A row has broken out before this weekend's X Factor final amid
complaints the programme is favouring guest performers such as Leona
Lewis who are signed up to Simon Cowell's label.
Rival record companies say it is wrong that four of the six acts performing in addition to the finalists – Amelia Lily, Little Mix and Marcus Collins – over Saturday and Sunday are signed to Cowell's Syco or affiliated labels.
Westlife, JLS, One Direction and Leona Lewis are due to sing, as are Coldplay, who are on EMI, and Michael Buble, who is signed to Warner Music. Particular anger is directed at Lewis, as she does not have a new album out.
"The X Factor final should feature the biggest acts in the world," said one senior industry insider. "Leona Lewis is already frankly on the way down. JLS and One Direction have already been on this series, and you have to question the choice of Westlife."
Westlife were originally co-managed by Louis Walsh, now an X Factor judge, and signed their first record deal with Simon Cowell in 1998. Cowell has not yet appeared on this year's British X Factor, but Syco remains the lead producer of the show.
Warner Music, home to Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran, complained in writing to the broadcast regulator Ofcom on Friday that ITV was not exercising proper editorial control of the programme. The regulator said it would adjudicate after the final programmes have been aired.
Universal Music, the world's biggest record company, and home to Take That and Girls Aloud, is also understood to be preparing a formal complaint to Ofcom. It has long been wary of X Factor because Cowell's Syco is half-owned by its chief rival, Sony Music.
In the absence of Top of the Pops, there are only a handful of slots for rock and pop artists to perform on primetime television. Bookings on X Factor, particularly over the final weekend, are sought after in the Christmas sales period.
Cowell's production team had hoped to book Adele, who is signed to an independent label, for the final weekend but the singer has recently undergone throat surgery.
Syco executives produced a factsheet to rebut the complaints, noting that Michael Buble and Coldplay were signed to other music majors. They pointed out that three of the four judges – Gary Barlow, Tulisa and Kelly Rowland – were all signed to Universal, and all three will be dueting with their acts.
Including those duets, and over the course of the 10-week run of the series, Syco and Sony have had 10 acts on the show, eight of whom are former contestants. Universal will have accounted for 13, including the judges, while Warner Music and EMI (which is in the process of being sold to Universal) will have had three each.
ITV declined to comment. An X Factor spokesman said: "The X Factor ensures acts from a range of labels appear on the series so one label is not favoured over another."
Rival record companies say it is wrong that four of the six acts performing in addition to the finalists – Amelia Lily, Little Mix and Marcus Collins – over Saturday and Sunday are signed to Cowell's Syco or affiliated labels.
Westlife, JLS, One Direction and Leona Lewis are due to sing, as are Coldplay, who are on EMI, and Michael Buble, who is signed to Warner Music. Particular anger is directed at Lewis, as she does not have a new album out.
"The X Factor final should feature the biggest acts in the world," said one senior industry insider. "Leona Lewis is already frankly on the way down. JLS and One Direction have already been on this series, and you have to question the choice of Westlife."
Westlife were originally co-managed by Louis Walsh, now an X Factor judge, and signed their first record deal with Simon Cowell in 1998. Cowell has not yet appeared on this year's British X Factor, but Syco remains the lead producer of the show.
Warner Music, home to Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran, complained in writing to the broadcast regulator Ofcom on Friday that ITV was not exercising proper editorial control of the programme. The regulator said it would adjudicate after the final programmes have been aired.
Universal Music, the world's biggest record company, and home to Take That and Girls Aloud, is also understood to be preparing a formal complaint to Ofcom. It has long been wary of X Factor because Cowell's Syco is half-owned by its chief rival, Sony Music.
In the absence of Top of the Pops, there are only a handful of slots for rock and pop artists to perform on primetime television. Bookings on X Factor, particularly over the final weekend, are sought after in the Christmas sales period.
Cowell's production team had hoped to book Adele, who is signed to an independent label, for the final weekend but the singer has recently undergone throat surgery.
Syco executives produced a factsheet to rebut the complaints, noting that Michael Buble and Coldplay were signed to other music majors. They pointed out that three of the four judges – Gary Barlow, Tulisa and Kelly Rowland – were all signed to Universal, and all three will be dueting with their acts.
Including those duets, and over the course of the 10-week run of the series, Syco and Sony have had 10 acts on the show, eight of whom are former contestants. Universal will have accounted for 13, including the judges, while Warner Music and EMI (which is in the process of being sold to Universal) will have had three each.
ITV declined to comment. An X Factor spokesman said: "The X Factor ensures acts from a range of labels appear on the series so one label is not favoured over another."
Guardian
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