The X Factor and Pepsi Announce YouTube Partnership

THE X FACTOR, the highly anticipated singing competition series debuting this fall on FOX, is giving fans an additional opportunity to audition for the show online via YouTube. Beginning today through June 9 - for one week only - solo artists and vocal groups 12 years old and over will have the opportunity to submit an audition video exclusively on YouTube at www.youtube.com/theXfactorusa.

YouTube auditions make it easier and more convenient than ever for hopefuls to audition for THE X FACTOR, giving more people the chance to become a global superstar or breakout music group and win a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.

Entrants should demonstrate their singing ability by performing a song a cappella. Videos are limited to two (2) minutes in length, including a 30-second introduction that explains who they are and why they have THE X FACTOR. Audition videos, which will be judged in a similar fashion to the live audition cities, will remain private and be viewable only by THE X FACTOR team. Auditioners selected to move forward in the competition will be offered the opportunity to continue their audition in front of the judges. Visit www.youtube.com/theXfactorusa for more information and complete rules and regulations, as well as the full terms and conditions of the video submission process.

"I'm really happy we are launching auditions through YouTube," said Simon Cowell. "There is a lot of great talent online now, and especially young kids today are using YouTube to get themselves seen and heard. It's very easy, and it is $5 million after all! I'm very excited to see the auditions that might come through this."

"With the largest guaranteed prize in television history at stake, we've got to make sure that every potential superstar in the country has an opportunity to audition for THE X FACTOR," said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. "YouTube allows us to broaden our talent search beyond our audition cities to the tens of millions of YouTube users in the U.S."

"We're thrilled for the opportunity to reach deep into the vast YouTube community and utilize their passion, power and opinion to help us find the next global superstar or breakout music group on THE X FACTOR," added executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz.

"YouTube is thrilled to partner with FOX, Syco, FremantleMedia and Pepsi to engage the YouTube community in THE X FACTOR phenomenon in the U.S.," said Robert Kyncl, Vice President of TV and Film Entertainment at Google.

In a departure from other singing competition series, the first time contestants audition for THE X FACTOR judges, they will do so in front of an audience of thousands - raising the stakes and increasing the pressure to impress not only the judges, but also a potential legion of fans. This will be the ultimate test to prove they have the vocal ability, charisma and stage presence that it takes to win an unprecedented $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.

As previously announced, Pepsi will serve as an official sponsor of THE X FACTOR. The comprehensive sponsorship includes an extensive, multi-platform digital and experiential marketing partnership; weekly in-show integrations and placements; and an immersive content experience online.

"We are excited about this phase of our THE X FACTOR partnership because the YouTube auditions open up the opportunity for literally millions of people to chase their dreams - something that no other show has been able to do," said Frank Cooper, Chief Engagement Officer, PepsiCo Beverages America. "And Pepsi is fundamentally about providing meaningful, fun opportunities to consumers in every part of the country, both on- and off-line."

To encourage fans to get involved with the live auditions and generate conversation leading up to the premiere, Pepsi has embedded social media features, including links to the Pepsi Foursquare page (foursquare.com/Pepsi) highlighting the upcoming live audition venues; the Pepsi YouTube page (YouTube.com/Pepsi) showcasing video from THE X FACTOR audition crowds; the Pepsi Twitter account (@Pepsi) where fans can track news with the hashtag #PepsiXFactor; and the Pepsi Facebook page (Facebook.com/Pepsi) where fans can look for exclusive THE X FACTOR content and features.

THE X FACTOR is produced by Syco Television and FremantleMedia North America. Simon Cowell, Rob Wade and Siobhan Greene are executive producers for Syco Television. Cecile Frot-Coutaz, Richard Holloway and Andrew Llinares are executive producers for FremantleMedia North America.

About YouTube

YouTube is the world's most popular online video community allowing millions of people to discover, watch and share original videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube, LLC is based in San Bruno, Calif., and is a subsidiary of Google Inc.

About "The X Factor"

Since its debut in 2004, "The X Factor" has remained the U.K.'s #1 program for the last seven years, peaking with an audience of 21 million with 65% audience share for its 2010 finale. The format swiftly broke similar records around the world, where local versions have consistently rated #1 in 15 territories, with a worldwide audience now well over 100 million. In Denmark, it has ranked #1 for the last four years, peaking with an 80% share of the audience. In Colombia, it has consistently ranked #1 with a 75% share of the audience. Additionally, "The X Factor" consistently delivers a 50% to 65% share of the viewing audiences in Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, France and Italy - with the highest percentage of these shares in A15-34. In some markets, "The X Factor" has increased the channel average demographic by up to 250%. The series has received numerous honors worldwide, including three BAFTA awards, numerous NTA awards and the coveted Rose d'Or. In the U.K., an unprecedented 1.5 million iTunes downloads were made from "The X Factor" contestant performances in 2010. Globally, more than 100 million records have been sold by artists launched through the series, including over 90 #1 singles and albums and 150 Top Ten records.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales each. Our main businesses -- Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and Pepsi Cola -- also make hundreds of other enjoyable and wholesome foods and beverages that are respected household names throughout the world. With net revenues of approximately $60 billion, PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment, including by conserving energy and water usage, and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support, and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

About Sony Music Entertainment

Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a current roster that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre, including American Recordings, Arista Nashville, Arista Records, Battery Records, Beach Street Records, BNA Records, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Day 1, Epic Records, Essential Records, Flicker Records, J Records, Jive Records, LaFace Records, Legacy Recordings, MASTERWORKS, Polo Grounds, RCA Records, RCA Nashville, RCA Red Seal, RCA Victor, Reunion Records, Roc Nation, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International, Verity Gospel Music Group, and Volcano Entertainment. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.

About Syco/Simon Cowell

Syco, with offices in London and Los Angeles, is a global music, television and film production joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. Syco Television owns and produces the BAFTA Award-winning "The X Factor," which has topped the charts around the world. Syco Television is also the owner of the "Got Talent" television format. Versions of both "The X Factor" and "Got Talent" are co-produced by Syco, and are shown in more than 70 countries and have won multiple awards including national television awards and BAFTAs.

Syco is also the record label home for such diverse international recording stars as Leona Lewis and Il Divo. Cowell has worked with artists selling more than 200 million albums and delivering more than 180 No. 1 records. Britain's Got Talent in 2009 launched the global singing career of Susan Boyle. Her debut Syco album sold over 8 million units in six weeks, making it the world's biggest-selling album of 2009 and the fastest-selling album in history and a total of 20 million records to date. In 2009, Cowell was named No. 1 in Hollywood Reporter's Top 50 Most Powerful in Reality TV and Entertainment Weekly's Top Entertainer of the Year. In 2010 Simon Cowell was awarded Variety International's Humanitarian Award for his extensive charitable work, The Rose d'Or Golden Jubilee Award and BAFTA's Special Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry and development of new talent. He also appeared on Time Magazine's list of Most Influential People in the World and was awarded the International Emmy Founders Award.

About FremantleMedia North America

FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. production division of global media giant FremantleMedia. Based in Burbank, California, FMNA produces entertaining and innovative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms, including the Emmy-nominated musical/reality phenomenon AMERICAN IDOL (FOX), "America's Got Talent" (NBC), "What Chilli Wants" (VH1), "Hole In The Wall" (Cartoon Network), "Jump City: Seattle" (G4), "Let's Make A Deal" (CBS), "Family Feud" (syn), "The Price Is Right" (CBS) and THE X FACTOR.

 

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