I know it sounds harsh but the last few years no-one seems bothered if they don't win any more, if it was only the winner who got signed and all the others just had to return to their old life the show might get a competitive edge. At present its 'oh well i didn't win but i still got a record deal.'

no

you cant stop someone from having a career just because they didn't win a tv reality show ...

Cowells record label, he can sign anyone he wants

Well that was the tag line on series 1. The winner gets a £1million contract, the loser gets nothing. Then someone else tries to sign G4 and G4 are suddenly signed up by Cowell.

Syco know the months of airtime will get them a little cash from their cows before shunting them out the door.

No, as the majority of the best acts in the show are not the winning acts. Ella, as a good example.

I understand that it will never happen but it just makes all this semi final and final stuff just pointless, might as well end it when there are about 3 left

No. Maybe Simon shouldn't sign them as well as the winner, but if another label doesn't snap them up then why should he let an amazing act go just because they didn't win?

I'm afraid it doesn't work like that - Simon can sign whoever he likes

Your sentence needs changing

but if another label wants to sign them why should he let anyone else make money out of them

It's all about money making. Nobody from the show is allowed to sign with any record label for 8 months after the show finishes....they all sign contracts which state this. This allows Simon to sign the acts he wants and stops other labels from signing them. It is also enough time for nobody to care anymore about the acts he doesn't sign, so when the 8 months is up, no other label will want the un-signed ones anyway. The prize should be that only the winner signs with Simon/Syco, but Simon is never going to let that happen as he would loose too much money.

Andrea will do fine...Simon Cowell dont want to sign him...but that's no lost to Andrea whatsoever! ! He will sleep ok now!!!

I'm sure there's a fee that the act or other label have to pay to end the contract but it's probably astronomical

No, because the public don't vote for whoever deserves the deal in terms of music, talent and longevity but more on sex, profession and how nice they are.

Simon should (and will) sign whoever actually deserves it and will sell in the real world - One Direction, Olly, Ella and probably Fleur.

The winning "prize" is irrelevant. Simon just uses the show to promote his favourite acts that he knows he is going to sign before live shows even begin.

In the unlikely event someone random wins, they will get the rushed album of covers, repackaged for Christmas and then quietly dropped and airbrushed out of X Factor history so more money can be spent on the "real winners".

All the winner really gets is their name on Wikipedia and a hell of a lot of pressure to succeed.

I expect he will sign Fleur, at a push Lauren. - the rest forget it!

Most winners are not marketable.People win for all sorts of reasons,the public may like them, their looks,their sob story or back ground,their age,maybe good singers but are not current or relevant at the time.The most important thing for Simon is where acts fits in the real world and has potential.The public hardly vote on potential.

So if you fit in the market,is relevant and has potential you dont have to win.

I dont even know if Ben is any of these?

Lauren no.Where does she fit in the market? He has Ella,Tamera and now Fluer.Stereo Kicks may stand a better chance on a developmental deal to prepare for 1D exit.

Exactly! The public dont learn that for Simon it 'selling in the real world'

No, it's a springboard for success, you can't stop people having careers when it's the whole premise of the show. (supposedly)Out of this year I think SYCO will sign Fleur and Stereo Kicks and Andrea will get a deal with another label.

For most viewers the programme is Saturday night entertainment and a lot of people vote for the personality/looks they like - if it was on talent there is no way the likes of Stevi and Wagner would survive as long as they did.

For Simon it's a good way of testing potential signings in front of a live audience.

We are entertained by the pantomime. He gets some fantastic market research and PR for his acts for the coming year.

It does seem a bit of a shame that Ben, for example, is the winner but ultimately his prize is no different to that of certain runners up. But I'm sure he's not too fussed about that today. Whether he ends up as a Leona/Little Mix or a Shayne/James remains to be seen.

No. if you look at the history of the show the people that haven't won are the ones that have tended to have a better career & it's not exactly like oh look I didn't win I'll get signed you only get signed if a record label sees potential in you.

I'd expect the top 4 to be signed but possible not to Syco apart from fluer & maybe SK but that's it

If you can produce good music you can be successful even if your market is full

Lauren will be given the opportunity

Why cant people spell FLEUR's name correctly?

The whole show is a nonsense: Take money from the public in a vote and then the judges decide and decide if they want to base it on the sing off as they should or some other random happening that allows then to chose who they wanted anyway.

Then it doesn't matter if someone wins, if wanted they will be given a contract, recording sessions and more promotion than the actual winner.

The whole thing gets just what they want.