Cowell’s new job... as a talent scout
SIMON COWELL is returning to his roots after landing a job as a talent scout for Universal Music Group.
The X Factor judge – who closed down his own business, Syco Entertainment, earlier this year – has been hired by Lucian Grainge, the chief executive at Universal whose acts include Rihanna, Sam Smith and Take That.
The move puts the 62-year-old, worth an estimated €550m, in direct competition with his previous employer Sony, where he carved out a career as an artists and repertoire (A&R) executive, signing major acts such as Westlife. As the creator of X Factor, he discovered One Direction, Leona Lewis and Little Mix. He also backed Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Anyone who wrote Simon off when he closed Syco was very silly – he is coming back. This is a dramatic change of fortune for him.
‘Any record label would be lucky to have his knowledge, wisdom and contacts within the industry, and his old mate Lucian got in there first.’
Mr Grainge, who has been the boss of Universal since 2005, revealed four years ago that he previously tried to hire Cowell.
‘I tried to bring Simon over to UMG on multiple occasions, and each time he left me waiting at the altar,’ he told an awards ceremony.
In January, Cowell – who recently announced his engagement to partner Lauren Silverman – wound down Syco and laid off its staff.
Sources said he wanted to spend more time with Ms Silverman and their son Eric, eight, after breaking his back in an e-bike accident in Los Angeles in August 2020.