X Factor Winner Joe McElderry Dropped By Simon Cowell

Joe McElderry, who won The X Factor in 2009, has been dropped by his record label Syco.

The 19-year-old singer has been told that he won't have his contract renewed when it expires next month, according to the Daily Mail.

A source told the Daily Mail: “Joe is devastated. His mum has been comforting him. He believed he could have a great music career.”

X Factor judge and head of Syco Simon Cowell had claimed McElderry could become “the new Zac Efron”.

But his career got off to a bad start when he failed to score the Christmas number one, losing out to Rage Against The Machine.

The US band's hit 'Killing In The Name' had been propelled to the top by a Facebook campaign.

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Music Stars On The X Factor