They're brainwashed Nick. It's the sort of response you'd expect from a show that runs like a powerful propaganda machine (no pun). This is why I see the X-Factor as a dangerous and counter-productive show where music is concerned. There is national addiction on various levels. Some of those are into the music, some are into the drama, and some are into both. There will be millions of fans rubbing their hands in anticipation 1 week before the new show starts, much like me in August prior to our first match back from the Summer break.
It means another year of drama, gossip and basically shit for women (and gay men) to talk about around the photocopying machine during the sad existence of what they claim to be "life"
Sony cooked up nothing, if next year another campaign is started that raises a significant amount of money for charity whilst putting a good track at the top of the charts then so be it.