Syco is encouraging managers to enter their acts into The X Factor this year instead of signing to other labels - and to ignore “lazy and cynical” criticism of the show.

Music Week analysis published last week (March 28 issue) showed that Syco was the best-selling albums and singles label for UK-sourced repertoire in 2013. Auditions for The X Factor 2014 get underway this week and will visit a record 43 towns and cities in the UK and ...