X Factor UK Headlines for 12/16/12

James Arthur sells 490K of “Impossible”, is also likely to take Christmas #1! Ella Henderson signed to Sony! Union J too?

‘This is just the beginning’: X Factor’s Ella Henderson signs recording contract with Sony Music
She was undoubtedly one of the most talented contestants to come out of this year’s X Factor, despite landing only in sixth place.

But it would seem Ella Henderson will certainly have the last laugh after revealing she has signed a recording contract with Sony Music.

The 16-year-old starlet is believed to have made the announcement on The Saturday Night Show, before confirming the news via her Twitter page on Sunday.
Read more: The Daily Mail

Union J reportedly mentioned that they also signed a recording contract with Sony at their gig in Cardiff.

Still a diva! Christopher Maloney could get special treatment and a ‘separate dressing room’ during X Factor tour due to unpopularity with the other singers
It’s no secret that there’s little love lost between Christopher Maloney and the rest of the former X Factor contestants.

But his unpopularity could mean that the finalist will get special treatment during next year’s tour, in a bid to keep him separate from the others.

Show producers are apparently considering giving the Scouse singer his own dressing room and even separate rehearsal times to lessen the tension, according to The Daily Mirror.
Read more: The Daily Mail

The anXious factor: Simon Cowell due to join crisis talks at ITV as ailing talent show enters its tenth year with lowest ratings since 2006
Simon Cowell is said to be so concerned about X Factor’s slow slide in to bad ratings that he will personally attend a meeting with ITV bosses in January about the show’s fate.

The SyCo Music boss is said to be a definite attendee of the X Factor ‘crisis summit’, that will see TV execs closely examine all aspects of the singing show.

This year’s final attracted the lowest viewing figures for an X Factor final since 2006.
Read more: The Daily Mail

‘Simon Cowell to try and recruit Rihanna for X Factor judges to save the show’: Media mogul ‘to meet star over Christmas’
Simon Cowell is planning on meeting superstar Rihanna to ask her to become an X Factor judge, reports claims.

Cowell believes the Diamond singer will ‘save’ the flagging shows and is prepared to offer the 24-year-old a job on either the UK or US version, according to reports.

Media Mogul Cowell, 53, always spends Christmas on the Caribbean Island of Barbados, where Rihanna is planning on spending the festive season.
Read more: The Daily Mail

Mer-Rih Xmas
Cowell’s Crimbo crunch talks in Caribbean with star to rescue X Factor

SIMON Cowell plans to meet up with Rihanna over Christmas to tell her he wants her on The X Factor.

The music mogul is so keen to get the superstar on board the struggling show he will offer her the choice of a judging role on either of its UK or US versions.

Cowell believes the Umbrella singer’s worldwide appeal and genuine star quality will provide a huge ratings boost to whichever show she chooses.

A source said: “Simon is a huge admirer of Rihanna and knows she’s star quality. As well as bringing an aura to the panel thanks to her current standing in music, she is also feisty and will make great TV. Simon loves these sort of characters.”
Read more: The Sun

Simon Cowell calls X Factor crisis meeting to save show
Critics say show worked in a time of excess and bling, but is off-key in austerity Britain
Simon Cowell is to return to London in the middle of January for an X Factor “crisis summit” to decide how to revive the programme for 2013. The TV audience for the final show last weekend was the lowest since 2006, although 11 million viewers still switched on.

Richard Holloway, executive producer of The X Factor, said: “There is not one element we will not be looking at carefully – from judges and start times to auditions and glitzy productions.”

He revealed that Cowell could even return as a judge: “I’d love him to come back. He’s the best judge in the world, Never say never! If we can find a way to reintroduce him, we will. But it is impossible for him to be in two places.”

Cowell has spent the autumn in the US, where the third season of The X Factor ends this weekend. “It’s our 10th anniversary in 2013, and we want it to be amazing,” Holloway said.
Read more: The Guardian

A Few Questions For One Direction
The five singers of the boy band One Direction are living the dream. Last year, they became the first British band to ever have their first album debut at No. 1 on the Billboard charts — that tops even the Beatles. Last week, their second album, Take Me Home, went platinum, and they played two sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden.

It’s not just their music that sells. One Direction has brought in millions from merchandise: T-shirts, mugs, notebooks, bedspreads. It’s all aimed at their No. 1 fans — mostly teenaged girls — who call themselves “Directioners.”

While the group was on a tour stop in New York, NPR’s Rachel Martin spoke with two members of One Direction, Harry Styles and Niall Horan. She began by asking them about getting their start in the U.K., through the TV singing competition show The X Factor.
Red more: NPR

One Direction Are MTV’s Best Artists Of 2012!
To celebrate their title, we look back at 1D’s eventful year.
If you need evidence of One Direction’s massive 2012, look no further than the previously empty space on Seventh Avenue vacated by bellied-up booksellers Borders. Nestled into the side of New York’s largest concert venue, Madison Square Garden, and sitting above Penn Station’s massive transit hub, the retail space was a real-estate goldmine and could have easily gone with another Starbucks, McDonald’s or place to sell “I Love NY” T-shirts.

Instead, realtors opted for the hottest commodity possible: 1D.

New York City felt the effects of the boy band’s worldwide phenomenon with the addition of a new store, solely dedicated to Harry, Liam, Louis, Zayn and Niall. Packed with band bling, cozy onesies, posters, cardboard cutouts and T-shirts with customizable “Future Mrs. Payne” sayings, the pop-up store took 1D fandom and gave it a place to live — in the homes of each and every Directioner (1D World has locations in Canada and Australia too!).
Read more: MTV

One Direction have a range of oral hygiene products coming out next month
It’s finally happened ladies and gentlemen. One Direction have teamed up with Colgate to create a range of oral hygiene products.

As of next month, fans will be able to buy the One Direction Colgate MaxFresh™ Power Toothbrush, which comes with a small oscillating head (much like Niall’s we imagine), the One Direction Colgate Maxfresh™ Manual Toothbrush, and, so that you can really get a taste for One Direction, the One Direction Colgate MaxFresh™ Toothpaste.

The toothpaste is ‘Fresh Mint’ flavour by the looks of it.
Read more: Popjustice

1D Harry’s feeling more like hims-elf now it’s Christmas
HARRY Styles looks a right knitwit in his Christmas jumper.

The One Direction star posted the comedy snap on his instagram page as he got ready for a photoshoot on Sunday.

With just over a week to go until the big day Harry was clearly feeling excited about the prospect of a visit from Santa, by sporting a top that made him look like one of his helpers.

He wrote: “Christmas Jumpers are out!! Get in. Feeling festive!”
Read more: The Sun

Little Mix confirm new single ‘Change Your Life’ – listen
Little Mix have confirmed the title of their next single.

The girl group will release ‘Change Your Life’ as the third cut to be lifted from their debut album DNA.

Little Mix co-wrote the track with Richard ‘Biff’ Stannard and his songwriting team, who are famously known for their work with the Spice Girls.

‘Change Your Life’ serves as the follow-up to Little Mix’s chart-topping hit ‘Wings’ and recent cut ‘DNA’.
Read more: Digital Spy

Meet Maurice! Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock shares pictures of her adorable new puppy
While the rest of us are gearing up for Christmas, it seems Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock is already getting into the festive spirit.

The singer shared a picture on Twitter of a new present she received from her boyfriend – a gorgeous puppy called Maurice.

Leigh-Anne tweeted the shot, writing: ‘Mixers meet Maurice my new pup.. Xmas/moving in pressie from the Boyf! :) He’s a little cutie! :) Leigh x’
Read more: Daily Mail

She’s gone hell for leather: Amelia Lily ramps up her rock chick credentials in leather outfit AND studded leather gloves
She rose to fame when she took part in the X Factor and she’s made a name for herself since then as the ‘rocky’ comeback kid.

And on Saturday Amelia Lily didn’t disappoint as she took part in the Free Radio Live concert in Birmingham.

The 18-year-old made sure she stood out from the other pop-stars taking part by wearing an eye-catching full leather outfit.
Read more: The Daily Mail

‘X Factor’ band The Risk unveil debut single ‘Missiles’ video
Former X Factor band The Risk have unveiled the music video for their debut single ‘Missiles’.

The group will release the song in January followed by a debut album in summer 2013.

Charlie Healy, Andy Merry and Derry Mensah entered 2011’s X Factor as solo artists before joining together to form The Risk at the Bootcamp stage. Mentored by Tulisa, their fourth member Ashford Campbell (originally in rival boyband Nu Vibe) joined them during the live shows after the sudden departure of Ashley Baptiste.

Within two days of leaving the competition, the band had booked over 100 shows and hold the record for the most booked former contestants.

Their debut single ‘Missiles’ is co-written by The Risk with Dantae and produced by Pete ‘Boxsta’ Martin, who has worked with the likes of Jessie J and Alexandra Burke.

The Risk have been working with Josh Wilkinson (One Direction), True Tiger (Ed Sheeran), and Kingsley Brown (Cheryl Cole) on their debut album.

Read more: Digital Spy

Achieving the Impossible: James Arthur tops the charts with his X Factor winner’s single after it becomes fastest selling track of the year
X Factor winner James Arthur proved nothing is impossible on Sunday evening, when his debut single rocketed to the top of the charts.

The ITV reality show has seen a slump in viewers this year but it did not stop Impossible becoming the fastest selling single of the year so far, with 490,000 copies, according to the Official Chart Company.

The sales make it the fastest-selling X Factor track since Alexandra Burke’s 2008 hit Hallelujah.
Read more: The Daily Mail


_ _ _

Irish Charts
Singles
1 James Arthur – Impossible
.
7 One Direction – Little Things
8 Olly Murs – Troublemaker (feat. Flo Rida)
24 One Direction – Kiss You
28 Shontelle – Impossible
44 One Direction – Live While We’re Young
45 Little Mix – DNA
77 Tulisa – Sight of You
78 Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen – Good Time
80 One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
81 Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
83 Little Mix – Wings
85 Olly Murs – Dance With Me Tonight

Albums
1 One Direction – Take Me Home
.
6 Olly Murs – Right Place, Right Time
11 One Direction – Up All Night
12 Little Mix – DNA
29 Susan Boyle – Standing Ovation
39 Kelly Clarkson – GH – Chapter 1
54 JLS – Evolution
72 Jedward – Young Love
75 Olly Murs – In Case You Didn’t Know
97 Tulisa – The Female Boss

_ _ _

James Arthur scores debut Number 1 smash with Impossible
X Factor winner James Arthur scores huge debut Number 1 smash as Impossible becomes fastest selling single of 2012.

James Arthur picks up his Official Number 1 Award from the Official Charts Company and Radio 1 as the X Factor winner lands a huge debut Number 1 with Impossible.

Impossible has so far racked up sales of 490,000 copies, leapfrogging Cheryl’s Call My Name to take the lead as the year’s fastest selling single.

Arthur’s impressive sales tally this week also makes Impossible the fastest selling winner’s single since Alexandra Burke’s 2008 hit Hallelujah. Her cover of the Jeff Buckley classic went on to become the biggest selling X Factor single of all time.

Comparatively, Arthur’s version of Impossible outperforms the opening week of last year’s winners Little Mix’s Cannonball by more than two copies to one (210,000), fellow musician Matt Cardle’s 2010 single When We Collide (439,000), Joe McElderry’s 2009 eventual chart topper The Climb (451,000), Leon Jackson’s 2007 hit When You Believe (276,000) and Steve Brookstein’s Against All Odds (128,000).
Read more: The Official Charts

The Official Charts
Singles
1 James Arthur – Impossible (490K)
.
5 Olly Murs – Troublemaker (feat. Flo Rida)
10 One Direction – Little Things
12 One Direction – Kiss You
22 Shontelle – Impossible
30 Little Mix – DNA
61 One Direction – Live While We’re Young
62 Tulisa – Sight of You
70 Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
71 Little Mix – Wings
83 Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen – Good Time
88 One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful

Albums
1 Bruno Mars – Unorthodox Jukebox
.
2 Olly Murs – Right Place, Right Time
6 One Direction – Take Me Home
14 Little Mix – DNA
18 Kelly Clarkson – GH – Chapter One
30 Susan Boyle – Standing Ovation
43 One Direction – Up All Night
48 JLS – Evolution
55 Jonathan & Charlotte – Together
58 Olly Murs – In Case You Didn’t Know
63 Tulisa – The Female Boss
68 Rebecca Ferguson – Heaven
80 Matt Cardle – The Fire

About Mateja Praznik 1060 Articles
I recently graduated from the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In my free time I like to read books, watch TV and listen to music. I'm also a huge cat lover. I cover X Factor UK for MJsBigBlog.com.