Simon Cowell on The X Factor Season 3: "I'm Never in This for the Short Term — I'm Always in It for the Long Term"

Simon Cowell said it plainly: "I'm never in this for the short term — I'm always in it for the long term. And out of all the shows this year, Alex and …" — and Premier Guide Miami was in the room when it happened.

On December 16, 2013, FOX hosted a press conference call with The X Factor judge and executive producer Simon Cowell and Season 3 group category finalists Alex Kinsey and Sierra Deaton ahead of the two-night grand finale — Wednesday, December 18th and Thursday, December 19th from 8–10 p.m. on FOX. Premier Guide Miami's Daedrian McNaughton asked Simon directly about the ratings race with The Voice . Below are the highlights.

On the season overall and the show's future:

I think the show started off okay. I thought the four chair challenge section of the show was terrific. I thought the early live shows were okay. And the last two weeks have been amazing. The show will be coming back next year. As to my role on it, I might have a different kind of role — we haven't discussed that yet. But because of what Alex and Sierra have achieved on iTunes over the last couple of weeks, which is phenomenal — I've never seen this happen with an artist from a contestant — I'm really happy because the show is set up to achieve what it sets out to achieve, which is you find the star. — Simon Cowell

At one point last week, they had five records in the Top Ten on iTunes. I would say they've got a pretty good shot outside the competition. And I'd be an idiot not to continue with them. — Simon Cowell

On Alex and Sierra's turning points in the competition:

I think that 'Give Me Love' was a really high point for us. We chose that song on our own — it was our idea to do that song and it went over so well. I think that's when Simon started trusting us to make some good decisions on our own. That's sort of been our thing this season — being able to make the decisions and being able to work with him as he's allowed us to do. — Alex Kinsey

Our main big moment was 'Say Something,' because it was the first time we both got to sit down, play instruments, and just be artists that are singing the music that they want to sing. The charts definitely reflected that it was a good decision. This season has been awesome and we're really grateful that Simon has trusted us to make a lot of decisions, but also given us amazing guidance. — Sierra Deaton

On what Simon learned from Alex and Sierra:

A lot of the artists who they liked and they were listening to I've never heard of, to be honest with you. So it was a bit of an education for me as well. I am a Brit — I don't spend too much time over in America — so they introduced me to a lot of stuff which was fascinating to learn, and then I started to understand the kind of artists they should be, wanted to be. And I did trust them, and they have made some brilliant decisions. — Simon Cowell

Premier Guide Miami's Question — The Ratings Race with The Voice:

How do you feel about The X Factor actually trailing behind The Voice in ratings right now?

Thrilled. Love it. No, of course we're not happy about it. But, you know, we're all big boys here. When you run a record label, you run a TV company, sometimes you win, sometimes you're in second or third place. But the great thing about our team is that it never gets us down — everybody works that much harder. The conversation we had was: we haven't opened with a huge number, we'll probably keep that number, but let's make a great series, and most importantly, let's make some great records with the artists, because that's what's going to win the long term battle. I'm never in this for the short term; I'm always in it for the long term. Luckily, Alex and Sierra auditioned for the show, and out of all the shows this year, in my opinion, they are by far the best artists to come through any of these shows. So that kind of makes up for being second place in the ratings, I guess. — Simon Cowell

On format changes and the crowded music competition landscape:

It was frustrating because The X Factor was on air before The Voice and we created the whole mentors thing — where the judges become mentors. Then The Voice did the same thing on their show. But The Voice aired in America before The X Factor and it looked like we were copying them. You have to be really, really aware of what your audience wants or expects. And you've got to be different. And you've got to attract, most importantly, the best talent, because all these artists now have got a choice of what shows they can audition on. They can choose between us, America's Got Talent, Idol, The Voice — so we, somehow, have to convince the best singers that The X Factor's the best platform for you. — Simon Cowell

I think there are probably too many music competition shows for the U.S. market right now. But look, there's nothing you can do about that. If what we were doing was successful, and it was, then other people are going to come along and compete. I don't mind competition at all. The record business is the most competitive business in the world, probably. So I'm used to that. In a weird way, it kind of makes you work harder. This is not a short term business — it's a long term business. — Simon Cowell

On Sierra's comeback after harsh criticism from the judges:

The night that happened, I mean, look, it wasn't the end of the world — everyone gets criticism — but it was really kind of harsh. I could see what it was doing to Sierra and I said to both of them that night what I was concerned about was I've seen artists have a knock like that and not recover. But she came back stronger. So maybe it was a good thing that it happened because both of them have been really, really consistent afterwards. They made their point. — Simon Cowell

The X Factor Season 3 grand finale aired Wednesday, December 18th and Thursday, December 19th, 2013 on FOX. Alex and Sierra won the competition.

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