The Trouble With Syco

It's fair to say the relationship between Mixers and Little Mix's management is not great. Barely a day goes by when Mixers don't feel the need to rant on social media about the way the girls are treated by Syco and Modest Management. This blog will outline some of them

Firstly, the world tour- or lack of it. Yes the girls will head to Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines this year and I'm delighted for Mixers in those countries who, like me, will be able to see the girls live for the first time this year.

However, there is no sign of them going to the US, South America or Europe, despite the girls saying in numerous interviews and on social media that there aim for this year is to go global and have a world tour. Added to this, there have been countless Twitter trends from Mixers in these continents who right now can only dream of seeing the girls in their country.

US mixers may feel they are owed and to be honest they have a point. After all, the Salute tour was due to go to the States but this was cancelled, officially to allow the girls to work on their album. I know how excited I am to be able to see the girls for the first time this year so I can't imagine how disappointing it must have been for those who had tickets.

You only need to look on Twitter and Instagram to see how big Little Mix's global fanbase is. There was also #ProjectLittleMixWorldwide that was started by @BrasilLM in December. The project involved putting their country on a map to show where there were Mixers who wanted the girls to come to their country. The final result was quite staggering. The fanbase is there and the desire from the girls is there, but for reasons nobody can work out it is not happening.

Then there is their latest single Secret Love Song, which has today given the girls their 8th Top 10 single, despite the physical single not yet being released. When Get Weird was released Jade confirmed a Mixer's belief that the song was an LGBT anthem. It was rumoured there was going to be a video for Part 2 and casting calls for gay and interracial couples were published.

When the video for Part 1, featuring Jason Derulo, was released the reaction was mixed, with much disappointment over the lack of an LGBT storyline, although it was suggested that this storyline would be in the video for Part 2. However, in an interview with Sugarscape this week the girls revealed that we wouldn't be getting a video for Part 2 after all. To be honest, it was painfully obvious that the girls weren't happy. This is not the first time something like this has happened. There was also due to be an LGBT element to the video for Change Your Life, but for reasons unknown, that didn't happen either.

The same can be said for the girls' performance with Jason at the O2 Arena last Friday. While Mixers raved about how good the girls looked and how great the performance was, many also picked up on a vibe that something wasn't right. It seemed like the only time the girls smiled was when they were looking at each other or waving to fans. Something definitely seemed to be wrong.

Yet another issue comes with the fact the single is only due to be released in the UK. Initially the video was only available to view in the UK but fortunately common sense won out and it was made available worldwide. However, the single is still UK only. There has been demand from overseas radio stations, especially in the US, but stations are only able to play the song if they are sent it by Syco or Columbia, which many haven't.

I personally believe, and I know I am not alone in thinking this, that the girls could be every bit as big globally as another X Factor product, One Direction, however they are not being given the chance. Get Weird has without doubt been their most successful era to date, with Black Magic proving to be their biggest hit yet and the album comfortably outselling both DNA and Salute. However, for reasons only management know, they are not being given the chance to have the global success the girls deserve

Matt



Twitter: @unitedmixer89
Instagram: mjohnson_1989