Artists defend X Factor success

Alexandra Burke and Calvin Harris have contrasting feelings on The X Factor

Last weekend Calvin Harris resorted to a Jarvis Cocker-style stunt by gatecrashing the X Factor stage in an attempt to make a "mockery" of the programme's influence.

Whilst the Dance Wiv Me singer made his protest by hugging John And Edward with a pineapple on his head live on national television, he's part of a growing number of artists expressing despair at the condition of the UK charts, or more plainly, the dominance of X Factor-affiliated artists.

This weekend, X Factor finalists look likely to top the UK singles chart with their cover of Michael Jackson's You Are Not Alone.

If they do it'll be the fifth week running an artist connected with the entertainment show will have made it to number one.

Previous winner Leona Lewis is also on course to snatch top spot on the album chart with her second record Echo by batting off competition from previous incumbents Stereophonics, Norah Jones and 50 Cent.

'Frightening stranglehold'

It's not just artists who've featured as contestants who are enjoying the X-effect.

Cheryl Cole and Black Eyed Peas, both performers on the show this series, have headed to the top of the chart the following week with their respective songs.

Leona Lewis looks likely to top the chart with her new LP Echo

With 15.2 million people watching at its peak, that's no surprise.

Calvin Harris, himself a chart topper in 2009, has made his feelings on the subject very clear.

"It's a frightening stranglehold that Simon Cowell has got over the entire music chart in the UK at the moment," he says.

"For the greater good of the nation I wanted to go out there and make an idiot of myself and bring the whole show into another area in which it's treated as a joke."

'Amazing platform'

There are those of course who would argue otherwise. Former competition winner Alexandra Burke recently topped the charts with her track Bad Boys.

She said: "That show is the most amazing platform. It's great that these shows are around because it's not a day and age when people can walk into a label and get a record deal any more.

"You have to do something out of the box. It annoys me when anyone snubs that show because it's the most amazing show. They give so many people the opportunity to live their dreams.

"I think it's great that we're taking over the charts. X Factor, we rule."

Of course, since Cowell still has a management interest in Burke, she's willing to defend the entertainment mogul.

"I wouldn't say he's (Cowell) saturating the charts. It's music, and music is music. OK, fair enough. We've come from this show but everyone is making great music which will hopefully be remembered for the next 50 years.

"If people are buying it then you must be doing something right. He must be doing something right. The public buy music; it's not Simon Cowell buying the music. I'll stick up for him."

Calvin Harris invaded the stage during 'Jedward's' performance

However, bass player Russell Leetch from Birmingham band Editors says many groups and artists have just accepted their own powerlessness when confronted with such an overarching marketing machine.

"It has been for many years," he says. "Simon Cowell and Louis whatever his name is, were they behind East 17? I don't know. They had a Christmas number one.

"They're just putting a different format on getting some wonga (money).

"I don't think Editors would be Christmas number one anyway."

Whoever wins this year's competition, one of the remaining six singers in contention will almost certainly follow in the tracks of Alexandra Burke, Leon Jackson, Leona Lewis and Shayne Ward in bagging this decade's last Christmas number one.

And despite the protestations by the likes of Calvin Harris, Simon Cowell's representation in the UK charts only looks set to continue.