5th Harmony's signing was confirmed by Camilla's mom 12/20/12 Simon teased on twitter asking fans if he should sign

Fifth Harmony on Wednesday 1/16/13 They officially announced on Thursday 1/17/13 8:30am
I see a lot of support for fifth harmony. Do you think we should sign the girls?, Cowell tweeted.

photo-Ray Mickshaw / FOX1/17/2013 by Sophie Schillaci, Shirley Halperin

http://shar.es/YD'X Factor's' Fifth Harmony Signs With Syco Music, Epic Records (Exclusive)LKi via @THR

After finishing third on season two of the Fox reality competition, the girl group joins L.A. Reid's roster at the Sony label.
With all-boy groups One Direction and Emblem3 already on his roster,Simon Cowellis betting big on girl power. TheX Factorboss and former judgeL.A. Reidhave signed girl group Fifth Harmony to Epic Records via Syco Music,The Hollywood Reporterhas learned. The group, comprisingAlly Brooke,Camila Cabello,Normani Hamilton,Dinah Jane HansenandLauren Jauregui, went from strangers to unofficial sisters during season two of the Fox reality competition when each auditioned as individuals and were placed together in a group during boot camp. PHOTOS: An 'American Idol' to 'X Factor' Timeline Finishing in third place behind teen diva Carly Rose Sonenclar and winner Tate Stevens, Fifth Harmony long was considered an underdog in the competition. Although mentor Cowell saw a spark in the girls from their first performance during the judges homes round, they suffered from confusing name changes (first LYLAS, then 1432 and finally Fifth Harmony) in the early stages of competition. But it was the girls semifinal performance ofEllie Gouldings Anything Could Happen that cemented their status as a force to be reckoned with. I knew from the girls first performance at judges homes in Miami that wed done the right thing, said Cowell. The chemistry between the Fifth Harmony girls both on- and offstage is fantastic. They are really great girls who have become best friends. Theyre great fun to be around, and most importantly, they are all incredibly talented. Fans of the girls have been awaiting news of a record deal, while the group has inspired several trending topics on Twitter in recent weeks. In addition to fan-follow sprees, #SimonSign5H was trending Wednesday evening. PHOTOS: 'The X Factor' Finale in Pictures: A Country King, a Teen Diva and a Girl Group Being introduced to the Syco and Epic family means the world to us, said Cabello. We get to learn from and work with the best in the business -- people who have built the careers of artists we look up to. The fact that were being given the opportunity to make music that we want feels like a dream we never want to wake up from, and I literally just have to pinch myself. Added Hamilton: The X Factorand Simon have given me and my Fifth Harmony sisters this wonderful opportunity to pursue our dreams. Becoming a part of one of the largest record labels in the industry plays a major role in making our dreams a reality. I am extremely excited to be signed to Syco and Epic Records. Fifth Harmonys debut album will be executive produced by multiplatinum producer-songwriterJulian Bunetta(One Direction, Boyz II Men,Flo Rida,Natasha Bedingfield,Leona Lewis), who worked with the group as a music producer onX Factor.The album will feature collaborations with song writers Autumn Rowe (Lewis,Cher Lloyd,Alexandra Burke) and Lil Eddie(Usher,Pink,Jessie J,Cody Simpson).

Official press release

SYCO 72,524 like this January 17 at 8:12am SYCO MUSIC & EPIC RECORDS SIGN RECORDING DEAL WITH THE X FACTORS GIRL GROUP SENSATION FIFTH HARMONY FIFTH HARMONY NAMED POPDUSTS NEXT POP SUPERSTAR OF 2013 (January 17th, 2013- Los Angeles, CA) The X Factor girl group Fifth Harmony have signed a recording deal with Syco Music and Epic Records. They amassed a legion of fans and won Americas heart on the past season of The X Factor with their breathtaking vocals and inspirational friendship, this week theyve been pronounced Next Pop Superstar of 2013 by PopDust, and now Fifth Harmonys Ally Brooke, Camila Cabello, Normani Hamilton, Dinah Jane Hansen, and Lauren Jauregui are set to take the pop world by storm as they head to the studio to record their debut album. Ally Brooke said, OMG!! I'm so looking forward to working with the great Mr. LA Reid and of course my uncle Simon!! Rudolph (Simon calls me Rudolph) is ready to go!! I am going to have a BLAST recording with my girls and working with L.A. and Simon. I promise were gonna bring it for our FLAWESOME Harmonizers! Camila Cabello said, Being introduced to the Syco and Epic family means the world to us. We get to learn from and work with the best in the business, people who have built the careers of artists we look up to. The fact that we're being given the opportunity to make music that we want feels like a dream we never want to wake up from, and I literally just have to pinch myself. Simon Cowell is freaking awesome. On the show, we grew very close to him. He genuinely cared about us, not only as contestants, but as people, and we're so grateful to have people like him and L.A. Reid as part of our lives. Normani Hamilton said The X Factor and Simon have given me and my Fifth Harmony sisters this wonderful opportunity to pursue our dreams. Becoming apart of one of the largest record labels in the industry plays a major role in making our dreams a reality. I am extremely excited to be signed to Syco and Epic Records. Syco Musics Simon Cowell, who was Fifth Harmonys mentor during The X Factor, said, I knew from the girls first performance at judges homes in Miami that wed done the right thing. The chemistry between the Fifth Harmony girls both on and off stage is fantastic. They are really great girls, who have become best friends. Theyre great fun to be around and most importantly, they are all incredibly talented. Fifth Harmony was born from a collection of talented solo artists who clicked first as friends during The X Factor Boot Camp, but quickly discovered an undeniable vocal chemistry together. At the suggestion of mentor Simon Cowell, the girls became the group now known as Fifth Harmony. Fifth Harmony has a show-stopping sound, an infectious sense of fun, and they are all richly talented vocalists. A fan favorite and darling among the judges, L.A. Reid deemed them magical with Britney Spears saying, Magic happens when you guys perform its spectacular, girly and fun. Fifth Harmonys debut album will be A&Rd by Syco Music and executive produced by multi platinum selling producer/songwriter Julian Bunetta (One Direction, Boyz II Men, Flo Rida, Natasha Bedingfield, Leona Lewis), who first worked with the girl group as a music producer on The X Factor. The album will also feature collaborations with songwriters Autumn Rowe (Cher Lloyd, Alexandra Burke, Leona Lewis) and Lil Eddie (Usher, Pink, Jessie J, Cody Simpson). Bunetta said, I had the pleasure of working with the girls of Fifth Harmony on The X Factor, and I am very excited to continue to work together on their debut album with Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid. It was remarkable to watch these five young women from across America go from being strangers to becoming a true group of friends who all care for each other and believe in each other. I believe pop music is overdue for a girl group that can represent the young ladies of this new generation. Fifth Harmony is that group. Fifth Harmony are Ally Brooke, Camila Cabello, Normani Hamilton, Dinah Jane Hansen, and Lauren Jauregui. They were five girls (ages 15-19) from across the country that auditioned for The X Factor USA as solo artists. They joined forces as a group and captured Americas imagination with their contagious charisma, breath-taking vocals and inspirational sisterhood. They came into the competition as five girls with the same dream and made it to the finale and top 3. Twitter: @FifthHarmony @LaurenJauregui @AllyBrooke @DinahJane97 @CamilaCabello97 @NormaniKordei For more info visit www.fifthharmonyofficial.com/ NOTES TO EDITORS: Fifth Harmony are managed by Jared Paul and Janelle Lopez at Frontline Management Contacts: Melanie Pritchett/ Syco Entertainment Melanie.pritchett@sonymusic.com / 713-306-1472 Ann-Marie Thomson/ Syco Entertainment Ann-marie.thomson@sonymusic.com / 310-435-1034 Lauren Ceradini/ Epic Records Lauren.Ceradini@epicrecords.com / 212-833-7965

SYCO ENTERTAINMENT Syco Entertainment is a joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music and is one of the worlds leading global music and television production companies responsible for some of the worlds most successful global TV and music franchises. Syco Entertainment is also the world most successful producer of international talent with Syco Music being the record label home for such diverse international recording artists as Labrinth, One Direction, Cher Lloyd, Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Little Mix, and Il Divo as well as other artists discovered through Syco TV series including Melanie Amaro, Jackie Evancho, JLS, Olly Murs, Diana Vickers, Alexandra Burke, Jonathan and Charlotte, Chris Rene, Loveable Rogues and Rebecca Ferguson. Sycos television assets include the global franchises The X Factor and Got Talent. The X Factor was created by Syco Television and is produced by Syco Television and FremantleMedia. Local versions of The X Factor are produced in more than 41 territories and the US version of The X Factor airs in over 166 countries. Artists discovered by The X Factor format have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, including 110 number ones, 270 top 10, and 501 top 50 releases. During 2012 Got Talent became the worlds biggest selling TV format and is now commissioned in 52 countries as a local format. The US version, Americas Got Talent, is NBCs leading summer entertainment format and additionally airs in 152 countries.