The X Factor

The X Factor is a television music competition franchise created by Simon Cowell. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol (2001–2003). It is held in various countries. The programmes are produced by executive producer Simon Cowell and his company SYCOtv. The "X Factor" of the title refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality. The prize is usually a recording contract, in addition to the publicity that appearance in the later stages of the show itself generates, not only for the winner but also for other highly ranked contestants.

The similarities between The X Factor and Idols prompted Idol creator Simon Fuller, along with 19 Entertainment, to file a lawsuit against Cowell, SYCOtv, and FremantleMedia in 2004. An out-of-court settlement was reached in 2005 allowing Fuller to gain a 10% share in The X Factor format, and preventing an American version until 2010. Fuller later filed another lawsuit in 2011, claiming that he had also been promised that he would be credited as an executive producer of The X Factor USA, but that Syco, FremantleMedia, and Fox Broadcasting Company had failed to fulfill that promise; that lawsuit is pending.

Andra and The BackBone

Andra and The BackBone is a rock band from Indonesia and the solo project of Andra Ramadhan, guitarist of the band Dewa 19. Ramadhan also formed part of fellow Dewa band member Ahmad Dhani's Ahmad Band project.

In addition to Ramadhan, the band also consists of Deddi Suryadi, Stevie Item.

The band released its self-titled debut album in 2007 on EMI Indonesia. The album was also released in Malaysia but with different artwork.

The album's first single, "Musnah", became a big hit in Indonesia, reaching the top of many national radio playlists. The video clip also received heavy rotation on MTV.

Discography

Studio albums

Andra & The Backbone (2007)

Andra & The Backbone is the first music album from the group. Released at 2007, with the main single Musnah.

Track listing

Season 2 (2008)

Season 2 is the second album, released in 2008.

X (disambiguation)

X is the twenty-fourth letter of the Latin alphabet.

X may also refer to:

Books and print

Computing

Companies

The X Factor (US TV series)

The X Factor is an American reality television music competition created by Simon Cowell and produced by FremantleMedia North America and SYCOtv, a partnership between Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment, which aired on Fox from 2011 to 2013. Based on the original UK show, and an addition to the The X Factor franchise, the series found new singing talent (solo artists and groups ages 12 and over), drawn from public auditions, and they competed against each other for votes. The winner was determined by the show's viewers via telephone, the Internet, and SMS text voting, and was awarded a recording contract with Cowell's record label Syco Music, worth $5 million in seasons one and two, and $1 million in season three. America voted for the following winners: Melanie Amaro, Tate Stevens, and Alex & Sierra, respectively.

The show began airing on September 21, 2011, and aired annually from September through December until 2013. The series employed a panel of judges who critiqued the contestants' performances. Each contestant was assigned to one of four categories. The group acts were one category and the others were based on age or gender. For example, in season 1 the categories were girls, boys, groups, and over 30s. Each judge was assigned to one of the categories, and acted as mentor to the contestants in his or her category, helping to decide song choices, styling, and staging, while also judging contestants from the other categories after each of the live performances. They competed with each other to try to get one of the contestants in their category to win the competition, thus making them the winning judge.

Carly Rose Sonenclar

Carly Rose Sonenclar (born April 20, 1999) is an American singer and teen actress. In December 2012, she became the runner-up on the second season of the American version of the The X Factor.

On May 29, 2014, Sonenclar was labeled as one of the most 'influential' X Factor USA contestants of all-time by FoxWeekly, for her audition performance of 'Feeling Good'.

Early life

Sonenclar was born in New York City and resides in Mamaroneck, New York. She began singing at age two, imitating several of the performers on the early years of American Idol. She took numerous singing, dancing, piano and acting classes, and one of her teachers put her in touch with a New York City talent agency, which signed her. She enjoys softball and has an older brother, Russell, who graduated from the University of Delaware. She takes piano lessons and enjoys composing songs.

Sonenclar is Jewish.

Acting career

Sonenclar began her professional career in 2006 in a stage adaptation of The Night of the Hunter, at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, in which she played the lead role of Pearl. In that same year, she made her Broadway debut in Les Miserables as Young Cosette. In 2009, she appeared in the national tour of Little House on the Prairie, the Musical, starring Melissa Gilbert, originating the principal role of Carrie. Sonenclar made her television debut as Gilda Flip on PBS, the newest Prankster in season three of The Electric Company, produced by Sesame Workshop.