NBC has announced The Voice's sixth season will feature major changes in the upcoming weeks -- a new "Battles: Round Two" phase of the competition and the addition of Coldplay's frontman Chris Martin as a new "universal advisor."
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In The Voice's three prior seasons, a series of "knockout" rounds -- which feature two singers performing a song of their choice against one another -- would follow the sixth season's currently-airing "battle" rounds. However, in this season, the contestants who survived their "battle" will move on to a new "Battles: Round Two" phase of the competition.
In "Battles: Round Two," which NBC announced online after Tuesday night's The Voice broadcast, the remaining contestants will be paired off to perform the same agreed-upon song as a duet in a sudden-death match, beginning March 31. Like prior editions, each coach will be allowed one "steal" during this phase.
"We like the pressure when they're sharing one song," The Voice executive producer Mark Burnett told USA Today.
The network also revealed The Voice has recruited Martin to serve as a "universal advisor" to all four coaches and their artists in the new sixth-season round, which will take place on the show's March 31, April 1 and April 7 episodes.
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"He's such an authentic voice in the industry. We could not be happier," Burnett explained. "There's a massive level of respect from the singers and the surprise from them (when they met him): 'Whoa! Chris Martin. Wow!'"
Because of the fact Martin will be helping every contestant with his or her vocal technique, stage presence and tailoring songs to fit his or her personality and strengths, Burnett feels that's keeping the competition fair.
"It was very objective across the board, so nobody felt they were getting an advantage," he told USA Today.
Martin's participation was reportedly revealed via social media when fans using their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts were told an announcement would be coming on Snapchat, the popular phone photo-sharing application. Footage of Martin performing was then displayed on Snapchat after the East Coast broadcast of The Voice on Tuesday night concluded.
"Snapchat is very important and very new... This is the perfect way for The Voice to be making an announcement in a very unique way via the place where young Americans are," Burnett added.
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Following "Battles: Round Two" the winning contestants will advance to The Voice's "Playoff Rounds," which will begin airing on April 8 and further narrow down each coach's team to three members in preparation for the live shows, which will debut on April 21.
During the live shows, the Top 12 artists will compete each week and home viewers will have the opportunity to vote to save their favorite artists.
In addition, The Voice's "Instant Save" twist will be returning after being introduced for the first time last season. During each live results show, the three artists with the lowest number of votes will be eligible for the "Instant Save."
The three artists will be required to each perform a new song for survival, and then America will tweet out #VoiceSave along with the artist's name they'd like to stick around in the competition. The two singers with the lowest number of votes via Twitter will be sent home each week until one winner is announced on The Voice's May 20 finale.
"Every season, we do reserve the right to look back and say, how do we tweak this show to keep what's important -- authentic music and the highest level on talent -- onscreen, with four of the biggest people in music?" The Voice host Carson Daly said at a recent screening of the show in New York City, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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"And with that do come some tweaks. There might be some surprises this year."
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski