Westlife split from Simon Cowell after 13 years

Pop group Westlife have ended their relationship with Simon Cowell after 13 years.

The Irish band have left the X Factor guru's Syco label and signed a multi-million deal with rival Sony RCA. It comes a month after Syco decided not to release a single the band favoured from latest album Gravity.

Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne of the band are managed by X Factor judge Louis Walsh.

"The move is a natural progression. There was no bad feeling," The Sun quoted Walsh as saying.

Nicky tweeted: "It is time for a change."

"We are still very young & have lots of energy left," Mark Feehily wrote.