Los Angeles-area singers turned up in droves Sunday for a chance at The X Factor's $5 million recording contract prize.
By 9 a.m., more than 18,000 hopefuls had lined up at the L.A. Sports Arena for their shot at fame. The cattle call-style audition — open to singers and vocal groups over age 12 — went well into the evening as each singer had their chance to perform for Sony A&R executives and producers.
"The $5 million [prize] is going to pull out people that wouldn't normally audition for shows like this," X Factor's executive producer Rob Wade told UsMagazine.com at Sunday's auditions. "I think we are going to get a lot of quality."
X Factor creator Simon Cowell and his first appointed judge, former Island Def Jam record executive Antonio "L.A." Reid, will also hold auditions in Miami, Newark, N.J., Seattle, Chicago and Dallas through May 25. Official announcements regarding the panel's other judges and host will be made at a later date. The show is set to premiere on FOX this September.
For more information on The X Factor's audition tour, check out FOX.com.
By Allison Corneau for UsMagazine.com. For more Channel Surfing, click here.
