‘The X Factor’ UK: 5 AM now 5 After Midnight; The Brooks now Brooks Way

It’s a little bit of a time-honored tradition with “The X Factor,” and we’re seeing it again this year: Groups having to change their names for whatever reason before the live shows. One of the major reasons for this often has to do with copyright claims. No single act has to change their name in order to perform, so it’s always a little more complicated for the groups. There’s probably a lawyer somewhere who spends weeks going through possible names in order to figure out what they can and cannot use.

With this in mind, the group formerly known as 5 AM is now officially known as 5 After Midnight — a name that may sound a little cumbersome in theory, but it may be smart in practice. Our way to look at this is fairly simple: With this name, they can still unofficially be called 5 AM by their fans without much of a change.

Meanwhile, The Brooks is now going to be known as Brooks Way, which is decent, though it sounds a little like a health-care provider just as much as it does a group. We cannot imagine that Ottavio and Bradley were running into any copyright claims with their name, but they’re going by Bratavio now anyway. It’s hard to really complain about that name just because it’s easier to put down on paper.

While name changes may be frustrating for a group known previously as something else, there are two key pieces of evidence that names don’t matter as much as talent. Little Mix was known as Rhythmix during the start of the live shows seasons past before having to change their name, while in America Fifth Harmony was known first as Lylas before becoming briefly 1432 — thank goodness that name didn’t stick.

What do you think of the names? Share below, and head over here to see a petition regarding Honey G — even if it doesn’t matter too much in the end.

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