DESIGN CONTEXT: CASE STUDY 01: X FACTOR WINNERS

For one of my first case studies I will be researching into the television programmes x factor to get an insight into what the programmes is about and how it generates desire for it's audiences.

History

The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent, contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. Created by Simon Cowell, the show began in 2004 and has since aired annually from August/September until December. The show is produced by FremantleMedia's Thames (previously Talkback Thames) and Cowell's production company SycoTV. It is broadcast on the ITVnetwork in the United Kingdom and simulcast on TV3 in the Republic of Ireland, with spin-off behind-the-scenes show The Xtra Factor screened on ITV2. The "X Factor" refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality.

Steve Brookstein — Series 01 Winner 2004

The music video for the winner shows his journey throughout the competition, ups and downs similar to a narrative story to engage audiences. From nothing to something fairytale ending.

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Simplistic, generic, artist plastered across cover, inviting smile, relaxed.

Was with the record company for 9 months, then dropped made one hit album and single. Tell all book about the X Factor and how it is manipulative. Now signed to Pledge Music.

Extracts from his book — 'Getting over the X'

‘You’re nothing but a cab driver. You’re shit. You shouldn’t even be on the stage.’ — Sharon Osbourne

'I know this was a by-product of the whole make-believe world of the show. They made telly, they held out dreams. It all looked so achievable and there were so many crew working on the show to a template of how to make that telly that some people had crossed a line into fantasy world. Your sense of reality can change when you are on the show. These are important people. People with power, people with money. I was from a working- class family. Anything is possible.' — Steve B

'This to me was control and manipulation that was going to leave me carrying a dark secret that could stay with me for a long time.' Steve B describing simon cowells actions

Shayne Ward — Series 02 Winner 2005

Again, the music video for the winner shows his journey throughout the competition, ups and downs similar to a narrative story to engage audiences.

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Simplistic, eye connection, relaxed, smiling, engaging.

Dropped from label after 6 years and now is signed to Pledge Music.

Leona Lewis — Series 03 Winner 2006

Music Video again demonstrates the same process of how the singers journey to stardom was made.

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With a career spanning eight years, Lewis is the best selling act to have emerged from The X Factor franchise, having sold 28 million records., as well as being the British female solo artist with most weeks at number one in the United Kingdom.

Leon Jackson — Series 04 Winner 2007

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Music Video again demonstrates the same process of how the singers journey to stardom was made.

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In 2009, Jackson confirmed that he was working on a brand new studio album which would be more acoustic in style, different from the jazz and soul genre of his debut album Right Now. Even though Jackson has failed to find another record deal since he got dropped by his label Sony BMG in March 2009, he hopes to release the album independently.

Alexandra Burke — Series 05 Winner 2008

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Music Video again demonstrates the same process of how the singers journey to stardom was made.

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In February 2012, it was reported that Burke had left the Syco label to join RCA Records. In June 2012, Burke parted company with her management company.

Joe McElderry — Series 06 Winner 2009

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Music Video again demonstrates the same process of how the singers journey to stardom was made.

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To date he has released four top 20 albums – two of them reaching the UK top three. He was the first X Factor contestant to release a fourth album. As of 2014, McElderry has sold over 2 million records worldwide.

"The Climb" was a contender for 2009's UK Christmas number one,^[18] competing against, and losing to, Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name".^[19] McElderry's single sold 450,000 compared to Rage Against the Machine's 502,000 after a Facebook-based campaign was started in protest of The X Factor 's dominance of the Christmas number one title. This was the first time since 2004 that the X Factor winning single was denied the top spot for Christmas in the UK Singles Charts.

On 15 April 2011, it was reported in the news media that McElderry's contract with Syco would not be renewed when it expired the following month

— Daily Mail - Rage Against the Machine

Matt Cardle —Series 07 Winner 2010

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Music Video again demonstrates the same process of how the singers journey to stardom was made.

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On 15 March 2011, it was reported that Cardle has signed a record deal with Syco Music in a joint venture with Columbia Records, becoming the first The X Factor winner not to be exclusively signed to Simon Cowell's label.

Little Mix — Series 08 Winner 2011

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Music Video again demonstrates the same process of how the singers journey to stardom was made.

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Little Mix released their debut album DNA on 19 November 2012. It charted in the top 5 in eight countries, including number two in the UK and number four on the US Billboard 200. This made Little Mix the first girl group since The Pussycat Dolls to reach the U.S. top 5 with their debut album, as well as earning the highest debut U.S. chart position by a British girl group, breaking the record previously held by the Spice Girls, whose 1996 debut Spicecharted at number five. As of December 2014, Little Mix have sold over 7.5 million records worldwide.

James Arthur — Series 09 Winner 2012

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Music Video again demonstrates the same process of how the singers journey to stardom was made.

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On 5 April 2014, several media outlets began to report that Arthur had been dropped from Syco, following a dispute regarding a song entitled, "Follow The Leader". He took to Twitter to deny the claims., however on 11 June 2014, Arthur announced via Twitter that he and Syco had parted ways by mutual agreement.

Sam Bailey — Series 10 Winner 2013