LONDON — Simon Cowell announced the prize for the upcoming American version of his talent competition “The X Factor” Monday: a $5 million record deal with Sony Music.
The prize is the largest in television history. Show creator Cowell also revealed that the American “X Factor” would be open to contestants as young as 12 years old. Unlike “American Idol,” the competition is open to vocal groups as well as solo singers.
“I’ve never believed there should be a cut-off age for talent, and we are going to put our money where our mouths are with the $5 million recording contract,” Cowell said in a press release.
Cowell, creator of “American Idol” and a former judge on that show, will judge the US “X Factor” along with British singers George Michael and Cheryl Cole. Additional judges and the show’s host will be announced “in the coming weeks,” the release said.
Auditions for the US “X Factor” will begin on March 27 in Los Angeles, and will be followed by auditions in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, New York and New Jersey.
The “X Factor” will be broadcast on the FOX network, which is owned by News Corp., which also owns NewsCore.