Kiss rocker Gene Simmons has slammed reality Tv show judges for taking it easy on aspiring singers and failing to prepare them for the harsh reality of the music industry.

The veteran star is launching a new competition series called Coliseum, described as a "no-holds-barred competition show between musical gladiators in the arena fighting to survive, fighting to be the champion, fighting to curry the favor of the Rock Caesar, Simmons".

During his pitch to Tv marketers from around the world at the annual Mipcom event in Cannes, France on Sunday (12Oct14), Simmons told executives he will not shy away from telling the truth to the aspiring stars.

The outspoken rocker said, "You can't sugarcoat s**t, pardon me. You can mentor anyone you like, but it's a waste of time if they don't have the goods intrinsically.

"Your qualification for being on this show is you can sing in the shower? Is that it, without paying any dues or writing songs or any stagecraft?... We want to open the trap doors of life and get tough. There will be heartbreak, and people are going to cry and their dreams will be shattered, just like in real life.

"Tv shows are fantasy because they're selling soap suds. It's family entertainment, it's primetime, the kids are there, and they (broadcasters) don't want to get too realistic... We want to create superstars, not just singers that get record deals."