Matt Cardle has signed a joint record deal with Syco and Columbia

Hat wearer and acoustic guitar brandisher Matt Cardle has become the first X Factor winner to sign a joint record deal.

Cardle – currently on the X Factor tour and composing songs for his debut album – has ‘inked’ a 50/50 deal with Syco and Columbia, in the hope that the latter will bring their “rock” expertise to the table.

A ‘source’ (probably a Syco PR) quoted by The Sun says of Simon’s plans for Cardle: “He’s hopeful Matt can become the first credible rock act to emerge from The X Factor and realises he needs the expertise at Columbia to make that happen.”

Late last year Cowell convinced Robbie Williams’ former mentor, Chris Briggs, to come aboard the project in the hope of replicating Williams’ success in Europe and, er, America.