Not only is Netflix's new music competition show, Building The Band, getting a lot of attention for its unique concept, but it's also the last time fans will see Liam Payne on TV. The concert, which started on July 9, is bittersweet for many since it shows Payne's love of music and teaching in the months before he died in October 2024.
Payne and his family are the inspiration for the series, and his loved ones all agreed with the decision. This devotion shows how much the release of the show meant to many, making it a moving memorial to the lasting effect the former One Direction member had on the music world.
The Unique Idea Behind Building The Band: Beyond the Voices
Building The Band stands apart from other music competitions because it takes a completely different approach. The show brings together 50 people who want to be singers but have never met each other. They have to form six bands. They only use their hearing to judge possible bandmates based on their singing skills, how well they get along musically, and the chemistry they think they hear through individual sound booths.
How the "Hearing-Only" Format Works
In the first round, competitors perform alone from separate pods. Every artist can "like" up to ten other artists they want to work with. A singer must get at least five likes to move on. This random selection technique is meant to get rid of visual biases so that participants have to engage on a deeper, more musical level. Once a band is chosen by voice vote, the members finally meet. The next hurdle is to deal with personalities, choreography, and style before they perform live. This system makes for a unique dynamic that puts teamwork and togetherness ahead of individual fame.
Liam Payne's Long-Lasting Effect as a Judge
Liam Payne was a guest judge on Building The Band. He brought a lot of expertise from being in One Direction, one of the most successful boy bands in the world. His remarks were friendly and helpful, giving the young artists real advice.
Episodes with Liam Payne in them
Payne shows up in later episodes of the ten-part series, starting with episode seven. These episodes reveal how much he loves music and how dedicated he is to helping other people find their voice. Many critics have said that his real contacts and honest feedback are what make the show stand out.
AJ McLean talks on Liam's drive and passion
AJ McLean, the host and a member of the Backstreet Boys, talked about Liam's work with a lot of admiration. At the start of the series, he gave an emotional tribute.
AJ McLean said about Liam Payne, "He lit up the room and was very open about how he felt about helping the contestants." "Building The Band" really shows how much he loves music.
McLean said that Payne's presence demonstrated how dedicated he was to assisting others, which made his parts so moving.
Heartfelt Tributes: Family, Friends, and the Choice to Air
The family of Liam Payne gave their consent for the show Building The Band to be released after his death. This way of doing things made sure that the show paid tribute to him in a respectable way.
Nicola Payne's moving tribute
After seeing Liam's last performance, his sister Nicola Payne wrote a lovely message saying how proud she was of him.
"I've never been more proud of you than when I saw you on this show," Liam Payne's sister Nicola said. A sign of how long his work on "Building The Band" will last.
Her statements indicate how deeply the family is connected to his work on the show and how hard it is for them to deal with his death.
Nicole Scherzinger's Thoughts on Her Feelings
Nicole Scherzinger, another judge and mentor, stressed how important it was for the family to approve before the show aired.
Nicole Scherzinger said, "We would have never kept sharing the show without getting his family's permission first." "Building The Band" was all about honoring Liam's memory.
She also talked about how the series was dedicated to Liam, praising his lovely soul and the happiness he brought to the show.
"We've made this show for Liam." Nicole Scherzinger said, "We're so proud of him," which showed how emotional "Building The Band" was when it came out.
Liam's full circle: from X Factor to Building The Band
Nicole Scherzinger was a big part in Liam Payne's music career while he was on The X Factor, when he helped form One Direction. As a judge on a music competition, he came full circle in his career and was able to share his distinct point of view with a new generation of performers.
How One Direction Affected Liam's Mentoring
Liam was the best mentor because he had been in a band that was established through a competition and had to deal with both the stress and the success. He knew how to keep a group together and how hard it was to get about in the music business. He regularly talked about how important it was for band members to be able to connect with each other. In the teaser for the show, he said, "I need to feel that connection between you guys."
Nicole Scherzinger said that Liam Payne has come "full circle" in his career, from X Factor to "Building The Band." A real mentor until the end.
Meet the Judges: The Expert Panel That Is Helping New Talent
There are a lot of experienced music industry people on the judging panel for Building The Band. Nicole Scherzinger, who is known for her work with The Pussycat Dolls, is a mentor and judge together with Liam Payne. Kelly Rowland from Destiny's Child is also on the panel and has a lot of expertise. AJ McLean from the Backstreet Boys is the host of the show and helps the participants understand the unusual structure. This group of experts is a great base for developing new musical potential.
How the Audience Reacted and the Future of the Series
Making Critics have given the Band a mix of good and bad reviews. Some people have complimented its creative "hearing-only" approach and concentration on real musical interaction, while others have considered parts of the concert to be problematic or derivative.
What People Are Saying About Building The Band
Many reviews have said that Liam Payne's real and friendly presence is what makes the show so great. Some critics, meanwhile, questioned the show's concept because of the mental health issues that artists suffer. This was especially true after Payne's death. People have different perspectives about how well the show did overall, but they all agree that it tried to change the music competition genre.
Is a second season coming up?
Building The Band is a new Netflix show, so it's not certain if there will be more seasons in the future. The goal of the show is to create a true, fully formed music act, and the band that wins gets $500,000. The last three episodes of the first season of the series came out on July 23 and showed who won the band. The show's success in putting together a brilliant and cohesive group, together with its unusual concept, could lead to more versions of it. It stands out from other reality shows since it focuses on actual teamwork and chemistry instead of fake turmoil.
Behind-the-scenes information and problems with production
Before Liam Payne died in August 2024, filming for Building The Band ended. Producers said that Payne had finished filming, and his family watched the series and said they were okay with it coming out. The team's careful handling of the production shows how much they care about respecting Liam's memory while sharing his last effort with the world. The series also taped its live events in Manchester, England, where supporters sang to Payne after the last recording, which was the day after his 31st birthday.