Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Billy Gilman performs on The Voice Season 11. (NBC Photo)

And that’s just fine with him, according to a new interview he did with Tara Granahan of his hometown radio station WPRO in Rhode Island.

“I am so happy that I didn’t win,” he says during an interview you can hear in its entirety here. “Sundance (Head) and I were talking about how we did not want to win. We wanted Wé (McDonald) to win.

“I wanted to have the platform, have the exposure, but still be able to do my own thing,” Billy continues. “I don’t want to be owned.”

By that comment, he’s referring to the deal the show’s winner signs with Universal Records.

And considering the poor — okay, let’s just call it what it is — the absolutely pathetic track record labels have with artists who win The Voice, Billy’s concern is understandable.

Though you have to wonder if Billy should be speaking for Sundance too, especially since he’ll now be tied to Universal as the Season 11 champ.

Billy entered The Voice as one of the Season 11 favorites. He had the largest social media following of any contestant, thanks in part to his past as a child star in country music.

The 28-year-old is much more interested in pursuing a pop music career now. During his run on the show, Billy placed six songs in the Top 20 on iTunes. His cover of “I Surrender” hit number one.

Billy said even if he didn’t want to finish first, he “would have been crushed” if he didn’t make the finale and is grateful for The Voice experience.

He told WPRO he even feels like he won in two ways. He got to inspire viewers to never give up on a dream. And he proved wrong those who said America didn’t want to hear new music from Billy Gilman.

What’s next?

He said lots of shows are already on the books for 2017, including a sold out show at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence, R.I., on Jan. 17.

And, of course, new music will be coming.

“I definitely want to conquer radio next,” he said. “I want to have a song out there that’s climbing the charts on behalf of me, not the show.”