The hotly anticipated final of the tenth series of The X Factor takes place this weekend, and the winning contestant's single will be available in the Amazon MP3 Store shortly after the result of the public vote is revealed on Sunday night. In anticipation of the series finale, Amazon.co.uk has announced the bestselling X Factor acts since the series started 10 years ago.
Despite only coming third in the seventh series of The X Factor, One Direction's latest album has helped them become the bestselling X Factor act of all time on Amazon.co.uk, taking over from Olly Murs who held the title in November. The band's latest album Midnight Memories was announced in October as the fastest selling album of all time on Amazon.co.uk based on day one pre-orders alone. As the album is AutoRip eligible, Amazon.co.uk customers receive a free MP3 version when they buy the CD.
Olly Murs, over 25s category contestant and runner up in series six (2009), moves to the number two spot, closely followed by JLS at number three shortly after the release of the band's final album Goodbye – The Greatest Hits (18th November).
Powerhouse Leona Lewis is the bestselling female X Factor act, taking fourth place, and Liverpool-born songstress Rebecca Ferguson rounds off the top five. Both acts released new albums on 2nd December: Lewis got festive with Christmas, With Love, whilst Ferguson followed up her debut with Freedom.
Little Mix, the only group ever to have won The X Factor, take the number six slot following the release of their second album Salute on 11th November. Series 2 winner Shayne Ward takes tenth place having recently returned to The X Factor as a guest mentor.
Series 9 winner James Arthur takes 12th place following the release of his self-titled debut on 4th November, with series 9 runner up Jahméne Douglas following at 17th after his debut Love Never Fails was released earlier this year (22nd July).
The top 20 bestselling X Factor artists of all time on Amazon.co.uk are:
1 One Direction
2 Olly Murs
3 JLS
4 Leona Lewis
5 Rebecca Ferguson
6 Little Mix
7 Joe McElderry
8 Rhydian
9 Matt Cardle Winner
10 Shayne Ward
11 Cher Lloyd Fourth
12 James Arthur
13 G4
14 Alexandra Burke
15 Diana Vickers
16 Andy Abraham
17 Jahméne Douglas
18 Leon Jackson
19 Jedward Sixth
20 Journey South
*Compiled based on MP3 and CD album sales. Albums available for pre-order but net yet released have not been included.
The top 10 bestselling UK X Factor artists of all time in America on Amazon.com are:
1 One Direction
2 Leona Lewis
3 Cher Lloyd Fourth
4 Olly Murs
5 Rebecca Ferguson
6 Little Mix Winner
7 Matt Cardle Winner
8 Alexandra Burke
9 JLS
10 Diana Vickers
*Compiled based on MP3 and CD album sales. Albums available for pre-order but not yet released have not been included.