Matt Cardle is dropped

Sorry, did I say Matt Cardle has been dropped? Allow me to correct myself. Matt Cardle has left his record deal despite being part-way through recording an album.

It appears that it's musical differences - presumably the label wants to sell music, whereas Cardle is content merely to make it.

Cardle won something like Masterchef in 2008, or possibly Strike It Rich, which had thrown an obligation on the label to find him something to do. It's rumoured the contract with X Factor winners includes a break clause, allowing Sony to liquidate the contract the moment the singer edges into Pointless answer territory.

Steve Brookstein was unavailable for comment.