Say goodbye to the $5 million recording contract for the winner of The X Factor USA, Simon Cowell has announced that the prize will be reduced to $1 million for the upcoming third season of the show.
"[The winner will receive] $1million, still get a recording contract with Sony and become a number one priority," Simon told reporters at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour.
"We got to a point where the idea was to raise attention, but. . . it was almost too much, we want artists who really want to be artists," he added.
Perhaps his budget is getting a bit tight with him expecting a child and all. But we're sure the winner will be very happy with the $1 million deal.
Simon also added that him and his new judging panel – Paulina Rubio, Kelly Rowland and Demi Lovato is going along better than last season and it feels "like family."
"[The winner will receive] $1million, still get a recording contract with Sony and become a number one priority," Simon told reporters at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour.
"We got to a point where the idea was to raise attention, but. . . it was almost too much, we want artists who really want to be artists," he added.
Perhaps his budget is getting a bit tight with him expecting a child and all. But we're sure the winner will be very happy with the $1 million deal.
Simon also added that him and his new judging panel – Paulina Rubio, Kelly Rowland and Demi Lovato is going along better than last season and it feels "like family."
"This [season] is a fun dinner party," Simon said adding that he knew the season-two panel — made up of Cowell, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato and L.A. Reid — wasn't going well from "day one." "I felt we were doing what everybody else was doing and I had this impatience to get on to [upcoming] season three so we could do what we wanted to do," he said.
"You have to be competitive, and you have to make changes," he added. "I work hard. It makes it fun. I'd love to be #1."
"I feel really comfortable with the girls and I think it’s going to be the best show we’ve made so far. It’s got an energy about it this year which has been lacking before. So, I’m confident."
Season 3 of X Factor premieres with the auditions on a two night event, Wednesday, September 11 and Thursday, September 12 at 8/7c on FOX! Are you excited to see season 3??
Posted By: Joe
Stay connected with what's hot now in pop music, TV, movie, & celebrity news, including the latest on The X-Factor, by following us on Twitter!