"The Voice" is more than a month away from crowning its Season 11 champ, but there's already one clear-cut winner: NBC.
After five years on the air, shows can go flat, especially ones that rely on swiveling chairs and haven't introduced the world to a genuine superstar. But while the NBC vocal competition has taken a hit in the ratings — averaging 11.75 million viewers on Mondays and Tuesdays as opposed to 15 million-plus four years ago — it remains TV's most popular reality contest, with enough cachet that the network has renewed the show through the end of 2017.
The show's success hasn't automatically benefited the contestants or judges, though.
Sales for Maroon 5's 2015 single "Sugar" were certainly sweetened by lead singer Adam Levine's status as a judge, while his on-air sparring partner, Blake Shelton, went from a potential host for an updated "Hee Haw" to an arena-tour staple, breaking records on the country charts and nearly selling out St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center for two nights last month. The show also wound up serving as matchmaker for him and fellow judge Gwen Stefani.
But while his new squeeze has gotten exposure from "The Voice," it hasn't had a significant impact on Stefani's career. The same could be said for Shakira, CeeLo Green or Christina Aguilera, who was the biggest name in the show's inaugural season — and then saw her 2012 album, "Lotus," tank.
The payoff for contestants has been even more questionable. Among the 10 winners so far, Cassadee Pope and Danielle Bradbery have had the most success, with moderate showings on the country charts, but nowhere near the fame that former "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood enjoys. Judith Hill has the biggest name recognition of previous contestants, but is best known as the singer befriended by Prince.
Minnesotans haven't had much of a chance to prove they can buck the trend. Among the hundreds who have competed on the air, only six call the Twin Cities home — not a huge surprise as "Voice," like "Idol," tends to prefer entertainers with a Southern twang. Oklahoma, Alabama and Kentucky — all states less populous than Minnesota — have had more contestants.
And yet, some locals have clearly benefited from the prime-time platform.