'X Factor' Opens Auditions on YouTube

Partnership gives fans opportunity to submit video auditions until June 9

By Lindsay Rubino -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/2/2011 11:26:18 AM

Fox's highly anticipated singing competition, The X Factor, and YouTube have partnered to offer fans the opportunity to audition for the show exclusively on the video-sharing website until June 9.

Online entries will open doors for those who would otherwise be unable to audition for a chance to win The X Factor's $5 million record-breaking recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.

The YouTube auditions require the artist(s) to sing a cappella for up to 2 minutes, with a 30-second introduction. The videos will not be made public, viewed only by X Factor team and judged similarly to live auditions. Those chosen to advance in the competition will be offered the opportunity to continue the audition in front of the judges.

"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."

As The X Factor's official sponsor, Pepsi will use its multiple platforms to encourage submissions on its own YouTube page and other social networking sites including Foursquare, Facebook and Twitter.