The X Factor USA (Season 2) Final 12 Revealed!

The Final 12 of The X Factor USA Season 2 has been revealed Thursday night, November 1 (Friday morning in Manila). From the Top 16 finalists, they were trimmed into 12 finalists (3 from each category). 

This season, The X Factor USA abolished the Boys and Girls categories and changed them with the Young Adults and Teens.

For the Top 16 elimination night, each of the judge-mentors chose two from their category who will automatically get through the Top 12 while the remaining two will have to sing for their survival in the show. Demi Lovato mentored the Young Adults category while Britney Spears mentored the Teens category. L.A. Reid had the Over 25's category while Simon Cowell maintained his Groups category.

Below is the list of The X Factor USA Season 2 Top 12:

Demi Lovato's Young Adults:	L.A. Reid's Over 25's:
Jennel Garcia Paige Thomas Cece Frey	Tate Stevens Vino Alan Jason Brock
Britney Spears' Teens:	Simon Cowell's Groups:
Carly Rose Sonenclar Beatrice Miller Arin Ray	Emblem3 Lyric 145 1432 (formerly Lylas)

Eliminated contestants include Willie Jones from the Young Adults, David Correy from the Over 25's, Diamond White from the Teens and Sister C from the Groups. The X Factor USA Season 2 Top 16 elimination airs tonight on Studio 23.

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Justin Bieber on Top, IU on Billboard's '21 Under 21' 2012 List of Hottest Music Minors

Billboard.com has unveiled its 2012 ranking of  music's most powerful minors and Canadian pop superstar Justin Bieber topped the list for the second time beating today's hottest boy group, One Direction which settled in second place.

Billboard's 21 Under 21: Music's Hottest Minors listed this year's music royalties with "hit records, millions of fans, and the kind of success most musicians only dream of yet still cannot uncork a battle of champagne to celebrate their success."

Other notable music icons in the list are The X Factor USA judge Demi Lovato (#3), 2011 American Idol Scotty McCreery (#4), rapper Mac Miller (#5) and Justin Bieber's girlfriend Selena Gomez  (#6). 

Meanwhile, K-POP Princess IU made it to this year's list. IU, who played Kim Pil Suk in the hit Korean series Dream High landed at #15. Billboard described IU as "the nation’s little sister" whose "unique charm and undeniable hits have made her into a bona fide superstar." 

Below is the complete list of Billboard’s “21 Under 21″ for 2012:

1. Justin Bieber
2. One Direction
3. Demi Lovato
4. Scotty McCreery
5. Mac Miller
6. Selena Gomez
7. Porter Robinson
8. Cher Lloyd
9. Earl Sweatshirt
10. Nick Jonas
11. Jackie Evancho
12. Cody Simpson
13. Mindless Behavior
14. Megan & Liz
15. IU
16. Bridgit Mendler
17. 3BallMTY
18. Miley Cyrus
19. Madeon
20. Ross Lynch
21. Victoria Justice

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'The X Factor USA' Season 2 Premieres this September 13 on Studio 23

Studio 23 premieres the highly anticipated second season of hitUSsinging competition “The X FactorUSA” via satellite this Thursday (Sept 13) at 7PM.

Season one judge-mentors Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid are back and now joined by teen sensation Demi Lovato and pop icon Britney Spears as new judges to search for an out-of-this-world 12 years old or over talent – both solo artists and vocal groups – who are bold enough to face the superstar judges and the Fifth Judge, the audience of thousands, who they have to win over during the audition.

Aside from the singing acts that may wow the crowd with their vocal ability, charisma and stage presence, fans are excited to see how Demi and Britney will get along and react with their co-judges especially with the ever-unapologetic Simon.

“So far everything has been so much fun for all of us. Everything is like a ew experience for me. It’s a lot of fun and the talentsare amazing,” shared Britney.

Simon earlier commended the girls, in an interview with People.com, for doing a great job. He even quipped that Britney, after taping a few episodes, turned out to be quite mean and very difficult to please. Demi, on the other hand, he said was quite annoying. “I thought she was very confident, very bright, then became quite annoying, but knew what she was talking about,” explained Simon.

When it comes to their judging, Britney described her style as “subtle” and that she will try to use constructive criticisms, while Demi simply put it as “happy” and “really honest”

Simon also revealed that more of the mentoring process can also be expected this season. “A lot of what we did was off-camera. I think the mentoring process, how we actually work with the artists, how they interact with each other, where they’re staying, is an important part of this show.  I think all that process has to be shown.”

Last season, Melanie Amaro was crowned winner and Simon, who mentored Melanie and the rest of the Girls came out on top. But will one of the other judges dethrone him this year? Who among the contestants are worthy of the $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music?

But before the whole world meets the second “The X FactorUSA” winner, Filipinos will first meet the first grand winner of “The X FactorPhilippines,” hosted by KC Concepcion and airs weekends on ABS-CBN. The finale is getting nearer as only six finalists compete for the title.

Don’t miss the two-part via satellite premiere of “The X FactorUSA2” this Thursday (Sep 13) and Friday (Sep 14), 7 PM on Studio 23. Catch the show in the succeeding weeks every Thursday and Friday, at 7 PM, with a same day encore run at 10:30 PM.

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The X Factor USA Season 2 to Air on Studio 23, Demi Lovato and Britney Spears New Judges!

Studio 23 today announced it has acquired the rights to air the highly-anticipated second season of the hit talent search “The X Factor USA” via satellite very soon with judges Simon Cowell, L.A.Reid, and newly-signed and talked about judges— singer-actress Demi Lovato and multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning pop icon Britney Spears.

After months of rumors and hearsays that the two will be filling in on the vacant seats left by former judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, Britney and Demi made it official to the public during Fox’s presentation for its 2012-2013 offerings held in New York recently.

Britney and Demi joins Simon and L.A. Reid on The X Factor Season 2

“I couldn’t be more excited to join ‘The X Factor’ judging panel. I’m a huge fan of the show and now I get to be a part of the action. Simon and L.A. better watch out!” said Spears in an official release from Fox.

For 19-year-old ‘Camp Rock’ star, she is just thrilled just by being part of such a legendary group of judges. Lovato said, “To be able to spend each week with Simon, L.A. and Britney watching the best that America has to offer is truly a dream come true.”

“The X Factor” producer and notorious talent show judge Simon Cowell expressed how happy he is that Britney and Demi are officially on board. “I’m absolutely delighted Britney and Demi are joining us,” he said. “Britney remains one of the biggest stars in the world, she’s talented, fascinating – and I believe she knows exactly how to spot the ‘x factor.’ Demi’s had an amazing career in music, TV and film for someone her age. She’s young, confident, and enthusiastic. I think it’s really important that she speaks to our younger audience. The new panel will be dynamic and will work really well with the changes we are making to the show.”

Cowell is yet to announce who will host the second season of “The X Factor USA,” replacing season one host Steve Jones.

Spears is one of the most successful and celebrated entertainers in pop history. Her musical career boasts nearly 100 million albums sold worldwide and countless awards and accolades, including the 2011 MTV Video Vanguard Award and Billboard’s Best-Selling Female Artist of the Decade (1998-2008). So far, Spears has earned a total of five No.1 debut albums and 24 Top 40 songs in her career.

Meanwhile, Lovato is an accomplished singer and actress with a devoted and engaged young fan base. Her single, “Skyscraper,” off of her most recent album, “Unbroken,” recently went platinum, while the video for her new single, “Give Your Heart a Break,” already has garnered 10 million YouTube views. Her first album, “Don’t Forget,” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and her second album, “Here We Go Again,” debuted at No. 1.

This June, Filipinos will also have the chance to show their ‘x factor’ as ABS-CBN localizes the worldwide hit franchise and produces “The X Factor Philippines” with KC Concepcion as host and Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Charice, and Pilita Corrales sitting on the judges panel.

Aside from “The X Factor” franchise, Studio 23 also serves as home to another phenomenal hit singing competition, “The Voice.” Now on its second season with judges Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, and Cee Lo Green and host Carson Daly, “The Voice” will air every Saturday and Sunday on the Kabarkada Network beginning Saturday (May 26). Catch the live show on Saturdays at 5:30 PM and the results show on Sundays at 6:30 PM. A back-to-back replay of both episodes will also come your way every Monday at 6 PM.

Keep tuning in on Studio 23 for the most watched and talked about talent searches today, “The X Factor USA” and “The Voice.” For more information, log on to www.studio23.tv or follow its official Twitter account @s23channel.

Text by Studio 23

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