every summer, followed by a less radio friendly ballad in the final quarter of the year, allowing their follow-up conveyor belt 12-track album to be released just in time for Christmas upon the peak of its momentum. Subsequently, their album populated with filler and a bunch of tedious, uninspiring hip-hop tracks, has been a hit and momentary cash-in opportunity for the label over a short-lived time period, before this cycle is promptly repeated in the eve of the New Year.
Although they may have produced millions of pounds for Sony Records, it was clear from the start their discography would never grant them with an iconic status or lend itself to a long-term success. As musicians they never stood a chance at being taken seriously, but then again did they ever truly want this for themselves anyway? No X Factor contestant does it because they're passionate and want to produce authentic music, as I'm sure they all fully acknowledge their usage as puppets and nothing further. JLS could have potentially signed another 5-year record deal however they would've only been milking a short-lived conquest.
Putting their music careers at rest at the right time was a wise decision for them. Now they've been attributed with a platform of celebrity status opening opportunities for guest appearances, judging roles on "Got to Dance" and many more opportunities for the four of them, which I'm positive we'll see very soon. I have no doubt we'll be witnessing their presences on 'Dancing on Ice', 'I'm A Celebrity', 'Big Brother' and perhaps even the 'Big Reunion' in many more years to come. Other than that, besides from producing exceedingly bad music, they've made their six million each so good luck to them.