"The X Factor" Auditions Go Bigger

FOX has announced the audition process for “The X Factor” and it’s bigger than ever…

Online auditions open March 1^st at TheXFactorUSA.com. The MyStudioHD Recording Studios will travel to New Jersey, Phoenix, Nashville, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New England and Las Vegas also beginning March 1^st.

The Open Calls begin March 14^th in Kansas City. There will also be open auditions in Austin, Texas (March 22^nd), San Francisco (April 20^th), Greensboro, NC (May 1^st) and one more city to be announced later.

New this year, artists with pre-existing management contracts can now audition, subject to limited restrictions.

The prize this season is once again a $5 million recording contract with Sony Music. According to the FOX press release, winner Melanie Amaro, Astro, Chris Rene, Josh Krajcik, Marcus Canty and Rachel Crow all signed deals with Sony.

Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid will return as judges with a whole new crew to be announced later.

I’ll have much more on this later this week after a media conference call with Simon and L.A. I’m guessing the main topic will be all those judge rumors…

Photo Credit: FOX