Simon Cowell, through his production firm Syco, has extended his exclusive relationship with Sony BMG for the next five years.
The deal covers all of the music entrepreneur’s music and TV activities. Current television productions, including the “X Factor reality” TV property and future TV projects, are included in the agreement, unveiled today (Dec. 5).
The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
On the music side, Cowell oversees the career of operatic act Il Divo, whose album “Ancora” is certified double platinum (600,000 copies) in the United Kingdom and is this week at No. 7 on the Official U.K. Albums Chart.
“Our partnership with Simon allows all of us at Sony BMG to share in endless exciting multi-media opportunities over the coming years,” commented Rob Stringer, chairman/CEO of Sony BMG U.K. in a statement. “At the heart of this remains Simon’s unique A&R talent.”
During more than a decade of service with BMG — and now the amalgamated group Sony BMG — Cowell has overseen the rise of such pop acts as Robson & Jerome, Five and Westlife.
“BMG has been my home for the last 15 years. Sony BMG will be my home for the foreseeable future,” he notes.
Cowell’s celebrity has soared in his role as the unsympathetic judge on “American Idol” in the United States, and on its “X Factor” counterpart in the United Kingdom, which he created and co-produces through his production firm Syco.
As previously reported, Cowell last week reached an out-of-court agreement with 19 Entertainment CEO Simon Fuller in a copycat dispute over “X Factor.” Further to that deal, Syco has extended its “first look” deal with Fox Broadcasting in the United States for a further five-year period.
