Simon Cowell looked pleased after the season finale of “The X Factor,” where his group Alex and Sierra won. Credt: Getty Images
Working on a televised talent show in 2013 is in some ways as much of a talent competition as the actual competition. With competing shows as “America’s Got Talent,” “American Idol” and “The Voice” all on the air, you not only have to fight for the audience, you also have to fight for the actual talents. Simon Cowell, the former “Idol” judge who launched the U.S. version of “The X Factor” in 2011, knows this all too well.
“We, somehow, have to convince the best singers [that] ‘The X Factor’ is the best platform for you,” he told reporters days leading up to the “X Factor” finale, which crowned one of Cowell’s groups Alex and Sierra (Alex Kinsey, 22, and Sierra Deaton, 22) as the winner on Thursday.
Even though “The Voice” has been a strong competitor on the ratings this year, Cowell says he’s found the talents of his dreams in Alex and Sierra.
“Luckily, Alex and Sierra auditioned for the show and … in my opinion, they are by far the best artists to come through any of these shows. So that kind of makes up for being second place in the ratings, I guess.”
Cowell didn’t have any doubts about the duo’s future and he said he would be an idiot if he didn’t continue working with them after the end of the show.
“Let’s put it this way,” he says. “At one point last week, they had five records in the top 10 on iTunes, so I would say they’ve got a pretty good shot outside the competition.”
It was obvious that the outcome of the finale meant a lot for Cowell, not only because of his role as a producer of the show, but also because he’s thinking of the big picture.
“I want the show to end with the best act winning the show,” he says. “Let’s make a great series, and most importantly, let’s make some great records with the artists, because that’s what’s going to win the long-term battle. I’m never in this for the short term; I’m always in it for the long term.”
And speaking of intentions, Cowell revealed that there are plans to change the show’s format in the future. Demi Lovato is already out as a judge next season; there’s no word on if fellow judges Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio will keep their spots.
“I think that with the current landscape as it is … we’re going to have a very, very crowded marketplace,” he says. “What we have with ‘The X Factor’ is a huge, core fan base that loves the show, but we’ve got to be more different next year than we were this year. And yes, my role could change on that show, but I can’t say any more than that.”
