Type Private Predecessor S Records Founded 2002 | Industry Entertainment Founder Simon Cowell | |
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Key people Simon Cowell, Nigel Hall (Global Head of TV), Tyler Brown (MD, Syco Music) Products Television, music, film, digital, entertainment Owners Sony Music (50%)
Simon Cowell (50%) Headquarters Los Angeles, California, United States Subsidiaries Syco Music, Syco Film, Syco TV Parent organizations Sony Music, Sony Corporation, American Electric Power, Sony Music Entertainment UK Albums 7/27, Glory Days, Get Weird, DNA, A Wonderfu Artists Little Mix, Camila Cabello, Leona Lewis, Lauren Jauregui, Olly Murs Profiles | ||
Syco Entertainment, often known simply as Syco, is a British entertainment company established by British entertainment mogul Simon Cowell. The company operates a record label, talent agency, film, music, and television production company, as well as a music publishing house. It operates a global joint venture between Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment focused on the production and marketing of music, television, film and digital content. It employs a staff of more than 50 in offices in London and Los Angeles, and manages a string of high-profile television and music brands through partnerships with the label Sony Music and the television production company, FremantleMedia.
Contents
- Digital innovation contest cross sector exploration syco entertainment challenge
- Syco TV
- The X Factor
- Got Talent
- Other projects
- Television
- Stage
- Filmography
- References
Syco was initially owned by Simon Cowell, then sold to Sony. But in 2010, a new company was formed as a 50/50 partnership between Cowell and Sony, keeping the pre-existing name Syco but titled as Syco Entertainment. In 2015, it was announced that the Syco Entertainment joint venture would be extended for a further 6 years. Retail billionaire Sir Philip Green, a close friend of Cowell, serves as an advisor to the company. Karren Brady, television personality and vice-chairman of West Ham United F.C., also serves as an advisor to the company.
Syco has three main divisions - Syco Music, Syco TV and Syco Film. Syco Music releases recordings from its roster of artists, mostly from Cowell's television shows, such as One Direction, Little Mix, Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Emblem3, and Fifth Harmony, and others such as Il Divo. Syco TV is responsible for The X Factor and the Got Talent television franchise, which have been produced in 41 and 52 countries respectively, as well as other television projects. Syco Film is involved in the production of films such as One Direction: This Is Us. Syco is also involved in the production of the musical I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical.
Digital innovation contest cross sector exploration syco entertainment challenge
Syco TV
Syco TV primarily operates in the UK and the US. Its key franchises are The X Factor and Got Talent. It was launched by Simon Cowell in 2003.
The X Factor
The X Factor, which launched in September 2004, is one of the most popular television shows in the UK. Syco and Fremantle Media launched The X Factor USA in September 2011, which averaged 12 million viewers and a 4.0 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic in its first season, leading FOX to nightly wins on Wednesdays and Thursdays and topping all other fall season reality competition.
Internationally, The X Factor is produced individually in 41 countries including major markets like France, the Netherlands, Indonesia and Australia. Additionally, The X Factor USA is screened in 166 countries around the world.
Got Talent
America's Got Talent matched a series high 4.6 rating among adults 18-49 in the summer of 2011 for its sixth season. Since launching in 2006, America's Got Talent 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.
Britain's Got Talent consistently tops UK ratings when it is broadcast in April, May and June. In 2009, nearly 20 million people (approximately one third of the UK population) tuned into the series 3 final to see Diversity crowned winners.
Other projects
Syco produces other shows outside its key brands. In 2011, ITV series Red or Black? was met with mixed reaction. Syco were also behind American Inventor which ran for two seasons on ABC and the unsuccessful Celebrity Duets on Fox. In addition to its major formats, Syco also produce 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 ITV in the UK. In 2013, Syco and Optomen launched ITV series Food Glorious Food, which aired on Wednesday evenings in the UK.
Syco Entertainment were the executive producers of the film One Direction: This Is Us from director Morgan Spurlock, which follows the life of pop sensations One Direction. The band had come third in the 2010 UK X Factor series, before being signed to Syco.
In March 2013, Syco in partnership with YouTube, launched The You Generation channel which is listed as the 'world's first global audition'. In May 2014, Syco and Univision announced an upcoming TV called La Banda which will focus on searching contestants from Hispanic America to find the "ultimate Latino boy band" with the winner receiving a recording contract for Sony Music Latin and Syco.