Syco Music

Syco Music, is the successor to S Records, the record label founded by British entrepreneur and record executive Simon Cowell. Launched while Cowell was still employed by BMG, the label oversaw music releases by Robson & Jerome, Five, Westlife and Teletubbies. A year later, BMG, now named Sony BMG, bought Cowell's share in both Syco Music and Syco Television. Later in 2010, Cowell and Sony Music entered a joint venture agreement that would see Cowell and Sony each own 50% of the new Syco Entertainment company which encompassed both the previous Syco TV and Syco Music divisions. In 2020, Sony sold the rights to the television formats and assets back to Cowell, effectively divesting all of Syco's non-music divisions. As part of the venture, Syco Music, its current roster and back catalogue remain with Sony Music as a wholly owned subsidiary.

Syco Music
Parent companySony Music Entertainment
Founded2002
FounderSimon Cowell
Distributor(s)Sony Music Entertainment
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Official websitesycoentertainment.com

History

Syco Music has offices in London and Los Angeles and is home to several artists. As S Records, the company oversaw music releases by Robson & Jerome, Five, Westlife and Teletubbies.[1][2][3]

Later following television franchises, Syco had the exclusive right to sign winners and finalists of The X Factor and Got Talent. Susan Boyle's debut album, I Dreamed a Dream, has sold over 9 million copies, making it one of the best selling releases of the last decade and Syco's most successful release to date.[4] Between 2004 and 2009, Il Divo achieved four multi-million selling albums and in 2007, Leona Lewis became one of the most successful talent show winners when her second single, "Bleeding Love", propelled the album Spirit to 9 million global sales.[5]

In 2010, Syco began diversifying by adding producer/singer-songwriter Labrinth.[6] Savan Kotecha, who had been writing for Syco acts for several years, also became an A&R Director and set up a joint venture, Kanani Songs.[7] Syco also began forming closer partnerships with other Sony Music Entertainment UK labels. For the first time, Syco entered into an agreement with Columbia Records that would see them work together to launch the career of a The X Factor winner - Matt Cardle.[8] That same year, Sony Music bought Cowell's share of Syco, for around £27 million. [9][10]

On 15 July 2020, it was announced that Cowell would buy Sony's stake in Syco Entertainment; Sony Music will retain Syco Music's artists and back catalogue. This has meant that Simon Cowell now has no control over Syco Music.[11][12]

Artists

Some of the artists signed by Cowell, such as band Westlife, released their music through S Records, another company formed by Cowell whose share he then sold to BMG in 2003.[13] Syco Music started releasing music as a label in 2004.[14]

Current artists

Former artists

Syco Music and its artists have been the targets of illegal hacking on several separate occasions. In 2009 ahead of the release of Leona Lewis's second album Echo, a number of unfinished demos and leftover songs from the project leaked online. An investigation was launched by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), working with the record label and police to identify those responsible.[28][29] Alexandra Burke was also targeted, having two demo versions of songs from her debut album Overcome leak before the album's release.[30] At the end of March 2010 it was reported that Syco had suffered once again from computer hackers who managed to obtain 14 of Burke's previously unheard studio recordings as well as 26 from Lewis.[31]

Following the second incident of leaks, Cowell contacted the FBI to track down those responsible. Included in the leaks was a newly recorded version of Burke's "All Night Long" featuring American rapper Pitbull, which was tipped to be the singer's third single in March 2010.[32] According to Burke, the songs were leaked by "Two little boys in Germany on work experience", working for Syco.[33] It was later revealed in 2011 that songs recorded for Echo were targeted by the German hacker, Deniz A., also known as DJ Stolen. In July 2010, the Rasch law firm logged a criminal complaint against DJ Stolen for "constantly placing hacked songs on the internet". Amongst those songs listed in the complaint was one called "Pulse", described at the time as a new recording by Lewis.[34] DJ Stolen was jailed for 18 months in June 2011.[35]

In 2011, Syco found itself being taken to court for plagiarism after it was reported that a new Lewis song "Collide" significantly copied "Fade Into Darkness", a 2010 song by Swedish house music DJ Avicii. The DJ took both artist and label to the British High Court [36] just prior to its release. However, the case was resolved out of court by releasing the song as a joint single between both artists on 4 September 2011.[37][38] In February 2013, it was announced that One Direction would be releasing a cover version of "One Way or Another" and "Teenage Kicks" as the 2013 Comic Relief single. However, an unfinished version of the song leaked online and on 7 February 2013 Syco launched an investigation. A spokesperson told the press "It is very disappointing that the song has been leaked and we are currently investigating the matter".[39]

Number-one singles
ArtistSingleYearCountries
WestlifeUnbreakable2002UK, IRE, SCO
WestlifeTonight/Miss You Nights2002IRE
WestlifeMandy2003UK, IRE, SCO
Steve BrooksteinAgainst All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)2004UK, IRE
WestlifeYou Raise Me Up2005UK, IRE, SCO
Shayne WardThat's My Goal2005UK, IRE
WestlifeThe Rose2006UK, IRE, SCO
Shayne WardNo Promises2006IRE
Leona LewisA Moment Like ThisUK, IRE
Leona LewisBleeding Love2007UK, AUS, AUT, CAN, GER, IRE, NZ, SWI, US
Shayne WardIf That's OK with YouIRE
Leon JacksonWhen You BelieveUK, IRE, SCO
Leona LewisRun2008UK, AUT, IRE
Leon JacksonDon't Call This LoveSCO
Alexandra BurkeHallelujahUK, IRE, SCO
Alexandra BurkeBad Boys2009UK, IRE, SCO
The X Factor Finalists 2009You Are Not AloneUK, IRE, SCO
Joe McElderryThe ClimbUK, IRE, SCO
Helping HaitiEverybody Hurts2010UK, IRE
Olly MursPlease Don't Let Me GoUK
Alexandra BurkeAll Night LongIRE
The X Factor Finalists 2010HeroesUK, IRE, SCO
Alexandra BurkeStart Without YouUK, SCO
Matt CardleWhen We CollideUK, IRE, SCO
Cher LloydSwagger Jagger2011UK, SCO
Jackie Evancho featuring Barbra StreisandSomewhereUS Class
Olly Murs featuring Rizzle KicksHeart Skips a BeatUK, GER, POL, SWI
One DirectionWhat Makes You BeautifulUK, IRE, MEX, SCO
Olly MursDance with Me TonightUK, SCO
The X Factor Finalists 2011 featuring JLS and One DirectionWishing on a StarUK, IRE, SCO
Little MixCannonballUK, IRE, SCO
Chris ReneYoung Homie2012NZ
Little MixWingsUK, IRE, SCO
One DirectionLive While We're YoungIRE, NZ
Olly Murs featuring Flo RidaTroublemakerUK, HUN, SCO
One DirectionLittle ThingsUK, SCO
Labrinth featuring Emeli SandéBeneath Your BeautifulUK, IRE, SCO
James ArthurImpossibleUK, IRE, POL, SCO, SPA, GRE, LUX, SLO
One DirectionOne Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)2013UK, DEN, IRE, POL, NL, SCO
Olly MursDear Darlin'AUT
One DirectionStory of My LifeDEN, FIN, IRE, NZ
Sam BaileySkyscraperUK, IRE, SCO
Ella HendersonGhost2014UK, IRE, SCO
Ben HaenowSomething I NeedUK, SCO
Fifth Harmony featuring Kid InkWorth It2015ISR, LBN, MEX
Little MixBlack MagicUK, SCO, EUR
One DirectionDrag Me DownUK, SCO, HUN, IRE, NZ, AUT
One DirectionPerfectIRE, SCO, SLOV
Fleur EastSax2016CRO, HUN
Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dolla $ignWork from HomeNZ, NL, CRO
James ArthurSay You Won't Let GoUK, SCO, IRE, AUS, EUR, SWE, NZ,NL,PHI
Little MixShout Out to My ExUK, SCO, IRE, EUR, PHI
Artists for GrenfellBridge over Troubled Water2017UK, SCO
Camila Cabello featuring Young ThugHavanaAUS, SCO, UK, IRL, CAN, ISR, SLO, LTV, CZ R, EUR (digital), HUN, US, ECU, FRA, GRE, MEX, PAR, PHI, POL,
Camila CabelloNever Be the Same2018BEL, CRO
Little Mix feat. Nicki MinajWoman Like Me2018ISR
Dalton Harris feat. James ArthurThe Power of Love2018SCO
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References
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  3. Shaina C. Indovino (2014). Simon Cowell: From the Mailroom to Idol Fame. Mason Crest. ISBN 9781422293577.
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  14. "Syco Music". Discogs. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
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  28. "Piracy officers probe Leona leak". BBC News Online. 19 August 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
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  31. Catriona, Whiteman (27 March 2010). "40 more lewis and burke tracks leak online". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
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