The X Factor is an American
reality television music competition created by
Simon Cowell and produced by
FremantleMedia North America and
SYCOtv, a partnership between Cowell and
Sony Music Entertainment, which aired on
Fox from 2011 to 2013. Based on the
original UK show, and an addition to the
The X Factor franchise, the series found new singing talent (solo artists and groups ages 12 and over), drawn from public auditions, and they competed against each other for votes. The winner was determined by the show's viewers via telephone, the Internet, and
SMS text voting, and was awarded a recording contract with Cowell's record label
Syco Music, worth
$5 million in seasons one and two, and $1 million in season three. America voted for the following winners:
Melanie Amaro,
Tate Stevens, and
Alex & Sierra, respectively.