X Factor tries to change its skin

18 editions and 16 years for X Factor: the new season of the talent debuts on Thursday 12 September. The Italian one is the last version of the format to air in the world, in a period in which talent shows have a very different role, both in terms of the impact on TV programming, on ratings and on the record market. So X Factor Italy changes skin again: a new host, Giorgia, a jury reset compared to last year, with Achille Lauro, Jake La Furia, Paola Iezzi and the return of Manuel Agnelli. The final arrives in Piazza Plebiscito in Naples.
Appointment on Sky and its platforms (SkyGo and NowTv): it starts with the casting; on October 24th the live episodes arrive, the finale on December 5th in Naples.

Today the presentation to the press in Milan, in an unusual place, what was once the baggage room of the central station: we saw in person some dynamics, which we had noticed attending the recordings one evening of the casting last June. Jake La Furia nice and brilliant, is a candidate for revelation. Agnelli, already a judge for 5 editions, is the musical anchor of the program, Iezzi and Lauro are finding the rhythm. The first fun episode, shown today to the press, shows that the famous chemistry between the judges seems to be there, on Giorgia holds the reins well – even if everything will have to be verified in the live, without the rhythm of the editing.

The judges’ statements

“I’m having more fun than ever,” says Agnelli. “In the past it was stimulating, but never with this much fun: we must protect this complicity even in live shows when there will be more competition and it will be more difficult to keep calm.”
“I’ve always loved X Factor, because it’s one of the few programs that talks about music,” says Paola Iezzi of her entrance.

“It’s an up to date program: when they called me I said wow, I’ve always hoped I could do it”. Achille Lauro defines himself as “Anarchist and subversive of music: I will manage my presence as I manage my career, far from the logic of the market. I am a free hitter and I look for free hitters”.
Jake La Furia: “I come to say what I have in my mind to say, to treat people with frankness, better than the usual compliments. I can make jokes, but when I had to send people home it was hard.”
And finally Giorgia, making her debut as a presenter “I don’t know how it happened… In the end I like to question myself, sometimes it goes better, sometimes worse, let’s hope it’s one of the better ones. In these years I’ve had some experience, for example alongside Amadeus at Sanremo, but here it’s another thing. But I’ve understood how much I like it and I’m happy to do it in a program that I’m a fan of and where we talk about music. But I have a lot to study: but I’m a nerd”

Production (and the future)

Few changes behind the scenes: production always by Fremantle (which holds the rights), project manager is Paola Costa, musical direction is by Antonio Filippelli, artistic direction for the performances is always by Laccio (whom we interviewed here) with Shake, studio direction by Luigi Antonini.
Antonella D’Errico of Sky: “Finding a new jury and host was a gamble: 5 artists and 5 people who can offer the contestants support and solidity”. And about the choice of Naples: “We wanted it to end with a party: this is the mood we expect, a competition where you can have fun”. Tombolini of Fremantle: “The production effort is enormous: 400 people work on the program”

The relationship with the record industry

Like last year, Warner is the reference record company for singers: Jake La Furia: “We are looking for good music: it can give the discography genuine and sincere music. We do not think by trend or hype: we have also chosen good musicians, who in modern music are no longer so fashionable…”
As for the future – it’s the last year of her contract with Sky – no one is saying anything, but D’Errico recalls how, together with “Masterchef” and “Pechino Express”, X Factor is one of the network’s pillars.

“Whoever finds a format finds a treasure: X Factor is part of our backbone, we want to continue. The contracts expire every two years, when the time comes we will talk about it”. As for the fluctuating performance in terms of audience, D’Errico compares the program’s performance to that of a football team “But our goal is to find talent”. “I’m here to talk about music, I don’t give a shit about finding talent for the record industry – I’ve already done it with Maneskin”, concludes Agnelli.