Two 'X Factor' Finalists Sign with Epic Records... Find Out Who!

If you win "The X Factor," like Melanie Amaro did, you get a guaranteed $5 million record deal with Sony (oh, and Pepsi commercial, as if you care at that point). But if you don't win, that doesn't mean you go home empty-handed.

Two more contestants from "The X Factor" signed record deals today with Epic Records, the company run by "X Factor" mentor L.A. Reid. As you might have guessed, the lucky two are two of Reid's own contestants: Chris Rene and Astro.

Rene is no surprise, as he made it all the way to the finals based on his original songs, his personality, and his heartbreaking backstory, which involved drug abuse and rehab. Rene ended up placing third behind Josh Krajcik and Amaro, but it seemed pretty clear that someone would end up signing him.

Rene's deal is reportedly between $150,000 and $500,000 (it's not $5 mil, but it ain't bad), and the first item of business will likely be to cut a recording of Rene's original songs "Young Homie" and "Where Do We Go From Here?" both of which he performed live on the show.

Astro (a.k.a. Brian Bradley) didn't fare quite as well in the competition, but it wasn't for lack of trying. The 15-year-old rapper proved himself to be an engaging performer and a talented lyricist, as he was the only contestant to have to write an original rap each week during the live shows.

Still, the voting audience didn't identify much with a rapper in a vocal competition, and Astro was sent home earlier than he probably should have been. The teen also notoriously threw a minor tantrum on stage when he was put up for elimination, claiming he didn't want to perform if he wasn't wanted.

Watch Chris Rene and Astro perform on "The X Factor" live shows below: