Simon Cowell started out in the postroom at EMI Music Publishing, but after launching his own label at the age of 23, he joined BMG in 1989 and began a professional relationship so far spanning more than 20 years.
During his time at BMG, Simon has sold over 150 million records and has had over 70 No. 1 records in America and the UK. His artists include Westlife – whose first seven singles all went to UK No. 1, opera quartet Il Divo, whose first two albums have collectively sold 20 million copies worldwide and Leona Lewis whose album ‘Spirit’ became biggest selling debut album of all time in 2007. His music label SyCo Music has also sold over 50 million American Idol themed albums including those of Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Carrie Underwood.
Simon Cowell’s trademark candor and eye for talent on “American Idol” has made him a household name both in the United States and in the UK on “The X Factor” and “Britain’s Got Talent”.
Cowell was recently ranked 3rd on the Forbes “TV Faces” list and 21st on the 2007 Forbes “Celebrity 100 Power List.” In 2006, Cowell was named “UK Personality of the Year” by Variety, and in 2004 was named one of the Top Entertainers of the Year by Entertainment Weekly.