Simon Cowell has told the Daily Star that his record label will only be signing the winner from TV show X Factor. With the Pop Idol franchise, S Records have frequently signed up several of the show's finalists in addition to the overall winner, who they are contracted to sign. However this time round only the winner with get the golden record contract.
Cowell told the paper: "We won't be signing lots of acts this time. We are only going to be taking on the winner. I had a discussion at my company this week and we don't want to make it a free-for-all this time. There was talk that Rowetta has already been signed but I can tell you she will only get a contract if she wins."
On the chances of the two acts he is championing on the show - Steve and the aforementioned Rowetta - Cowell continued: "I am very confident of my talent. One of them should win it. [Sharon Osbourne represented] Cassie is good but she is not different enough to win the competition and Louis Walsh has screwed up his bands' chances with his choice of songs. The only danger really is from Sharon Osbourne's Tabby. He reminds me of someone from The Faces or something in the 70s. But Steve and Rowetta are amazing and I can't put a line between them at the moment to tell you which one will win."