X Factor guru Simon Cowell bans use of Auto-Tune

Pop producer Mike Stock, of Stock, Aitken and Waterman, is convinced producers have been making contestants sound even worse on purpose. He said: "You can mess somebody's vocals up by the use of Auto-Tune.". [Read full article]

Pete Waterman and The X Factor

Pete Waterman, one-third of the pop pap factory Stock Aitken Waterman, which gave us Kylie, Sonia and Bananarama, complained last week that The X Factor lacks discernable personalities. "The X Factor is a freak show," he said. "If you're a good singer with a happy home life, you won't get past the first audition. If you've got one leg, an ailing spouse and are living on a sink estate, you've hit the jackpot." [read the article]

Dannii gets X-cited with Kylie

THE much-awaited shots of Kylie Minogue helping her little sis Dannii out in the judges' houses round of X Factor are out... [to be continued]

Kylie Minogue gives Dannii some X-tra help

The Aussie sisters have always been close, but Kylie, 41, has become fiercely protective of 37-year-old Dannii since Cheryl started to outshine her on the show after joining the panel last year...

A source said: "Dannii is already feeling a little diminished because of the pay difference, so her sister was determined to help her out. Kylie is a perfectionist and is giving Dannii her best pointers on how to smile, how best to bat off criticism and how to make her personality shine through.

"She is also giving Dannii access to her choreographers and backstage team to make sure Dannii's contestants perform to their peak during the finals. The crew will be able to give her fresh ideas and hopefully keep her ahead of the competition."...

Pete Waterman about Simon Cowell

Mr Waterman, 61, the music mogul who discovered Kylie Minogue, appears in the Channel 4 series as a judge. He said that Simon Cowell was not amused and was refusing to take his calls.
...

"Simon doesn't have a sense of humour, we're best mates but he's fallen out with me" he said.

"I rang Simon so he could say, 'Your comedy acting is genius, Pete'. But it seems he doesn't think it's at all funny."

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Mr Waterman, who was a judge on Cowell's previous show Pop Idol, said he has never watched the X Factor and vowed not appear on a talent show again. ... [continue]