UMG to offer recording deal to winning Israeli artists

RESHET 13, Fremantle Media, SYCO Entertainment and Universal Music Group (UMG), the world's leading music-based entertainment company, today announced a new collaboration to help elevate X Factor Israel and its future Israeli winners to a global stage. As part of the collaboration, the winner of The X Factor Israel will sign an international recording deal with UMG Israel, in collaboration with Simon Cowell's powerhouse entertainment company Syco.

Simon Cowell, the legendary record and television producer and world-famous reality TV judge, created The X Factor format, which remains the most successful music TV format in history. Cowell will join an international judging panel on RESHET 13, alongside Aviv Geffen, one of the most popular singer-songwriters in Israel, Eurovision winner Netta Barzliai and the fabled Israeli judge Margalit Tzanani.

Artists discovered on Cowell's TV formats have sold more than 600 million records. He has launched superstar careers including One Direction, Camila Cabello, Leona Lewis, Fifth Harmony, CNCO, Little Mix, Louis Tomlinson, James Arthur and Susan Boyle. Syco and Universal Music's partnership with The X Factor Israel marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Israeli artists, which will see UMG Israel help provide international exposure for the show's participants, as the show looks to introduce Israel's next music superstar. It has also been announced that the next season of X Factor Israel, will select Israel's next representative for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022.

UMG made history in June 2020, when it became the first major global music company to establish its own standalone division in Israel. UMG Israel is focused on the signing and developing domestic talent, alongside exploring opportunities for commercial partnerships and new technologies with Israeli companies. UMG Israel forms part of UMG's extensive network of operations in more than 60 countries worldwide and will help the next generation of Israeli music talent to reach audiences around the world. 

Yoram Mokady, Managing Director Universal Music Israel said, "We are proud that this collaboration between leading international brands is taking place in Israel, and I am sure it will have a substantial impact on discovering, nurturing and exposing the next wave of successful Israeli stars who can succeed on an international stage. This partnership with the X Factor is the first of several major projects that UMG Israel will launch in the coming months as we look to expand the profile of Israeli music around the world."

Ami Glam, CCO Reshet 13 said, "I don't recall there ever being a greater prize for winning a music show in Israel. On the one hand to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest and on the other hand, to sign an international recording contract with a huge global company like Universal Music Group. It is every artist's dream, whether they are undiscovered or well known."

The fourth series of the X Factor Israel will debut on RESHET 13 later this year.