What happened to X Factor USA?

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What Happened To X Factor USA?

X Factor USA was an ambitious project from a media giant that didn’t quite make it. It was an attempt to bring the reality show format to singing competitions for the United States. The show lasted for two seasons before Fox officially announced its cancellation in 2014.

However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. In this article, we’ll look at the history of X Factor USA and uncover the reasons why it was short-lived. We’ll also find out what happened to X Factor USA, the key participants and what projects they are involved in today.

The Origin of X Factor: Simon Cowell’s Global Search

X Factor USA was the U.S. version of the British television music competition. Simon Cowell was the brains behind the show’s format that was inspired by the similar format of American Idol.

American Idol had gained huge success in the early 2000s and Cowell, having seen its glory, decided to initiate X Factor in the United Kingdom in 2004. After the series proved to be a hit there, the entertainment mogul decided to take it across the pond.

Simon Cowell, the Man Behind the Show

X Factor was initially created and produced by Simon Cowell, who also acted as a judge for the show’s first two seasons. Cowell was a judge on both the UK and US versions of X Factor, providing the same mantra of damning constructive criticism he had become famous for from his days on American Idol.

He was joined by former Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger and music mogul LA Reid in the first season, while the second season boasted several changes to the judges’ panel.

Young Producer Rob Wade Was Headed For Success

Also behind the show was Rob Wade, who assumed an executive-producer/show-runner role. Wade had already produced Pop Idol and its U.S. spinoff American Idol, so he had plenty of experience in the entertainment industry when he joined the X Factor USA crew.

He was responsible for managing the format of the show, finding talent, and many of the production elements, such as the sets and the music choices used on the show.

Season One: Music Mogul LA Reid Joins the Judges Panel

X Factor USA made its debut on Fox in 2011 with the season finale taking place in December of that year. The season was an interesting one, as it featured music mogul LA Reid on the judging panel, who had more experience in the industry than most of his peers.

The other two panels were Nicole Scherzinger, an ex-Pussycat Dolls member, and Simon Cowell, of course. The three judges were put in place to critique, support and mentor young talent while they searched for a potential winner among the auditionees.

The Season One Winner and Subsequent Changes

The season saw a lot of talent come through, with the first season eventually being won by a young singer-songwriter called Melanie Amaro. Amaro went on to become the US champion, winning a $5 million recording contract with Epic and Simon Cowell’s record company, Syco Music.

After the success of the first season, the show looked to refresh itself and make some essential changes. One of these was that of the judging panel. LA Reid decided to leave and was replaced by former Pussycat Dolls member, Nicole Scherzinger, who took over the female judging duties for the second season.

The Second Season and the Elimination of the ‘Groups’ Category

Season two of X Factor USA had a new addition to the judging panel: music producer and singer, Britney Spears. Spears joined Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger on the panel and had a role in deciding the contestants who made it through to the live shows.

Unlike the first season, Fox decided to eliminate the ‘Groups’ category, which had seen the likes of The Stereo Hogzz and 2Squar’d make it to the final 12 in the first season.

The Show Was Cancelled After Two Seasons

Unfortunately, after a year of trying to revive and revamp, Fox announced the official cancellation of X Factor USA in 2014 due to declining ratings. Despite the second season’s rating rise, Fox decided it was in their best interest to move on from the show.

This would then cause Simon Cowell to create The X Factor USA’s replacement, a show called The X Factor UK, which would feature some of the same judges, but focus on talent from the UK rather than the US.

The Aftermath: What Happened To X Factor USA

The cancellation of X Factor USA in 2014 left a lot of people wondering what happened to the show, the contestants, and the judges.

Let’s take a look at some of the key participants in the show and what they are up to today.

Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole Scherzinger was a judge on X Factor USA for two full seasons. Since then, she has gone on to become a global pop star and has released several music singles that have become very popular across the world.

Scherzinger recently signed a record deal with Sony Music and is expected to be releasing new music in the near future.

Simon Cowell

The man behind X Factor has gone on to become one of the most powerful figures in the entertainment industry. After the show’s cancellation in the US, Cowell set his sights on the UK, launching X Factor UK in 2015, which proved to be somewhat successful.

He is currently working on various projects around the world, from The X Factor UK to Britain’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent, and La Banda.

Rob Wade

Rob Wade, the former executive producer of X Factor USA, has also had a varied and successful career since the show’s end. He has produced shows like The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise, to name a few.

Most recently, he was executive producer of Dancing With the Stars, the long-running dance competition show on ABC.

Melanie Amaro

One of the most impressive contestants on X Factor USA was Melanie Amaro, who went on to win the first season. After her win, Amoro had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Chris Brown, P. Diddy, and John Legend.

She is currently a Grammy-nominated singer and is continuing to release music and perform at various shows around the world.

X Factor USA was one of the most ambitious shows to come along in the reality TV era, but it only lasted two seasons before Fox officially announced its cancellation.

The main reason cited for its failure was the lack of viewer engagement. However, the show’s legacy lives on in its former contestants and judges, who have all gone on to have very successful careers in the music and entertainment industries.

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