X Factor winner Matt Terry signs record deal with RCA instead of Simon Cowell’s Syco

The 23-year-old will not be managed or produced by the show's head judge 
New deal: Matt Terry will not sign to Simon Cowell Syco
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Jennifer Ruby14 December 2016
The Weekender

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X Factor winner Matt Terry has decided not to sign with Simon Cowell’s Syco label.

While the majority of show winners are automatically signed to the head judge’s label, Terry has been handed a deal with Sony RCA.

The surprise move means that Cowell will not be producing Terry’s first album, like he has done in the past with winners including Little Mix and James Arthur.

According to The Sun, show bosses are keen for Terry to follow in the footsteps of Olly Murs.

Head honcho: Simon Cowell will not be managing Matt Terry's career  
ITV

“Simon and Sony have had a think and believe that Matt is very much an artist in the mould of Olly Murs,” said an insider.

“And to that end, they both believe he should be a label mate of Olly’s on RCA. Everyone is thrilled with Matt’s victory and how brilliantly the winner’s single is doing.”

Matt Cardle is another former winner who didn’t immediately sign with Cowell’s Syco label when he beat One Direction back in 2010.

Honey G, who divided audiences with her rapping, is the only contestant from this year's show who had signed to Syco.

X Factor winner Matt Terry - in pictures

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Terry’s new single, When Christmas Comes Around, has been penned by Ed Sheeran and is already climbing the iTunes chart.

The single will be battling it out for the Christmas number one with Louis Tomlinson’s debut effort Just Hold On.

Terry recently admitted that he only entered The X Factor because he had been dumped by his girlfriend.

“At the time it was really tough because she ended it, it was her choice. We just spent so much time together,” he told The Mirror.

The singer went on to say that the end of the relationship was “the start of everything changing.”

Despite admitting that he’s received ‘hundreds’ of marriage proposals since winning the show, Terry isn’t looking for love.

“I’m not looking for love, I can’t wait to start writing. It’s important to use your life experiences," he said.

“It’s my story to tell. I’ve just gotten out of a three-year relationship and now is my time to concentrate on myself. I’m a heterosexual guy. I’m going to have fun and meet people.”

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