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In the world of reality TV singing competitions, being named the champion is nice and all, but at the end of the day, it’s sort of moot. Anyone who gets past at least the audition phase has instantly become a star, appearing on national television week after week until their time is up. By that time, however, mission already accomplished – they have exposed themselves to a willing, listening audience, and many of them go home with a built-in fanbase. They might not win the top prize, but nobody could call them losers.

 

Case in point – how many “American Idol” winners can you name? Now, how many runner-ups can you name? I’m willing to bet it’s about even. Being named champion doesn’t necessarily come with a promise of lasting fame any more than placing 3rd or 4th means that your career is over.

 

Such is the case for the 4 finalists on Season 2 of “The X Factor”. If you were within 50 feet of Young Hollywood during those last few weeks of the show, you know how much we were digging these acts! As much as we adored our boys from Emblem3, they were regrettably eliminated in Week 7. But were they mad? Heck no, especially since, following the show, their mentor Simon Cowell swiftly snatched them up for realsies and signed them to his Syco Music label under Columbia Records. As we speak, they are hard at work on their debut album, produced by Savan Kotecha and featuring collabos with some heavy-hitters in the industry. In a rare occurance for signing competition contestants, the Huntington Beach boys were already armed with original material, which they performed on the show with much positive feeback. Judging by the amount of tweets we get about these guys, they are going to have NO problems keeping their blossoming careers alive, in spite of placing fourth on “X Factor”!

 

Following in their footsteps, second runner-ups Fifth Harmony, also under the guidance of Cowell, will be a part of the Syco Music family as well. It was announced just yesterday that the five talented ladies – a mish-mash of solo artists thrown together at Simon’s will – have not only signed with Syco but with L.A. Reid’s Epic Records as well! Double-score! Their album will be produced by Julian Bunetta, who is no stranger to cultivating “X Factor” talent, having worked with other alums of the show including Leona Lewis and One Direction.

 

Then, of course, it goes without saying that the eventual winner, Tate Stevens, is sitting pretty, as his victory garnered him an automatic $5 million contract with Syco and Sony Music. Now, it just remains to be seen what will happen with our little Carly Rose Sonenclar – the 13-year-old finished in second place, and yet no word on whether or not she too will join her old “X Factor” chums at Syco – or anywhere for that matter! With her mentor Britney Spears leaving the show and (possibly) heading to Vegas, perhaps a cushy gig as an opening act might be on the horizon? Time will tell… We’re pulling for you, Carly!

 

Stay tuned!

 

 

- Katie Marzullo, YH Staff Editor

katie@younghollywood.com