Winning the X Factor is, more often than not, the Kiss of Death on someone's singing career.

Apart from Leona, who had a few years of success, there's only really Little Mix that have done well.

Most "winners" fade into obscurity after their first album.

If someone has talent and is willing to work, then surely they will be picked up by a record label.

James Arthur is a huge success and a "real artist"............ya know in his own mind

Matt Cardle has had MUCH better material since leaving the record label

I guess the thing to bear in mind is that making it big, with a string of hits, isn't the be all and end all. If it enables some people to get out of their old job and make a living doing the thing they love, that's still a 'result'.

Record labels are no longer the holy grail they were a decade or more ago. At this point, it is cheap and easy to make a studio quality recording/s. What the majot labels offer is distribution, not to mention wider exposure, especially since they have a lock on many social media formats to try to hang on to what is left of their monopoly on the industry.

Many artists gig, tour, and earn a comfortable living, all without the recoupable funds,serious overhead, and other bs that comes with a major label deal.

Leona already was making a name for herself when she was placed on the x factor, and deservedly so. She has it all.

Most winners fade into obscurity for the same reason they were not already able to find a way to earn a living in some capacity in music in the first place,though specifics may vary.

Quite often the runner-up does better than the winner. A notable example is Olly Murs having done better than Joe McElderry. JLS and One Direction did well without ever winning.

Diana Vickers and Ella Henderson had no 1 singles without winning.

Just look at how well Ella henderson is doing, and she finished 6th.

But there are those that should've gone on to do well after the show but somehow didn't. Laura White and Lucie Jones are two examples.