The X Factor is a television music competition created by Simon Cowell, featuring auditions, live shows, and judges who mentor contestants in different categories. It has faced legal disputes over format similarities with Pop Idol and imposes strict contracts on participants, limiting their future opportunities. The show's structure has evolved over the years, with varying age categories and stages in the competition, and it has produced numerous winners who receive significant recording contracts.

1. X
FACTOR
Auditions

2. About X Factor
The X Factor is a television music competition franchise created by British
producer Simon Cowell and his company SYCOtv. It originated in the United
Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol (2001–
2003), and has been adapted in various countries. The "X Factor" of the
title refers to the indefinable "something" that makes for star quality. The
prize is usually a recording contract, in addition to the publicity that
appearance in the later stages of the show itself generates, not only for the
winner but also for other highly ranked contestants.
Unlike Idol, where the judges only critique the contestants' performances, on
The X Factor each judge "mentors" the finalists in a particular category,
aiding them with song selection and styling, while also participating
together in judging the contestants in the other categories.

3. Legal dispute: - Simon Fuller, the creator of Pop Idol, claimed that
the format of The X Factor was copied from his own show. Through his
company 19 TV, Fuller filed a lawsuit against The X Factor producers
Fremantle Media, The X Factor creator Simon Cowell, and Cowell's
companies Simco and Syco. A High Court hearing began in London in
November 2005, and the outcome was awaited with interest by media
lawyers for its potential effect on the legal situation regarding the
copyrighting of formats. However, the hearing was quickly adjourned and an
out-of-court settlement was reached at the end of the month.
The X Factor franchise requires everyX Factor Contract: -
contestant to sign a contract and "sign over their lives" in order to move
forward in the competition. Therefore, all the choosing and picking between
contestants that the celebrity judges do on television is actually pre-
determined before airing.
Some of the conditions included in this contract include signing over your
recording rights, allowing The X Factor to monitor your behavior during
your time in the competition, and if you are eliminated and wish to
audition for another TV show you must have the permission from the entire
franchise.

4. The Danish version has been criticized by Danish musicDenmark: -
contract expert and consultant for The Danish Musicians' Association (Dansk
Musiker Forbund) Mikael Højris. According to Højris, the contracts for
participation in the show are unfair for participants and almost amount to
serfdom to DR1 (the channel airing the show) stating that clauses in the
contracts forbid the participants – whether they pass the first round or not
– from performing or participating in any other musical event for three
months. He also criticizes that participants are obliged to travel at their
own expense.

5. The X Factor (U.K. TV Series)
It is broadcast on the ITV network in the UK and simulcast on TV3 in
Ireland. "X Factor" refers to the indefinable "something" that makes
for star quality.
The series consists of auditions, boot camp, judges' houses, several
weeks of live shows, semi-finals and the final.
The series had a spin-off behind-the-scenes show called The Extra
Factor, which aired directly after the main show on ITV2.
This lasted for the first thirteen series, when it was cancelled by ITV in
January 2017.
There have been 14 winners of the show to date: Steve Brookstein,
Shayne Ward, Leona Lewis, Leon Jackson, Alexandra Burke, Joe
McElderry, Matt Cardle, Little Mix, James Arthur, Sam Bailey, Ben
Haenow, Louisa Johnson, Matt Terry and Rak-Su.
Winners receive a recording contract with record label Syco Music
with a stated value of £1 million.
The sixth series attracted 200,000 auditioned and peaked at 19.7
million UK viewers (a 63.2% audience share). More than 10 million
votes were cast in the sixth series final.

6. Categories: -
For series 1–3 the competition was split into three categories: 16–
24s (solo acts aged 16–24), Over 25s (solo acts aged 25 and over)
and Groups (including duos). In series 4–5, the minimum age was
lowered to 14, creating of 14–24 age groups.
With the addition of a fourth judge in series 4, this was split into
separate male and female sections, making four categories in all:
"Boys" (14–24 males), "Girls" (14–24 females), Over 25s and Groups.
For series 6, the minimum age returned to 16, meaning that the Boys
category became 16–24 males and the Girls category became 16–24
females.
For series 7, the age group boundaries were changed, and the Over
25s became Over 28s, with the Boys and Girls categories becoming
16–28.
It was changed back to Over 25s for series 8, before reverting to Over
28s in series 9. In series 10, it became the Over 25s again. In series
11, the minimum age returned to 14.
In all series, apart from series 12, the show's producers decided which
judge mentored which category. In the 12th series, the public chose
which judge mentored which category via a Twitter vote.

7. This helps to boost ratings and add some fun intoNovelty acts: -
the live shows, although they tend to be controversial due to the show being
primarily a singing competition.
Some of the popular novelty acts to appear on the show include Rhydian
Roberts, Johnny Robinson, Rylan Clark, Diva Fever, Chico Slimani, Wagner,
Stevi Ritchie, Seann Miley Moore, Honey G and Jedward. These tend to be
predominantly in the Overs category and occasionally in the Groups. For
series 9 of the X Factor, judge Gary Barlow reportedly had an issue with
the Overs category, which he had been chosen to mentor. A source stated:
"Gary doesn't like joke acts and the Overs category is often full of novelty
acts."
Stages: -
There are five stages to the competition:
Producers' auditions – these auditions are un-televised, andStage 1:
decide who will sing in front of the judges
Judges' auditions – either in an audition room (series 1–5, 13–Stage 2:
14), an arena (series 6–9, 12, 15), or both (series 10–11)

8. Boot camp – a series of challenges and knockout rounds (seriesStage 3:
1–9), the Six-Chair Challenge (series 10–11) or both (series 12)
Judges' houses – either pre-recorded (series 1–11, 13) or liveStage 4:
(series 12)
Live shows (finals)Stage 5:
Note: In series 10–11, the Boot camp round was shortened to only several
minutes and was broadcast before the start of the Six-Chair Challenge.
A round of first auditions is held in front of producer’sAuditions: -
months before the show is aired, either by application and appointment, or
at "open" auditions that anyone can attend.
These auditions, held at various venues around the UK, attract very large
crowds. The auditions themselves are not televised, but shots of crowds
waving and "judges' cars" arriving are filmed and later spliced in with the
televised auditions shot later in the year.
The production team supplies the crowds with "home-made" signs. After
waiting at the venue for hours and filming more inserts of screaming and
waving, candidates are given a brief audition by someone from the
production team.

9. X Factor U.K. 2019 Auditions Details
X FACTOR UK 2019 AUDITIONS:
X Factor UK 2018 auditions have started. If you dream to be the next X
factor in UK, it’s better to start early.
X FACTOR UK 2019 AUDITIONS REQUIREMENT:
Based on the previous season, below are the expected requirements:
Check here
http://xfactor2019auditions.com/x-factor-uk-2019-auditions.html