2 Hollywood

Published on October 18th, 2017 | by Jameelah "Just Jay" Wilkerson

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When Will Simon Cowell Lose His Appeal?

Simon Cowell is one of the most recognizable names and faces of the UK entertainment industry. Over the years, he has become notorious for his controversial wit, sharp tongue, and scathing remarks, earning a number of awards for his work in music and television in the process.

The beginnings of a star

Born Simon Phillip Cowell in London, England to parents Eric Phillip Cowell and Julie Brett in October 1959, Cowell grew up in a musically inclined family given that his father was a music industry executive and his mother was a ballet dancer. He began his career as a mailroom clerk in his father’s company, EMI Music Publishing.

After several stints within EMI, he left the company in the early 1980s to form E&S Music with Ellis Rich, his former boss at EMI. He later left E&S and co-founded the independent label Fanfare Records, which also enjoyed brief success before disbanding in 1989 because of financial reasons. Cowell then signed on to become a consultant for BMG Records, climbing the corporate ladder after taking on several established artists for the company.

It was 2001 when Cowell’s big break came through Pop Idol, which drew more than 10,000 contestants and made Simon Cowell a household name. The popularity of the show resulted to the creation of American Idol where he served as a judge for nearly a decade, gaining him worldwide notoriety. The rest, as they say, is history.

An undeniable success

Since then, Cowell has become a divisive public figure. He has been named by TIME magazine as one of the most influential people in the world in 2004 and 2010, and listed as one of the top entertainers of the 2000s by Entertainment Weekly. In 2006, he was named Variety’s UK Personality of the Year, and was included in Forbes’ Celebrity 100 Power List the following year.

On the other hand, Fact Index showed that he also ranked 33rd in Channel 4’s list of 100 Worst Britons, and recently got in trouble with fellow America’s Got Talent judge and former Spice Girl Melanie “Mel B” Brown over an offensive personal remark about her marriage. The incident resulted in Mel B throwing water at Cowell and walking out on live TV.

Nevertheless, the combined effect led to Cowell’s global stardom. Forbes estimates Cowell’s current net worth to be $43.5M, amassed primarily through his role as a celebrated – and hated – judge on reality television shows. In addition, various businesses spawned in association with his shows are also contributing to his total wealth. The X Factor, his most popular franchise today, now has all sorts of off shoot projects including the X Factor Official Music Merchandise Store and the X-Factor Games digital platform that features licensed trademarks from the show. Of course, he also gains profits from his entertainment company, Syco, as well as being a mentor and/or manager to some of the world-class talents he brought out to the mainstream.

The road ahead

So what’s next for this music mogul turned TV personality? Although Cowell thus far refused to return to American Idol, Ok News reports that The X-Factor is set to evolve with new and dramatic changes in its 14th season. Moreover, Cowell is set to star in a comedy entitled A&R which is his first venture into scripted TV.

Simon Cowell’s career has thrived for nearly four decades, owing mainly to hard work, an uncompromisingly good ear for music, and a ruthless dedication to being frank and genuine. At the rate that the music and television industries are going, he can certainly retain a strong presence through valuable contributions for discovering and showcasing talents, at least within the foreseeable future. The question of whether he’ll stay on the same path is something only time can tell, but one thing’s for sure – he’ll be entertaining us with his signature on-screen image along the way.



About the Author

Publisher and CEO of The Hype Magazine. Follow me on Twitter @HypeJustJay


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