HE has been a leader in the music industry for 40 years – but Simon Cowell is astonishingly walking away from his record label in an eight-figure deal.
Simon confirmed he will no longer be involved with Syco Music, having lost acts including Little Mix and One Direction, in recent years.
The final straw came last week as Louis Tomlinson, previously a close pal of Simon, left the label.
Simon sold Syco Music to Sony Music in 2005 but remained involved — and now cuts all ties.
He will focus instead on his TV company, Syco Entertainment, which owns The X Factor and the Got Talent shows.
In a major new deal, he has bought back Sony Music’s stake in the company.
A music insider said: “This deal is huge. Simon has had to pay a massive amount to regain control of Syco Entertainment.
“That has meant he is no longer involved in Syco Music but it’s not in great shape right now.
“Leaving it now makes sense for him because he can instead focus on his Got Talent shows, as those are his money-makers now.”
His label has been home to X Factor stars Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Cher Lloyd and Ella Henderson as well as Britain’s Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle.
But it has struggled to cultivate big acts as The X Factor’s stock has waned.
Louis Tomlinson’s One Direction bandmates Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik decided against re-signing with Syco Music as solo artists due to friction with Simon when they launched their own careers.
In 2018, Little Mix quit the label just days before the release of fifth album LM5, due to issues with Simon’s team at Syco.
They switched to fellow Sony label RCA, along with 2017 X Factor winners RAK-SU.
Jack sarong is so white
AFTER a tough few months Jacqueline Jossa has her smile back – and not just because she’s more than 1,200 miles from estranged husband Dan Osborne.
The I’m a Celeb winner has been flown to Ibiza with fellow reality stars Charlotte Crosby and Billie Faiers for a photoshoot with fashion brand InTheStyle.
Ex-EastEnders actress Jacqueline looked fresh-faced as she posed on the steps of their villa in an orange bikini and white cover-up.
In fact, she likely felt a bit peaky after a few days’ partying on the White Isle.
After enjoying shots and cocktails with her pals, she told fans on Instagram: “My head hurts.”
It’s time she had some fun after months of claims about Celeb Big Brother and ex-Towie star Dan’s cheating, which he still denies.
Sun, sea and a reminder of the joys of single life is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Noel snubs Adele’s hello
MOST people would jump at the chance to meet Adele – but not Noel Gallagher.
He had choice words when she sent over one of her team to try to introduce them.
The ex-Oasis frontman, said: “I was out one night and someone tapped me on the shoulder and went, ‘Oh, Adele’s here, would you like to meet her?’ I was like, ‘Get to f***’. What? Don’t send somebody over.”
The same happened with the late Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher while he was at Chiltern Firehouse in London.
His mate Matt Morgan also told the Funny How? podcast: “Some bloke came over and said, ‘Carrie Fisher would like to meet you Mr Gallagher’. You went, ‘Nah, you’re all right’.”
No Barlowbi wan role
GARY Barlow narrowly missed out on playing a singing barman in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Recalling his invite to be part of the 2017 film, the Take That singer said: “We get a call from Star Wars saying, ‘We’ve got a part for Gary in the next movie. There’s a bar and we would need a singer, and he would be in the film’, and I couldn’t speak.”
The part was cut and he played a Resistance fighter instead.
On Ayda Williams’ Postcards from the Edge podcast, he explained: “About a week before shooting, they came back saying, ‘We’re really sorry but the storyline has changed and it’s now going to be an alien’.”
It’s Ellie scolding in pop at her exes
FIVE years have passed since her last album so Ellie Goulding has plenty to sing about on the new record – especially her ex-boyfriends.
She is now happily married to art dealer Caspar Jopling but has recorded two pointed tracks on Brightest Blue that take aim at her former relationships.
Before getting together with Caspar in 2017, she had a three-year, on/off relationship with McFLY’s Dougie Poynter.
Ellie has previously been linked to DJ Skrillex, actor Jeremy Irvine and Radio 1 host Greg James.
Addressing an ex on her new track How Deep Is Too Deep, Ellie sings: “I could do better baby, let’s be honest.”
And in the same song, she criticises a man for using her until somebody else came along.
Her brilliant album, which comes out tomorrow, features a song called Bleach, which also appears to be about an ex.
Ellie sings of how she “tried to fix your heart”, before adding: “I was always honest but you just love to lie.”
Thankfully for Caspar, she shows she doesn’t feel that way about him.
On album highlight Love I’m Given, she belts out: “I found a different meaning since you came in my life.”
This will be his new favourite album.
instaglam
JESY Nelson is the business in a blazer for a return to Little Mix duties
Maya’s on wine form
MAYA Jama proved she was a glass act as she enjoyed a wine with her telly co-stars.
She toasted the end of filming for BBC1’s Save Our Summer with ex-footballer Peter Crouch and members of the cast and crew in London.
Maya, who proved a huge hit after joining the Saturday night primetime show, looked chic in a white, utility-style jumpsuit which she wore with rose-pink heels.
She quit working as a DJ on Radio 1 in May and said she was looking forward to trying out new projects.
After seeing how successful she was in front of the cameras on this series, I am sure it will only be a matter of time before she lands another big TV gig.
