How many of the acts who made the live shows since 2004 are actually making a living singing? Not doing presenting or naff reality tv work but actual singing. Their only source of income is recording and / or performing.

I've lost touch with show but it strikes me that it's hype for a short time and then gone for so many. Some will secure work beyond recording contract ending (if they ever had one) but just how many are there?

Is it really worth it for majority of talent to go through this process to be quickly churned out the other end?

Leona Lewis, obviously
Joe McElderry is currently touring, I think
Lucie Jones on stage, in musicals and such
Olly Murs
Fleur East
Zayn Malik (One Direction)
Rhydian
Diana Vickers - more acting these days but features in musicals, too
Liam Payne (One Direction)
Read Steve Brookstein still sings in bars etc. no idea if only source of income, though
Alexandra Burke is on stage
Little Mix
Ella Henderson
Rebecca Ferguson
Ruth Lorenzo
Ray Quinn - musicals/acting

Other mentions:
Stacey Solomon is now full time panellist on Loose Women. Done bits and bobs and stayed in the media since her stint on The X Factor
Shayne Ward did musicals before moving over to full time acting in Coronation Street
Rachel Adedeji is now on Hollyoaks
Katie Waissel often pops up on shows like This Morning to rant about something or other; appeared on the latest Celebrity Big Brother
Rylan Clark now hosts The Xtra Factor, Big Brother: Bit on the Side and This Morning

^To add:
Harry Styles (One Direction) - massive contract, acting but music on the way too
Niall Horan (One Direction) - just signed away from Simon by Capitol
James Arthur - signed to a major label in Germany, back in UK iTunes top 10 atm (!)
Matt Cardle - seems to still be full time indie musician
Cher Lloyd - just released something indie, made enough to focus on music til now at least
Amelia Lily - touring with musical in America
Marvin Humes (JLS) - DJ on Capital
Union J - still going atm, although their time may be almost up
George Shelley (formerly w/Union J) - Capital breakfast presenter
Jedward - yes, they're still going

Keep in mind that a lot of acts are just looking for a career boost and realistic about their prospects, particularly the older acts. The novelty acts are often looking for "naff reality tv" jobs. Sam Bailey said she was just hoping to get on TV and get bigger gigs. Etc.

Say what you will about Cowell, he is at least genuinely trying to find something commercial on his shows and they have been extremely productive compared to The Voice.

A huge number of them are still in music, they usually end up in musical theatre (of the winners, Matt, Leona, Joe, Shayne and Alex are all in or have been on stage)

The thing is THEY are the ones who will actually be singing for a living.

The popstar/chart people won't be as there's pretty much no money in that nowadays unless you're an Adele like album seller AND write your own music. Their 'real' money will come from all the other stuff they do on the side

Lucie Jones is doing very well on musicals.

What do you mean 'only source of income'? people can do both singing and acting for example

Joseph Whelan never made the lives (a mistake in my view) but is now in musical theatre and had a No.1 album in the rock charts after X factor

There is a difference between having a career in music and having a career with hit songs/albums. Leona Lewis doesn't appear to have much chart success recently. Her last three singles didn't get into the top 40. I'd rate her the best winner of X Factor but her time in the spotlight was comparatively brief. I guess if you can make a truck load of money in the first year of your career that must help during the lean times when the hits dry up!

The fact Shayne Ward gave up music for acting - and he was an X Factor winner! - kinda proves a pop career is mostly short. It's a bit strange to see an X Factor winner in Coronation Street. I don't think he's done any singing on the streets of Corrie.

Brenda Edwards recently did Hairspray

Doing well on X Factor does open up possibilities for other work. Theatre work seems popular. I doubt Kym Marsh or Shayne Ward would be acting on Coronation Street had they not appeared in two singing reality tv shows.

Mysti Jak are still doing well and seen performing weekly slots on Goolies fm

The other side of that coin is how many really wanted to be singers and how many just wanted to be famous/on the telly?

Most of them will work in music about as successfully as those of us who don't choose to be on such shows, and often, life takes over from time to time and leads artists and performers in other directions. Also, reality is,for mainstream "indie"/pop/rock/r&b acts in particular,even if you had chart success, after 30, you likely won'tand after 35, pretty much forget it, and after 40, not gonna happen unless you are a legend already. Yeah, some exceptions, but rarer than a genuine 3.5+ octave range on a talent show.The most dedicated (who have legit talent and/or are able to stay relevent)will find ways to continue and to be involved in their craft on some level no matter what else they have going on,It'snot always about being in the spotlight forthosewho love music .For every performer you see on the show, there is a team of dedicated artists of various nature , making them look and sound the best possible. Just because you don't see them doesn't mean more contestants aren't still working

The best of them were working before they won/appeared on the show, and will be after. The show gives them a big boost in promotion and exposure, and maybe financial backing. This lasts a few years at best.A really good, dedicated singer/artist who x factors will usually end up in the same place as the best of the acts that take what I like to call the "scenic" route .For those who could never have competed with the MANY great talents out there busting their arses in the real world who don't do theseshows and such, and for those who are that gifted and decide to go for it for a boost in career, the show can be a great window of opportunity.
It is up to them to make the most of that.


TLDR: The harsh truth is that the ones who are no longer working either 1-didn't have the talent or presence to keep enough people interested, no matterhow hard they may have tried. 2-didnt care enough/weren't dedicated enough3-sometimes, Life happens.That is no excuse, though. Many can return to music after a knock back or important life changing event. IF they choose not to, it might just mean they don't feel it is worth the effort, and that's okay, too, though most artists who are dedicated could never understand that.

Aiden Grimshaw is another one

Last year he released 3 songs as free downloads that were to appear on an EP that hasn't been released (as far as I'm aware) and it was also reported that he was writing and collaborating with Zayn Malik on his debut album

is that all of them?

The McDonald Brothers are still doing gigs

http://www.themacdonaldbros.com/events

I think most of them are to some extent or another- even the likes of Verity from all the way back in Season 1 still gets lots of well paid gigs.

Yeah, that is the tricky thing. Tons more not listed in here are still doing club/pub/private gigs, and in most cases they get more and better gigs than before XF. Does that count as a success?

It's similar to American Idol over here where a huge number of the "flops" were still able to go pro or semi-pro playing the county fair circuit and such.

Lola Saunders is doing a fantastic job in Save the last dance for me the musical

Very pleased for Lola In fact really glad to see so many great voices still performing and doing well and building their careers.
Joe has toured extensively with his band every year and also does classical concerts and corporate work. He's also starred in 'Tommy the Rock Opera' and 'Joseph' and has been asked to again play 'Joseph' on the 50th anniversary tour next year. He also has his 5th album in the pipeline.
Alexandra and Rhydian are also still going strong and I hope to get to see them both in their musical tours.

Janet Devlin is still going pretty strong as an independent artist. She has some sort of record deal with an Indie label in the US as well as self-releasing stuff in the UK via her management.

She's released an album in the UK and US. Running with Scissors. Co-writes with Newton Faulkner (provides vocals on one of the tracks he co-wrote) and Jack Savoretti on it.

Provided vocals on 3 tracks for Newton Faulkner's 4th album Studio Zoo.

This year was featured on Gareth Emery's latest album on the track Lost which she originally wrote as 'Things We Lost in the Fire' for her own album

Just announced new single from upcoming 2nd album. Holy Water. Single is called Outernet Song and is out October 7th.

Has her 3rd solo UK tour scheduled for November/December.

Toured US east coast as support act for Heffron Drive. Due to return to the US east coast for another tour soon.

She placed second in the 2015 Baltic Song Contest, representing Ireland, in Karlshamn, Sweden in July 2015. Has tour dates in Norway upcoming.

He must have impressed with Joseph, if they have asked him back again

Maybe he'll get a pay rise if it's a special anniversary tour

Look forward to the new album too

G4 are currently doing a 'Back for Good' tour around the UK at the moment. Saw them in my home town of Chesterfield on Sunday. They are still brilliant, without original member Matt Stiff who is focussing on his Opera career. They have a new member replacing him called Nick. They are doing Christmas concerts in around the UK also this year. They are raising funds for a 5th studio album next year released whilst unsigned.

There doesn't seem to be a follow on of live show contestants performing at holiday camps anymore (no doubt to dwindling interest in the programme) so I'd say there's less of a living to be made.

You're right - years ago loads of the acts seemed to do the Butlins circuit

Cassie Compton and Ray Quinn will be touring in The Wedding Singer next year;

http://www.whatsonstage.com/leiceste...inn_41023.html