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Simon Cowell has announced that several X Factor USA finalists will receive Sony Music record deals.
The British music mogul mentored 19-year-old Melanie Amaro to victory on the show’s first season earlier this month, thereby guaranteeing her a recording contract worth $5 million.
However, in an uncharacteristic turn ‘Mr Nasty’ has stated that runner-up Josh Krajcik and third-placed contestant Chris Rene will also be signed to the label, as will fellow Top 12 finalist Brian ‘Astro’ Bradley, who left the competition in seventh place.
Cowell explained the process of signing the acts in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said: “We can’t sign everyone, but there’s going to be quite a few that are going to get deals. You’re not going to let Astro go. You’re not going to let Chris Rene go or let Josh go. We’d be mad. But Melanie is the priority.”
Cowell’s Syco Music company – which all X Factor contestants are contractually bound to – has a deal with Sony Music, which includes the Epic, Columbia and RCA labels, with the acts able to sign to any label within the group.
Cowell recently promised that The X Factor USA will be ‘a bloodbath’ during its second season and offer more exciting elements to the singing competition.
He insisted that he has every intention of making The X Factor the best show of its kind despite the show drawing only half the number of viewers as American Idol – a show on which Cowell once worked.
Cowell’s fellow X Factor USA judges Paula Abdul and LA Reid have said that they plan to return to the series next season.
However, panellist Nicole Scherzinger has hinted at her own exit, saying that she is an artist before she is a mentor.
Scherzinger mentored the Over 30s during the show’s inaugural season in America and saw her act Josh Krajcik named the runner-up in the singing competition during the show’s live finale.
The former Pussy Cat Doll singer recently refused to commit to another season of The X Factor and has further evaded questioning as to whether she will return in 2012.
“Next year for me, it’s about my music. This has been quite a learning experience, quite a journey for me,” she explained in an interview with Radar Online.
Scherzinger went on to say that participating in The X Factor was the reason that her new album has yet to be completed and vowed not to lose sight of her identity as a musical artist.
