Syco Entertainment
Syco Entertainment is a British media entertainment and production company, headquartered in London,[1] founded and owned by British entrepreneur and record executive Simon Cowell. The company focuses on TV production. The company was formed in 2005 through Sony Music Entertainment entering a joint venture by purchasing Cowell's shares of his record label S Records and television company Syco Television. In 2009, Sony and Cowell entered a joint venture agreement that covered the joint ownership of Syco's television formats, which include the Got Talent and The X Factor franchises. Until 2020, the company operated television and music projects with Sony Music labels around the world and television production company Fremantle. It employs a staff of more than 50 in offices in London and Los Angeles, and manages a string of television and music brands through partnerships with the label Sony Music and the television production company.
"Syco" redirects here. For the Australian pop musician, see Sycco.Company type
- S Records
- Syco Television
2005
Worldwide
- Simon Cowell (Founder)
- Nigel Hall (Global Head of TV)
Simon Cowell
Millforth Limited (2016–2017)
Sony Music Entertainment UK (2017–2020)
Independent (2020–present)
Retail billionaire Sir Philip Green, a close friend of Cowell, served as an advisor to the company until 2018. Through its divisions: Music, Film and TV, Syco has produced the Got Talent and The X Factor franchises which encompassed local versions in numerous countries and have launched the careers of One Direction, Leona Lewis, Little Mix, Susan Boyle and Fifth Harmony amongst others. Syco have also been instrumental in the careers of artists not originating from its franchises, including Il Divo and Westlife. It has also produced films such as One Direction: This Is Us (2013) and The X Factor parody musical, I Can't Sing! (2014). In July 2020, Cowell bought Sony Music's stake in Syco Entertainment, with exception for Syco Music. The record label and its artists and back catalogue were retained by Sony Music and subsequently absorbed. TV rights and assets were transferred to the newly created Syco Entertainment Ltd, which is owned 100% by Cowell.
Formation and history[edit]
Cowell founded S Records whilst employed by BMG back in 2004. The label oversaw music by Robson & Jerome, Five, Westlife and Teletubbies.[2][3][4] A year later, BMG, now named Sony BMG, bought Cowell's share in both Syco Music and Syco Television.[5] In 2010, a new company was formed as a 50/50 partnership between Cowell and Sony Music, keeping the name Syco but titled as Syco Entertainment.[6][7] In 2015, it was announced that the Syco Entertainment joint venture would be extended for a further 6 years.[8] Retail Billionaire Sir Philip Green, a close friend of Cowell, served as an advisor to the company until 2018.[9][10]
It was initially divided into three units: Syco Music, SYCOtv and Syco Film.[11] A few years later in July 2020, it was announced that Cowell had agreed to buy out Sony Music's stake in the company, with Sony Music retaining the company's artist roster and catalogue.[12]