Singer Alice Merton is leaving ‘The Voice of Germany’ to focus on new music, according to her management; the 26-year-old musician had been a coach in the show since 2019 and helped win the ninth season with Claudia Emmanuela Santoso. Her departure comes as the show prepares for its tenth anniversary season, which will feature a new lineup of coaches.

Behind the Scenes of ‘The Voice of Germany’

Merton’s management stated that she is dedicating this year to creating new music and thus decided to step down from the next season. The decision coincides with the departure of rapper Sido, who announced his exit in a surprise statement during a concert in Mannheim, saying, “Die haben mich gefeuert.” The network confirmed Sido’s exit but did not provide specific reasons. Both exits are part of the show’s rotating coach lineup, as the network emphasized in a statement: “The constant change of the coveted chairs on German television is part of the #TVOG concept.”

While the network declined to comment on potential replacements, rumors suggest a well-known name is already in the running. Merton had previously shared her enthusiasm for coaching during her first season, saying, “I find the other coaches very nice.” She emphasized the importance of sharing her industry experience with emerging artists, noting that breaking into the music industry has become increasingly difficult due to fewer opportunities for independent artists.

Young Voices and Climate Advocacy

Alice Poggi. A youth representative for Dianova International, is working to boost young people’s voices at the UNESCO Youth Forum; In her role, Poggi focuses on climate change, mental health, education, and youth collaboration. She highlighted the connection between climate change and Dianova’s mission, emphasizing the need for educational programs to strengthen resilience in vulnerable communities; “Promote greater collaboration between young people, local governments and organizations to co-create policies that respond to community needs,” Poggi said.

Another young voice making waves is 14-year-old Argentine singer Lisandro Tunes, who impressed the judges on ‘The Voice Kids Belgium’ with his rendition of Eric Clapton’s ‘Tears in Heaven.’ Born in Italy and raised in Tucumán before moving to Belgium, Tunes quickly adapted to the European music scene. His performance left the audience and judges in awe, with one judge saying, “The simple melody of the guitar took on new meaning when he began to sing.” Tunes learned to sing in a multilingual environment, mastering French and Dutch alongside his native Spanish.

Remembering Layne Staley, the Voice of Alice in Chains

Twenty-four years ago. On April 5. 2002, Layne Staley, the iconic voice of Alice in Chains, passed away at the age of 34 due to an overdose of heroin and cocaine. According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, Staley was found dead two weeks after his death, surrounded by drug paraphernalia. His death marked a significant loss for the grunge community, and the remaining members of Alice in Chains issued a heartfelt statement: “He was a sweet man with a keen sense of humor and a deep sense of humanity. He was an amazing musician and an inspiration and comfort to so many.”

Staley’s influence on rock music remains profound, and his unique voice helped define an entire era. His death, like those of other musicians in the grunge scene, sparked conversations about mental health and substance abuse in the music industry.