The Voice
What is the voice?
Key facts
The Voice is a television singing competition franchise that began with the Dutch original *The Voice of Holland* and, in its U.S. version, airs on NBC as a reality series where celebrity coaches judge contestants by voice alone.
Context
The Voice is a singing competition franchise that originated with the Dutch show *The Voice of Holland* [1]. In its U.S. version, it airs on NBC and premiered on April 26, 2011 [1]. The show features celebrity coaches who judge contestants solely on vocal ability, especially during blind auditions where they listen with their backs turned [1]. Contestants must be at least 13 years old, and the winner receives US$100,000 and a record deal with Universal Music Group [1]. The format includes stages like battle rounds, knockouts, and live performance shows, with viewers voting via telephone, internet, SMS, and iTunes purchases [1]. The franchise has multiple international versions, such as *The Voice UK*, and is sometimes confused with other entities like Voice Entertainment [1].
Documented claims
- The U.S. version of The Voice premiered on NBC on April 26, 2011. [1]
- Contestants are initially judged on their voices during blind auditions, where coaches listen with their backs turned. [1]
- Winners are selected by television viewers through telephone, internet, SMS, and iTunes Store purchases. [1]
Questions and answers
When did The Voice premiere?
The U.S. version premiered on April 26, 2011 [1].
How are winners chosen on The Voice?
Winners are chosen by television viewers who vote by telephone, internet, SMS text, and iTunes Store purchases [1].
What is the age requirement to compete?
Singers must be at least 13 years old to compete [1].
Sources
- The Voice | American television program | Britannica — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)