American Idol
There is no doubting or downplaying the sheer quantity and quality of talent that has graced the American Idol stage. The show has had ten years to find any and every person in the U.S. with any serious singing talent and showbiz designs. Somehow, still, more and more show up every year.

The X-Factor
This brings us to one of the main aspects of American Idol that The X-Factor attempts to move beyond: it’s strictly a singing show. Not that singing does not require talent, but one of the issues that has continued to plague Idol winners is the lack of performance diversity. Very few of them can play instruments, and only slightly more of them can actually work an audience. Cowell and crew are specifically looking to recruit singers through The X-Factor who can become solid entertainers, not just singers who can out-karaoke other contestants. I feel that’s a step in the right direction. A prime example of this came in the first half hour of The X-Factor premiere when a mediocre singer named Siameze put on a hell of a stage show and got through to the next round based on her presence and charisma.

ROUND: X-Factor wins for looking for more than just a pretty voice, but they have those too.

American Idol
There is no doubting or downplaying the sheer quantity and quality of talent that has graced the American Idol stage. The show has had ten years to find any and every person in the U.S. with any serious singing talent and showbiz designs. Somehow, still, more and more show up every year.

The X-Factor
This brings us to one of the main aspects of American Idol that The X-Factor attempts to move beyond: it’s strictly a singing show. Not that singing does not require talent, but one of the issues that has continued to plague Idol winners is the lack of performance diversity. Very few of them can play instruments, and only slightly more of them can actually work an audience. Cowell and crew are specifically looking to recruit singers through The X-Factor who can become solid entertainers, not just singers who can out-karaoke other contestants. I feel that’s a step in the right direction. A prime example of this came in the first half hour of The X-Factor premiere when a mediocre singer named Siameze put on a hell of a stage show and got through to the next round based on her presence and charisma.

ROUND: X-Factor wins for looking for more than just a pretty voice, but they have those too.