Simon Fuller | |
---|---|
Born | Simon Robert Fuller 17 May 1960 |
Occupation(s) | Talent manager, television producer, investor, creative consultant |
Years active | 1981–present |
Employer(s) | 19 Entertainment (1985–2010) XIX Entertainment (2010–) |
Website | xixentertainment |
Simon Robert Fuller (born 17 May 1960) is a British entrepreneur, artist manager, and film and television producer. [1] He is the creator of the Idols TV format, including the UK series Pop Idol and the American series American Idol .
Fuller came to prominence in the 1990s for managing the British girl group the Spice Girls, and he has since managed acts in various fields of entertainment, from sports stars David Beckham and Lewis Hamilton to other musicians such as Amy Winehouse and Annie Lennox. [2] [3]
Since 2020, Fuller has been working with tech firm TikTok to aid development of new TikTok creatives [4] and in the same year he announced a partnership with Verizon Communications to develop 5G content. [5] In 2021, Pearson PLC announced a partnership with Fuller to create a new global education business in Performing Arts. [6] In 2016, Fuller persuaded Swedish quartet ABBA to reunite to explore working in virtual reality, [7] which led to the ABBA Voyage project. [8]
Time has named Fuller one of the 100 most influential people in the world. [9] He has been certified as the most successful British music manager of all time by Billboard . [10] Fuller received the 2,441st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 23 May 2011. [11] In 2014 he was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Brighton in his home county East Sussex in recognition for his "contribution to business, entrepreneurship and philanthropy". The 2020 Sunday Times Rich List estimated Fuller's wealth at £445 million. [12]
Fuller was born on 17 May 1960 in British Cyprus, [13] though later the family moved to Accra, Ghana where his father was the headmaster of the British Military School, Burma Camp. The family moved back to Hastings, East Sussex, where Simon's father became headmaster of the school he attended. [14] He has two brothers, Kim and Mark.
Fuller began his career in 1981 at Chrysalis Music Limited in the UK, [15] where he signed Madonna's first hit 'Holiday' to the company. He started his own management company in 1985, 19 Entertainment, [16] eventually selling the business to CKX, Inc. in a cash and stock deal worth over $200 million in March 2005. [17] In 2008 the company delivered a profit of $92.5 million (£66m) into the parent company. [18] Fuller became a director of CKX, a position which gave him creative control over all of CKX's assets including the Elvis Presley Estate, Muhammad Ali's business interests, and other rights properties, until January 2010 when he started a new firm, XIX Entertainment, while continuing to work with CKX/19 as a consultant and executive producer. [19] XIX Entertainment was given a valuation of $100 million and is run from offices in London and Los Angeles. [20] [21]
In February 2008, Fuller was presented with the PGA Award by the Producers Guild of America in Hollywood. At the event he was praised for his creativity, entrepreneurship, and charity work by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and current King Charles III, who was still the Prince of Wales at the time, who also thanked Fuller for his support of the Prince's charity The Prince's Trust.
Fuller's first broadcast venture was Miami 7 , a scripted TV drama starring the British pop group S Club 7 screened by BBC/Fox Kids in 100+ territories around the world. [22] Miami 7 launched the careers of several stars including Rachel Stevens, Jon Lee, Holly Willoughby, and Ben Barnes, and the show created a blueprint for the teen-oriented television musicals that followed, including Glee and High School Musical . [23]
In 2001, Fuller created Pop Idol , a prime time TV show on British television that Maggie Brown in The Guardian states "became a seminal reality/entertainment format". [24] The show produced instant No 1 chart hits, including for Will Young, whose single "Evergreen" was named by NME magazine in 2012 as the "biggest selling single of the century" in the UK. [25] Fuller sold Pop Idol around the world, and he has been credited with creating the world's most valuable TV format with a value of over $8 billion made up of revenue from sponsors, merchandising, telephone, music sales, broadcast and advertising sources. In the US, American Idol became a No.1 rated show. The show made stars of its presenter Ryan Seacrest as well as Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul as well as many of its performers including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and others. [26] Over 30 million viewers saw David Cook win the seventh season of American Idol in May 2008 and when Fuller re-launched the show in 2011 for its 10th season ratings climbed 20% for the finale event. 122.4 million votes were cast, a record for a reality TV show. [27]
In 2005, Fuller, along with co-creator Nigel Lythgoe, launched So You Think You Can Dance on the Fox network in the US. The show grew over 16 seasons to become a regular summer hit. [28] In 2012, Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment created a new international format with Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and Jamie King named Q'Viva! The Chosen, and described as a celebration of Latin culture that screened in 21 territories reaching over 30 million Spanish-speaking TV viewers. [29]
In December 2016, Norwegian state broadcaster NRK announced that it had concluded a deal with Simon Fuller to produce the English language version of Skam ; Fuller later announced a deal with Facebook to launch award-winning drama format SKAM Austin in the US in 2018. [30] [31]
In 2017, international news media reported on auditions being staged by Fuller's business XIX for Now United, a real time access global pop group being cast in 14 cities around the world. [32] [33] In 2019, the London Evening Standard confirmed that BBC One would broadcast Serengeti, a wildlife drama created by Fuller. [34] In July 2020, US media reported that "Serengeti", voiced by Lupita Nyong'o, created by Simon Fuller, was nominated for a Primetime EMMY Award [35]
In February 2023, Fuller created a fictional anthropomorphic animal band/dance troupe, The Meeps, whose debut single is "Love Louder". [36]
Fuller came to prominence in the 1990s for managing the pop group the Spice Girls. [37] He has managed acts including Victoria Beckham, Annie Lennox, S Club 7, Now United, Steven Tyler, Amy Winehouse, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Will Young, Emma Bunton, Any Gabrielly, The Future X, Lisa Marie Presley and many more in addition to sports icons Lewis Hamilton and Andy Murray. [38]
In 2008, Fuller was certified as the most successful British music manager of all time by Billboard magazine. [10] He has managed the career of Annie Lennox since the release of her multi-platinum album Diva in 1991. [39] He has managed hit songwriters and producers, including Cathy Dennis, who first met Fuller as the singer of D Mob in the 1980s. Under Fuller's guidance, Dennis became the UK's No. 1 female songwriter with a string of hits for artists including Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Pink, Will Young, and others. [40]
Fuller managed the Spice Girls through the peak of their 1990s success and he remains in partnership with the five girls today. [41] [42] Under Fuller's guidance, the Spice Girls became a marketing phenomenon, rose to chart topper status worldwide and went on to sell over 85 million records. [43] [44] In 2002, Fuller's company discovered 19-year-old Amy Winehouse, produced her first award-winning album Frank and signed her to Universal Music. [39]
In 2005, 2006, and 2007, the biggest selling music acts in North America (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Daughtry) were all managed by Fuller. [45] In October 2016, Fuller announced a joint venture with the 4 original members of the Swedish supergroup ABBA to create a new digital ABBA. [46] In August 2020, BBC News announced that Fuller had signed an exclusive agreement with tech firm TikTok to create a new TikTok supergroup. [47]
Fuller owns significant stakes in several British fashion businesses including Victoria Beckham Ltd. In 2006, Fuller brokered the deal for 19 Entertainment to purchase a majority share in Storm Model Management. In 2008, after assembling a highly qualified creative team Fuller launched the Victoria Beckham dress collection at New York Fashion Week. Since then, Victoria Beckham Limited has grown to become a best-selling high-end fashion brand, stocked in over 400 outlets around the world and winning Brand of The Year at the 2012 and 2014 British Fashion Awards. In 2012, Fuller accompanied Victoria Beckham to launch the business in China. [48]
In February 2012, XIX Entertainment launched a David Beckham bodywear range in 2,500 H&M stores around the world. [49] This was followed in 2015 when Fuller announced a joint venture with Hong Kong-based Global Brands Group Holding Ltd (787) giving Fuller and Beckham ownership of their own apparel business specifically to develop the David Beckham brand and other consumer products. [50] The first result of this partnership was the Fall 2016 re-launch of the British heritage menswear label Kent & Curwen, which under Beckham, Fuller and 7 Global ownership currently runs 113 stores in 51 cities worldwide. [51] In 2019, US media reported that Fuller sold 33% share of David Beckham business for $50 million after generating revenue of $72.4 million and a profit of $16 million for fiscal 2017. [52]
In 2003, Fuller formed a joint venture partnership with British footballer David Beckham and went onto build a diverse range of business interests in sport, leisure, fashion and entertainment over a period of 16 years that became known as Brand Beckham. [53] [54] In 2006 Fuller took on representation of the England soccer team at Beckham's suggestion [55] and the following year Fuller negotiated his five year contract for Beckham to join LA Galaxy. [56] In 2013, Fuller and Beckham discussed plans to buy an MLS football team in Miami [57] with Beckham thanking Fuller in an interview with CNN: “When I signed my contract my manager Simon Fuller actually got a clause in the contract that enabled me to have a franchise at the end of my playing career”. [58]
Later in the same year Fuller and Beckham launched a new global whisky in partnership with British drinks company Diageo. [59] Fuller's plan to deliver Beckham's ownership of an MLS team was announced in January 2018 when Miami was confirmed as 25th MLS team. [60] [61] The Financial Times reported that Fuller sold his interests in David Beckham's business in 2019 for a reported £50m. [62]
In 2009, Fuller took on personal representation of British No.1 tennis player Andy Murray, [63] representing him during his US Open and Wimbledon wins and later helping the player to establish his own business. In March 2011, Fuller was announced as the manager of British F1 driver Lewis Hamilton [64] and surprised many when he moved Hamilton from McLaren and signed him to a long-term contract with the MercedesAMG team. Hamilton won the 2014 F1 World Championship and publicly thanked Fuller for his support. [65]
Fuller married his long-term partner Natalie Swanston in May 2008, and they have three children. [66]
He has a portfolio of property including properties in Europe, North America, and South America. In 2014, Fuller was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Brighton in recognition for his "contribution to business, entrepreneurship and philanthropy". [67]
The Spice Girls are an English girl group formed in 1994, consisting of Mel B ; Melanie C ; Emma Bunton ; Geri Halliwell-Horner ; and Victoria Beckham. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling girl group of all time. With their "girl power" mantra, the Spice Girls redefined the girl-group concept by targeting a young female fanbase. They led the teen pop resurgence of the 1990s, were a major part of the Cool Britannia era, and became popular culture icons of the decade.
Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English fashion designer, singer, and television personality. She rose to prominence in the 1990s as a member of the pop group the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Posh Spice. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the group became the best-selling female group of all time. After the Spice Girls disbanded in 2001, Beckham signed with Virgin Records, to release her self-titled debut solo album, which produced two UK Top 10 singles. Beckham has also become an internationally recognised style icon and fashion designer.
Emma Lee Bunton is an English singer, songwriter, media personality, and actress. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the pop group the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Baby Spice, reflecting the fact that she was the youngest member. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the Spice Girls are the best-selling female group of all time. The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2000, before reuniting for a greatest hits album (2007) and two concert tours: the Return of the Spice Girls (2007–2008) and Spice World (2019).
Geraldine Estelle Halliwell-Horner is an English singer, songwriter, television personality, author, and actress. She rose to fame in the mid 1990s as a member of the pop group the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Ginger Spice. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the Spice Girls are the best-selling female group of all time. Their slogan "girl power" was most closely associated with Halliwell and her Union Jack dress from the 1997 Brit Awards also became an enduring symbol. Halliwell left the Spice Girls in 1998, citing exhaustion and creative differences, but rejoined when they reunited for a greatest hits album (2007) and two concert tours: the Return of the Spice Girls (2007–2008) and Spice World (2019).
Melanie Janine Brown, commonly known as Mel B or Melanie B, is an English singer, songwriter, television personality, and actress. She rose to fame in the mid 1990s as a member of the pop group the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Scary Spice. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the Spice Girls are the best-selling female group of all time. The group went on an indefinite hiatus in 2000, before reuniting for a greatest hits album (2007) and two concert tours: the Return of the Spice Girls (2007–2008) and Spice World (2019).
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English television personality, entrepreneur, and record executive. He has judged on the British television talent competition shows Pop Idol (2001–2003), The X Factor UK, and Britain's Got Talent (2007–present), as well as the American television talent competition shows American Idol (2002–2010), The X Factor US (2011–2013), and America's Got Talent (2016–present). Cowell founded the British entertainment company Syco in 2005, as well as its now-defunct predecessor, Syco Music in 2002.
Nicki Chapman is an English television and radio presenter, talent show judge and public relations agent who previously worked in the British pop music industry.
Sony Pictures Television – Nonfiction is an American company founded on February 7, 2005, that owns and develops unscripted entertainment content and intellectual property. It is a division of Sony Pictures Television.
Simon Peter Ellis is an English songwriter, producer, musician and musical director who has worked with many artists including the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Westlife, S Club 7, East 17, and music mogul Simon Fuller. Ellis co-wrote and produced the chart topping S Club 7 hits "Two in a Million", "Never Had a Dream Come True" and "Don't Stop Movin'", the latter winning ITV record of the year award in 2001 and "Best British Single" at the Brit Award 2002.
"Let Your Head Go" is a song by British singer Victoria Beckham, recorded for her unreleased second studio album. It was written and produced by Klas Baggstrom, Liz Winstanley and Roger Olsson, with Mike Gray and Jon Pearn also serving as producers. The song was released on 29 December 2003 in the United Kingdom by Telstar Records, as a double A-side with "This Groove". In 2004, the former was included on the video album The 'Réal' Beckhams, after Beckham's record company went bankrupt before it surfaced. The song is Beckham's last single released to date. It is a dance-pop song which drew comparisons to Kylie Minogue's work.
"This Groove" is a song by British singer Victoria Beckham, recorded for her unreleased second studio album. It was written by Alisha Brooks, David Conley, David Frank, Everett "Jam" Benton and Mic Murphy, with Damon Dash, Conley and Frank serving as producers. Telstar Records released the song on 29 December 2003 in the United Kingdom as a double A-side with "Let Your Head Go". In 2004, it was included on the video album The 'Réal' Beckhams, after her record company went bankrupt before it surfaced. The song is Beckham's last single released to date. "This Groove" is an R&B and hip hop song which samples The System's "Don't Disturb This Groove"; lyrically it deals with phone sex.
The Return of the Spice Girls Tour was the third concert tour by English girl group the Spice Girls, running from December 2007 to February 2008. It was the group's first tour since Christmas in Spiceworld (1999), a small British holiday-season tour, and their first tour with all five members since the Spiceworld Tour (1998)—of which only four members were present for the North American leg, as Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell had left the group in May 1998.
Henry's House is a London-based creative public relations agency.
Julian Henry is a marketing executive based in London and Los Angeles. He has worked in PR and journalism since the 1980s. He founded the agency Henry's House in the 1990s and was appointed Head of Communication for Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment in 2006.
19 Entertainment Inc. is a producer of entertainment properties for television with a focus on music owned by Sony Pictures Television through its nonfiction division. Founded by Simon Fuller in London in 1985, the company co-produced Pop Idol in the United Kingdom with Thames Television in 2001. The Idol series has since become one of the most successful entertainment formats, sold to more than seventy countries around the world, including American Idol in the United States. 19 Entertainment is also responsible for the production of So You Think You Can Dance.
XIX Entertainment is an entertainment content and intellectual rights organisation based in North America and Europe. The company, which has been valued at $100 million was set up by Simon Fuller in 2010 to commercially develop world class individuals and entertainment properties. The company owns several high value partnerships in tech and media including an innovative 5G venture with Verizon, an international educational initiative with Pearson PLC, a new talent platform with TikTok parent company ByteDance as well as owning shareholdings in various other entertainment and fashion properties.
Viva Forever! is a jukebox musical based on the songs of 1990s British girl-group the Spice Girls. It was written by Jennifer Saunders, produced by Judy Craymer and directed by Paul Garrington.
19 Recordings Inc. is a New York–based record label owned by 19 Entertainment. Founded in London by British entrepreneur Simon Fuller in 1999 as the music division of 19 Entertainment, the label is one of the top record imprints as compiled by Billboard in 2012. 19 Recordings has the exclusive rights to sign contestants of the television series Idols. Since 2005, it shifted its main operations to the United States following CKX, Inc.'s acquisition of 19 Entertainment.
The Spice Girls are an English girl group that first came to international prominence in 1996 with the release of their debut single "Wannabe". The following year, they became involved in a prolific marketing phenomenon, leading to an unprecedented number of Spice Girls merchandise and sponsorship deals. With their name attached to numerous sponsors including Pepsi, Cadbury and Polaroid, and the official Spice Girls branding on hundreds of different product tie-ins, they quickly became the most merchandised group in music history. Their global merchandising efforts alone brought in over £300 million in 1997, while the group's total grosses were estimated at US$500–800 million by May 1998.
English pop girl group the Spice Girls have starred in one feature film, as well as several television specials, documentaries and commercials. They made their film debut in 1997, starring in their feature film Spice World. The film was a commercial success, but was widely panned by critics, earning the group the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress.