>>12290864Other way around.
They grew tired of Frankie's shit and people were smarting up to the business of lipsync production.
It already ruined the Midnight Special on NBC by the late 70s. The whole draw of the show was that it had live music performances by good bands both established and up-and-coming.
The labels decided they wanted to "sterilise" and "harmonise" the productions, claiming that they put a lot of money into these artists and their promotion and if the artists fumble live on stage it's a bad look for the label... as if people don't pop for a botch.
The consequence was essentially that the only live performance you'd see on TV was the visual performance. The sound was all a backing track, including the singing.
It should be noted that European TV already did this since the 1950s without exception.
In fact Top of the Pops was started on the premise of "we won't be like those backing track shows from the Netherlands (TopPop) and Germany". Then it became a back track show in no time at all, until David Bowie insisted on singing Starman live which they reluctantly let him do.
Sometimes the artists have to go into business for themselves, you know. Helps the business out.
It's the same shit that makes people cringe at Idols, X-Factor, The Voice, and every other talent show.
It's all a work. All of it. Just a work to get people to listen to shittily tuned songs through Spotify from singers who can't cut a record and musicians who can't work a hold on their instrument, and to promote live concerts.
