Task Two - Figure in the Media

Investigation into a Figure in the Media Industry

Simon Cowell, dubbed more famous in Britain than the Queen by school children, is a television, music and media mogul. Born in Brighton in October 1959, Cowell got his first experience of the media when he became a runner for “The Shining” as a teenager. Throughout his younger years, he had many jobs in the industry, including working in the mailroom at EMI, an assistant for an A&R employer and a music publishing position. In the early 1980’s, Cowell became partners with his EMI boss and created a music label which created 5 top 40 charting UK singles.

A few years later, Cowell got his big break. He was employed by Iain Burton at Fanfare Records, who produced the artist Sinitta. Selling more than half a million albums, Sinitta earned Cowell a small fortune. He even appeared in her video for the song “Toyboy”. However, in 1989 disaster struck the label meaning Cowell lost everything. Debt overcame him and he lost every penny that he had earned.

His next job as an A&R consultant for BMG saw him sign successful acts such as Sonia, Westlife, Five, Curiosity Killed the Cat and, after much pressure and months of chasing them around, he signed the famous TV duo Robson and Jerome.

After watching novelty TV acts become such phenomenon’s worldwide, Cowell figured he could link both television and music together and appeal to the young demographic of the country by selling tracks from the likes of the Teletubbies, WWF wrestlers, Zig and Zag and the Power Rangers. Before Cowell started working on this project, his employers had little faith in him, deeming the idea ridiculous. However, Cowell proved them wrong by becoming hugely successful and increasingly well known within the business.

Cowell made his TV debut on the 90’s quiz show Sale of the Century, before finally signing onto the Idol franchise in 2001, seeing him appear on the first season of Pop Idol, alongside his good friend Pete Waterman. He became famous for his extravagantly rude critiques and bitter attitude. The next year, 2002, saw Cowell travel over to the USA to join the judging panel of American Idol. He had no idea how he would be received in the USA, but the show, currently in its 9th season, has become the number one TV show in the world, ratings peaking at 38 million viewers. Cowell has often stated how due to his harsh comments, contestants would wait outside the auditioning arena with baseball bats for him.

In 2002, Cowell started his own record label named Syco Music, becoming part of the Song BMG umbrella company. Winning artists from Cowell’s shows would go on to be signed to this label.

Following Idol, Cowell moved on to create his own talent show, called The X Factor, debuting in 2004. This was produced by this Syco production company, but Simon Fuller, the producer and creator of the Idol franchise saw too many similarities in the two programmes and sued him – this was settled out of court. Cowell not only stars in, but also creates and produces The X Factor annually, which has also become an international phenomenon and the highest rated show on UK TV.

Expanding his television empire even more, Cowell introduced America’s Got Talent onto American network NBC in 2006, although not judging on, due to contract agreements with FOX. Following the successful ratings; beating rival producer Simon Fuller’s So You Think You Can Dance, Cowell followed America’s Got Talent with Britain’s Got Talent, appearing on ITV – the same network as The X Factor – during spring. Perhaps the most well known star originating on one of Cowell’s shows would be Susan Boyle, who became an overnight international star due to Youtube, resulting in a second place position on Britain’s Got Talent and a record deal with Syco.

Following the success and higher power Cowell has with The X Factor, in January 2010 he officially announced that he would not be resigning with American Idol, and due to quit at the end of the 9th season, to launch American X Factor beginning in Fall of 2011. This is to be launched due to the deal Cowell finalised with Sony Music Entertainment. Both Idol and American X Factor will subsequently be broadcast on the same network – Fox, which will see more competition from Fuller. However, it is thought that American Idol will end after the 10th season to make way for American X Factor.

Cowell has also created and produced smaller shows with disappointing ratings, such as American Inventor, Rock Rivals, Grease is the Word and Celebrity Duets. Alongside television work, he still works as a record producer.

Following the new deals with Sony, ITV and the launch of American X Factor, Cowell is likely to move from being a millionaire to a billionaire in the next year, and is suspected to net a fortune of £70 million this year.


Due to all of the aforementioned shows, and his contribution to the change in television, Cowell has been awarded an Emmy which he will receive in November 2010.