Syco Entertainment
Syco was founded in 2002 as a trading name for Simco Ltd. Currently under the banner of Syco Entertainment are, Syco Music, Syco Television and Syco Film.
Syco Information
Syco, with offices in London and Los Angeles, is a global music, television and film production joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. Syco Television produces the BAFTA Award-winning “The X Factor,” which has topped the charts in Europe and in the U.K, where Cowell serves as both executive producer and judge. Syco Television is also the owner of the “Got Talent” television format. Versions of both “The X Factor” and “Got Talent” are co-produced by Syco and are shown in more than 70 countries and have won multiple awards including National television Awards and Bafta’s. The X Factor launched in America on Fox in the Fall of 2011 with Simon as a judge. Both The X Factor and ’Got talent’ are formats created by Simon Cowell.
Syco is also the record label home for such diverse international recording stars as Leona Lewis and Il Divo. Simon has worked with artists selling more than 200 million albums and delivering more than 180 No. 1 records. He also executive-produces “America’s Got Talent” and judges and produces “Britain’s Got Talent,” which in 2009 launched the global singing career of Susan Boyle. Her debut Syco album sold over 8 million units in six weeks, making it the world’s biggest-selling album of 2009 and the fastest-selling album in history and a total of 20 million records to date. In 2009, Simon was named No. 1 in Hollywood Reporter’s Top 50 Most Powerful in Reality TV and Entertainment Weekly’s Top Entertainer of the Year. In 2010 Simon Cowell was awarded Variety International’s Humanitarian Award for his extensive charitable work, The Rose d’Or Golden Jubilee Award and BAFTA's Special Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry and development of new talent. He also appeared on Time Magazine’s list of Most Influential People in the World and was awarded the International Emmy Founders Award.
One Direction
After reaching third place in the 2010 series of The X Factor in the UK the band have gone onto enormous success with a sellout tour and scooping a Brit award for their first single "What Makes You Beautiful".
IL Divo
IL Divo were created by Simon Cowell in 2004 and were the first artists signed to Syco that did not result from a TV show. They have seen huge international sales and to date, they have sold more than 26 million albums worldwide.
Syco Latest
Having seen huge global success since its launch, 2010 saw Syco make significant changes to its operations.
For the first time, Syco entered into an agreement with Columbia Records that would see them work together to launch the career of an X Factor winner, Matt Cardle. Similar arrangements were made for Olly Murs, Rebecca Ferguson and Ronan Parke with Epic Records and for Alexandra Burke with RCA Records.
Sony Music Entertainment announced a new long term global venture focusing on the production of music, television, film and digital content. Syco Television is also the owner of the “Got Talent” television format. Versions of both “The X Factor” and “Got Talent” are co-produced by Syco, and are shown in more than 70 countries and have won multiple awards including national television awards and BAFTAs. In September 2011, the US version of The X Factor was launched in America.
In December 2010 the CEO of Syco Entertainment Ellis Watson resigned from the post. New appointments were released on 4th March 2011. Charles Garland has been named COO for Syco Entertainment, he will oversee the day to day running of the company. Simon Jones is the COO for Syco Television USA and will look after the TV operations in the US. George Levendis is now Head of International for Syco Television and is responsible for the international development, including global TV. Syco Music is run by Sonny Takhar, a former Head of Marketing for RCA Records who has served as Managing Director of both S Records and Syco Music since their formation. Tim Byrne is Creative Director. David Gray is Senior Vice President, A&R and Mark Hardy is Marketing Director. Simon Jones is SYCO Music’s PR Consultant. Ex Daily Mail Showbiz correspondent, Ben Todd was recently appointed SYCO UK's Head of Media.
Syco Entertainment signed a new three year deal with ITV in 2010 which will keep the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent on our screens until 2013. ITV2 will continue to broadcast the Xtra Factor and Britain’s got more talent. ITV2 also broadcast the X Factor USA.
In addition FOX has already commissioned The X Factor for a second season which will see Syco's position in the US media marketplace strengthen.
Susan Boyle
Susan's audition for Britain's Got Talent in 2009 has become one of the most watched pieces of television ever. Despite not winning the show, Susan has gone on to become one of the most successful UK artists of the decade.
Leona Lewis
Winner of the 2006 series of The X Factor, Leona has seen phenomenal worldwide success with two smash hit albums. Her cover of "Run" in 2008 was the fastest selling UK download. She has a joint US deal with RCA.
Labrinth
Labrinth became the first non-talent show signing for Syco in six years. Intially recruited as a producer, he was given a solo recording deal and his first album "Electronic Earth" is due for release in March 2012. The two singles already released have been major hits.
Syco artists have been phenomenally successfull, selling more than 200 million albums and delivering more than 180 No. 1 records worldwide.
One of Syco's most sucessful acts, the Irish boyband Westlife were anounced the second biggest-selling artist and biggest-selling band of the decade. The band have had 14 UK number ones and 25 top ten singles, consisting of 20.2 million records and videos in the UK across their 14-year career - 6.8 million singles, 11.9 million albums and 1.5 million videos. They left Syco in March 2011 to join RCA, Gravity being the last Syco produced album. The boys have since decided to split and are currently undertaking a farewell tour.
Artists currently signed are Il Divo, Susan Boyle, Labrinth, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Cher Lloyd, One Direction, Jackie Evancho, Jonathan & Charlotte, The Loveable Rogues, Melanie Amaro, Olly Murs, Rebecca Ferguson and Little Mix.
Although generally focusing on contestants from its TV talent shows, in recent years, Syco have branched out, signing more diverse acts like singer / songwriter / producer Labrinth. In addition, they have now joined forces with other labels to maximise the potential of their artists. Current collaborations are with Epic, RCA and Columbia.
Syco now have a wide ranging mix of artists on their books - with teen favourites such as boyband One Direction and Olly Murs catering for the younger market and Susan Boyle and Il Divo securing the older demographic, Syco Music is currently one of the most powerful global record labels.
Utilising the TV branch of the company, Syco has been able to sign many acts from the hit shows it produces. Many of their succesful artists are former talent show contestants and have gone onto huge success. One Direction recently won a Brit Award for their debut single "What Makes You Beautiful" and Cher Lloyd has collaborated with X Factor USA contestant Astro on her latest single. Susan Boyle remains one of the worlds biggest selling artists with three smash hit albums to her name.
Current X Factor UK winners Little Mix and X Factor USA winner Melanie Amaro (in a joint deal with Epic) both have albums in production for release this year.
Syco's latest signings are from the 2012 series of Britain's Got Talent and include opera singing teens Jonathan & Charlotte and cheeky Essex trio, the Loveable Rogues.
Jackie Evancho
As the runner up on America's Got Talent in 2010, Jackie has become a best selling international artist. In June 2011, her first full-length major label album, "Dream With Me", debuted at #2 on American album charts. she is the youngest top-5 debut artist in UK history
Cher Lloyd
Cher stormed onto our screens on the 2010 series of the X Factor. Her first single 'Swagger Jagger' went straight to number one in the UK singles chart.
The Loveable Rogues
Syco's latest signing are the talented Essex trio who won over audiences on the 2012 series of Britain's Got Talent. The boys are working on their first single and album.
Olly Murs
Olly was the 2009 series runner up of The X Factor and was signed to Syco in a joint deal with Epic in 2010. His first single "Please Dont Let Me Go" debuted at #1 and subsequently had 3 more #1 hits from his first album "Olly Murs" which has gone double platinum.
In 2011 Syco Television produced around 200 hours of primetime television for FOX, NBC, ITV1 and ITV2 networks. Its key franchises are The X Factor and Got Talent.
The X Factor, which has been the UK’s top entertainment show for several years consecutively, reached a peak audience of just under 20 million for the final in 2009, with a 60% audience share. It gained similar audience figures for 2010, with the final just breaking the record of the previous year.
The X Factor USA was launched in September 2011 and for the first time in its history, gained the FOX Network its very first Fall Premiere win in the ratings battle. The series maintained good ratings, particulary in the 18-49 demographic and has been taken up for a second season by FOX.
Britain’s Got Talent had a peak audience for the final in 2009 of 19.9 million viewers. The ‘Got Talent’ format currently airs in 27 countries and is the UK’s most successful TV format export. 2012 saw Simon Cowell return as a full time judge and the show reached massive audiences. The Finale was the most watched "non soap" program of the year to date.
Syco TV also produce the hit franchise America's Got Talent which has consistently been the most watched show of the summer in the U.S. and topped the ratings in the key adults 18-49 demographic.
Red or Black was a brand new game show based on a Roulette wheel which aired on ITV in August 2011. It gave contestants a chance to win one million pounds on each of the seven days it aired and saw four one million pound winners. Although not hugely well recieved by critics, ITV commissioned a revamped second series. ITV will also be aired a brand new Syco produced cookery show "Food, Glorious Food" which aims to find the best British home cooked dishes. The show is airing from February 2013.
Syco also produce music and entertainment specials. This includes I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story, which broke ratings records in the U.S. on TV Guide network and scored 10 million viewers on ITV1 in the UK. Syco also produced Take That: For the Record when Take That reformed.
The company produced a special episode of Piers Morgan's Life Stories in 2010, which focused on The X Factor judge Cheryl Cole and drew the series' best ratings to date with nearly 8 million viewers. The spin off shows The Xtra Factor and Britain's Got More Talent are also Syco produced and perform well on ITV2 with consistantly high ratings for the channel.
Jonathan & Charlotte
Runners up on the 2012 series of BGT, the opera singing teens proved a massive hit with audiences. They are working on an album with a planned Sept release.
Melanie Amaro
The very first winner of the US version of The X Factor, Melanie secured a $5m recording contract with Syco & Epic. She perfomed in an ad for Pepsi which aired to an audience of 40 million during The 2012 Superbowl.
Rebecca Ferguson
Runner-up of the 7th series of The X Factor in 2010 she released her debut single "Nothing's Real But Love" on 20 Nov 2011 and entered the official UK Singles Chart at #10 in November 2011. Her debut album, "Heaven", was released on 5 Dec 2011
Alexandra Burke
Alexandra won The X Factor in 2008 and has gone on to huge success. Her first single "Hallelujah" sold over 1m copies - a first for a UK female soloist. She is now currently signed to four labels: Syco, RCA, Epic and Subliminal.
Little Mix
Making history as the first group EVER to win The X Factor the girls released "Cannonball" as their winners single in Dec 2011. They are currently working on an album for release later this year.
We will be bringing you BRAND NEW pages featuring Syco's latest musical signings - Fifth Harmony, Emblem Three, Tate Stevens, James Arthur and Ella Henderson in the next few weeks!
Syco Entertainment has recently hired a new Vice President, Adam Milano who is expected to move the company into the feature film market.
Milano, who previously served as VP of production for Sony Pictures, has left the studio to join Syco as senior VP of film and senior producer of TV. His appointment in April 2012 is seen as the first real indication that the company intends to make the transition from music and television into movies. One of the very first ventures for Syco Film is a 3D movie featuring One Direction "This Is Us" due for release Fall 2013. In addition, a bio pic of Britain's Got Talent winner, Paul Potts is in production starring James Corden.
Submitting a demo to Syco Music...
Think you could be the next Leona, One Direction or Olly Murs? You can submit your demos to Syco Music by following the instructions below.
For sending demos to SYCO please email to Syco.AandR@sonymusic.com Syco listen to every demo sent via this address and will be in touch should anything be of interest.
Contact details should be included on every submission. If your submission is for a specific artist or project please detail in the subject of email. Send only mp3 & max 7MB.
Yousendit and similar transfers not accepted.
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