X Factor winner takes all

Whether you're a fan of the X Factor or not, there's no denying that the show has shaken up the music industry and delivered some successful pop acts along the way. But is winning the show the only route to the top? Listener data from Last.fm shows that in recent years, coming second in the show might now be enough to make it big in the music industry.

Leona Lewis, who took the X Factor crown in 2006, takes 99% of listener traffic on Last.fm versus runner up of the same year - Ray Quinn. The contestants from 2007 paint a similar picture with the runner up Rhydian only getting 3% of listeners compared to Leon Jackson. But as time marches on, the second place getters begin to gain ground on the winners. In 2008, JLS, who came in second place, account for 43% of Last.fm listens against the 2008 winner, Alexandra Burke's 57%. 2009 brought similar results with winner Joe McElderry and runner up Olly Murs getting a 65/35 split in listens.

Matt Sheret, Data Griot at Last.fm commented, 'From the beginning of each series, right through to the final, the nation is gripped by all things X Factor. The show is now in its seventh year, and over time, actually winning the show has become less and less important. Runners up from the past few series are making it just as big, despite not making it to the finish line. So what does this mean for this year's winners? Only time can tell but watch this space to see if the names Diva Fever, Wagner or Treyc mean anything in twelve months time!'