Syco Music | |
---|---|
Parent company | Sony Music UK |
Founded | 2002 |
Founder | Simon Cowell |
Defunct | 2020 |
Distributor(s) | Sony Music |
Genre | Various |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Syco Music, originally and formerly S Records, was a division of Syco Entertainment which operated from 2002 until 2020. The label was founded by British entrepreneur, record executive and media personality Simon Cowell, who was formerly employed at Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG).
Early-on, the label oversaw music releases by such acts as Robson & Jerome, Five, Westlife and Teletubbies. Eventually, BMG (renamed to Sony BMG) bought Cowell's share in both Syco Music and Syco Television. 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.
Over its 18-year run, Syco had multiple, globally-known acts signed, such as the girl groups Fifth Harmony and Little Mix (as well as the solo efforts of former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello), British boyband One Direction, and the Latin American boyband CNCO. In July 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 catalogs remain with Sony Music as a wholly-owned subsidiary. However, as of September 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and according to industry magazine Music Week , the label is now defunct—staff either left or were redeployed elsewhere within Sony Music Group.
Syco Music had offices in London and Los Angeles and was 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[ citation needed ] 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. [11] [12] By September 2020, managing director Tyler Brown and head of digital Tom Hoare had left. Music Week reported that the label is no longer operational and is now defunct; artist staff have been redeployed elsewhere within Sony Music, including at sister label RCA Records, or have left completely. [13]
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. [14] Syco Music started releasing music as a label in 2004. [15]
Syco Music and its artists have been the targets of illegal hacking on several separate occasions; in 2009, ahead of the release of her sophomore album, Echo , a number of Leona Lewis' unfinished demos and leftover songs from the recording process were leaked online. An investigation was launched by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), in-tandem with the record label and police, to identify those responsible. [32] [33] Alexandra Burke was also targeted, having two demo versions of songs from her debut album, Overcome , leaked before the album's release. [34] At the end of March 2010, it was reported that Syco had suffered, once again, from hackers who had managed to obtain 14 of Burke's previously-unheard studio recordings, as well as 26 more from Lewis. [35]
Following the second incident of leaks, Cowell contacted the FBI to track down those responsible. Included amongst the leaked music was a newly-recorded version of Burke's "All Night Long", featuring Cuban-American rapper Pitbull, which was tipped-off to be the singer's third single in March 2010. [36] According to Burke, the songs were leaked by "Two little boys in Germany on work experience" who had been interning for Syco. [37] It was later revealed, in 2011, that songs recorded for Echo were targeted by 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". Within the songs listed in the complaint was one titled "Pulse", described at the time as a new recording by Leona Lewis. [38] In June 2011, DJ Stolen was caught and subsequently jailed for 18 months. [39]
In 2011, in a change of course, Syco found itself being taken to court for plagiarism when it was reported that a new Lewis song, "Collide", significantly used elements of "Fade Into Darkness", a 2010 song by Swedish house music DJ Avicii. The DJ took both Lewis and Syco to the British High Court [40] just prior to the track's release. However, the case was resolved out-of-court, by agreeing to release the song as a joint effort between both artists; the single was released on 4 September 2011. [41] [42] In February 2013, it was announced that One Direction would be releasing a mashup cover version of "One Way or Another" (1978 song by Blondie) and "Teenage Kicks" (1977 song by the Undertones) as the 2013 Comic Relief single; an unfinished version of the track was 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". [43]
Syco was the label that all X Factor winners were signed to as part of their contract for winning the show, along with other acts hand-picked by Cowell. Most of the artists who were once signed to the record label had complained about their deals with the music mogul, which often saw them making little to no money from their contracts; they were also overworked, while many had also complained about creative differences concerning the music they wanted to release. [44]
In 2021, musical twins Jedward claimed the record label Syco was 'toxic' and 'abusive'. [45] It came after news broke that The X Factor would not be returning to television, prompting the duo to reflect on their time on the show, which they appeared on back in 2009. The duo took to social media and said "Every contestant on the X Factor was a slave to the show and got paid zero while they made millions! The fact every contestant has to act like their judge mentors them! When in reality all they care about is their paycheck!." [45] Jedward also alleged that artists on the show and under Cowell's record label, Syco Music, were unable to speak freely and were blacklisted if they did. They were isolated from their families and were watched and reported on by security. They claimed that the judges on The X Factor did not actually mentor the contestants as the show made it appear. [46]
Their comments came after former X Factor contestants spoke out about the conditions they were expected to work under while signed to the label, including Rebecca Ferguson and Cher Lloyd. Lloyd took to TikTok to take a sly dig at the label, which she appeared to accuse of ‘exploiting’ her and taking all the money made by her music. Meanwhile, Ferguson met with Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden earlier that year, calling for better protection for artists in the music industry. [45]
Artist | Single | Year | Countries |
---|---|---|---|
Westlife | Unbreakable | 2002 | UK, IRE, SCO |
Westlife | Tonight/Miss You Nights | 2002 | IRE |
Westlife | Mandy | 2003 | UK, IRE, SCO |
Steve Brookstein | Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) | 2004 | UK, IRE |
Westlife | You Raise Me Up | 2005 | UK, IRE, SCO |
Shayne Ward | That's My Goal | 2005 | UK, IRE |
Westlife | The Rose | 2006 | UK, IRE, SCO |
Shayne Ward | No Promises | 2006 | IRE |
Leona Lewis | A Moment Like This | UK, IRE | |
Leona Lewis | Bleeding Love | 2007 | UK, AUS, AUT, CAN, GER, IRE, NZ, SWI, US |
Shayne Ward | If That's OK with You | IRE | |
Leon Jackson | When You Believe | UK, IRE, SCO | |
Leona Lewis | Run | 2008 | UK, AUT, IRE |
Leon Jackson | Don't Call This Love | SCO | |
Alexandra Burke | Hallelujah | UK, IRE, SCO | |
Alexandra Burke | Bad Boys | 2009 | UK, IRE, SCO |
The X Factor Finalists 2009 | You Are Not Alone | UK, IRE, SCO | |
Joe McElderry | The Climb | UK, IRE, SCO | |
Helping Haiti | Everybody Hurts | 2010 | UK, IRE |
Olly Murs | Please Don't Let Me Go | UK | |
Alexandra Burke | All Night Long | IRE | |
The X Factor Finalists 2010 | Heroes | UK, IRE, SCO | |
Alexandra Burke | Start Without You | UK, SCO | |
Matt Cardle | When We Collide | UK, IRE, SCO | |
Cher Lloyd | Swagger Jagger | 2011 | UK, SCO |
Jackie Evancho featuring Barbra Streisand | Somewhere | US Class | |
Olly Murs featuring Rizzle Kicks | Heart Skips a Beat | UK, GER, POL, SWI | |
One Direction | What Makes You Beautiful | UK, IRE, MEX, SCO | |
Olly Murs | Dance with Me Tonight | UK, SCO | |
The X Factor Finalists 2011 featuring JLS and One Direction | Wishing on a Star | UK, IRE, SCO | |
Little Mix | Cannonball | UK, IRE, SCO | |
Chris Rene | Young Homie | 2012 | NZ |
Little Mix | Wings | UK, IRE, SCO | |
One Direction | Live While We're Young | IRE, NZ | |
Olly Murs featuring Flo Rida | Troublemaker | UK, HUN, SCO | |
One Direction | Little Things | UK, SCO | |
Labrinth featuring Emeli Sandé | Beneath Your Beautiful | UK, IRE, SCO | |
James Arthur | Impossible | UK, IRE, POL, SCO, SPA, GRE, LUX, SLO | |
One Direction | One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks) | 2013 | UK, DEN, IRE, POL, NL, SCO |
Olly Murs | Dear Darlin' | AUT | |
One Direction | Story of My Life | DEN, FIN, IRE, NZ | |
Sam Bailey | Skyscraper | UK, IRE, SCO | |
Ella Henderson | Ghost | 2014 | UK, IRE, SCO |
Ben Haenow | Something I Need | UK, SCO | |
Fifth Harmony featuring Kid Ink | Worth It | 2015 | ISR, LBN, MEX |
Little Mix | Black Magic | UK, SCO, EUR | |
One Direction | Drag Me Down | UK, SCO, HUN, IRE, NZ, AUT, AUS | |
One Direction | Perfect | IRE, SCO, SLOV | |
Fleur East | Sax | 2016 | CRO, HUN |
Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dolla $ign | Work from Home | NZ, NL, CRO | |
James Arthur | Say You Won't Let Go | UK, SCO, IRE, AUS, EUR, SWE, NZ, NL, PHI | |
Little Mix | Shout Out to My Ex | UK, SCO, IRE, EUR, PHI | |
Artists for Grenfell | Bridge over Troubled Water | 2017 | UK, SCO |
Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug | Havana | AUS, SCO, UK, IRL, CAN, ISR, SLO, LTV, CZ R, EUR (digital), HUN, US, ECU, FRA, GRE, MEX, PAR, PHI, POL, | |
Camila Cabello | Never Be the Same | 2018 | BEL, CRO |
Little Mix feat. Nicki Minaj | Woman Like Me | 2018 | ISR |
Dalton Harris feat. James Arthur | The Power of Love | 2018 | SCO |
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.
Stephen Desmond Brookstein is an English singer, who is best known for winning the first series of The X Factor in 2004.
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer, songwriter, actress, model, and activist. Born and raised in Islington, Inner London, she later attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon. Lewis achieved national recognition when she won the third series of the television talent show The X Factor in 2006, winning a £1 million recording contract with Syco Music. Her winner's single, a cover of Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This", peaked at number one for four weeks on the UK Singles Chart and broke a world record by reaching 50,000 digital downloads within 30 minutes. In February 2007, Lewis signed a five-album contract in the United States with Clive Davis's record label, J Records.
Syco Entertainment is a British media entertainment and production company, headquartered in London, founded and owned by British entrepreneur and record executive Simon Cowell. The company focuses on TV production. The company was formed in 2005 through Sony Music Entertainment entering a joint venture by purchasing Cowell's shares of his record label S Records and television company Syco Television. In 2009, Sony and Cowell entered a joint venture agreement that covered the joint ownership of Syco's television formats, which include the Got Talent and The X Factor franchises. Until 2020, the company operated television and music projects with Sony Music labels around the world and television production company Fremantle. It employs a staff of more than 50 in offices in London and Los Angeles, and manages a string of television and music brands through partnerships with the label Sony Music and the television production company.
"Bleeding Love" is a song recorded by British singer Leona Lewis for her debut studio album, Spirit (2007). It was originally written and recorded by American singer Jesse McCartney, and was co-written and produced by American singer Ryan Tedder. "Bleeding Love" was released worldwide during the last quarter of 2007, and the first of 2008, as the album's lead single internationally, and as the second single in Ireland and the United Kingdom. McCartney later included his version of the song as a bonus track on the international edition of his third studio album, Departure (2008). It is Lewis' biggest hit, to date, and remains her signature song. As of 2021, "Bleeding Love" has been streamed over two billion times.
Spirit is the debut studio album by English singer Leona Lewis, released by Syco Music in November 2007 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, followed by a worldwide release during early 2008. The album made Lewis the first UK solo artist to debut at number one with a debut album, in the US, on 26 April 2008. Spirit became the fastest-selling debut album in the UK, at time of release. It also became the fastest album to sell one million copies by a solo female in the UK. The album remains the best-selling debut album by a female artist in the UK, and is one of the best-selling albums in UK chart history. Spirit is officially the best-selling debut album by a female artist in the 21st century, according to the Official Charts Company.
"Footprints in the Sand" is a song recorded by British singer Leona Lewis for her debut studio album Spirit (2007). It was written by Simon Cowell, David Kreuger, Per Magnusson, Richard Page, and produced by Steve Mac. The song was digitally released as Lewis's third single on 9 March 2008 in the United Kingdom. Sony BMG and Syco Music launched it as a double A-side with "Better in Time", and "You Bring Me Down" as the B-side.
"Forgive Me" is a song by British singer Leona Lewis featured on the North American and Australian versions, as well as the deluxe edition, of her debut album Spirit (2008). Musically, "Forgive Me" is a "funky pop" and "bouncy R&B" track with dance influences, written in A minor. The lyrics tell the story of a girl who has found a new love and asks her old one for forgiveness. The song was written by Aliaune "Akon" Thiam, Claude Kelly and Giorgio Tuinfort, and produced by the former. "Forgive Me" was released as the fourth single of the album in the United Kingdom on 3 November 2008. The single includes the B-side "Myself", written by and featuring vocals of American musician Novel.
Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke is an English singer, songwriter and actress. She won the fifth series of the talent television show The X Factor in 2008. Following the show, she was signed to Syco Music and released the winner's single "Hallelujah", which became the European record holder for the most singles sold over a period of 24 hours, selling 105,000 in one day, and became the top-selling single of 2008 in the UK and the UK's Christmas 2008 number one.
Echo is the second studio album by English singer Leona Lewis. It was released on 9 November 2009 including 16 November in the United Kingdom, and 17 November 2009 in the United States. Its worldwide release was through Sony Music. The album charted across the globe, including the US, UK, Canada, across Europe, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, with commercial success.
Overcome is the debut studio album by British singer Alexandra Burke, released 19 October 2009 on Syco Music. The release of the album came a year after Burke won the British talent show, The X Factor, with the recording process taking place between 2008 and 2009. Critics praised the album for showcasing Burke's vocal charm and characterisation, comparing her vocal to American singers Anastacia and Whitney Houston and its contemporary finish; using a variety of acclaimed producers including RedOne and Ne-Yo.
24/03/2009
Jai McDowall is a Scottish singer–songwriter, who won the fifth series of Britain's Got Talent in June 2011. As the winner, he received £100,000 and performed at the 2011 Royal Variety Performance. McDowall was signed to Syco Music, a subdivision of record label giant, Sony Music. His debut album Believe was released on 9 December 2011. The lead single "With or Without You" was released the same day.
Glassheart is the third studio album by English singer Leona Lewis, released on 12 October 2012 by Syco Music. Glassheart was conceived in 2010 shortly after the completion of Lewis' first headline tour, The Labyrinth. Recording and production took place in Denver, Los Angeles and London; originally the album was due for release in November 2011 but was pushed back several times to accommodate new recording sessions and allow more creative time. The album was the first – and so far only – of Lewis' albums not released in North America.
"Lovebird" is a song recorded by British singer-songwriter Leona Lewis for her third studio album Glassheart (2012). It was written by Bonnie McKee, Joshua "Ammo" Coleman and Lukasz "Dr. Luke" Gottwald, and produced by Josh Abrahams, Ammo and Oligee. "Lovebird" was recorded at Pulse Recording in Los Angeles and is a power ballad, incorporating a piano and synth-driven melody. The lyrics consist of Lewis informing her past lover that enough time has passed since their relationship for her to have moved on and to have developed as a person. Critics praised Lewis' vocal performance, likening her technical abilities to those of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. The musical structure of the song was heavily compared to one of her previous singles, "Bleeding Love", along with songs performed by Adele. The accompanying music video shows Lewis trying to escape from a giant bird cage.
I Am is the fifth studio album by English singer Leona Lewis. It was released on 11 September 2015, by Island Records after Lewis took leave from Syco Music in June 2014. Recording began in mid 2013, during the production of Lewis's first Christmas album and fourth studio album, Christmas, with Love (2013). Recording sessions resumed in January 2014 with producer Poet, Toby Gad and Wayne Wilkins. I Am is preceded by the release of "Fire Under My Feet" and the album's title track except for in the United States where "Thunder" precedes the album. The album reached top 40 in multiple countries, including US, United Kingdom, Spain and Germany.
Fleur East is an English singer, songwriter, rapper and presenter. East competed on the second series of The X Factor in 2005 as part of the girl group Addictiv Ladies but was unsuccessful. In 2012, she signed with Strictly Rhythm. In collaboration with Drumsound & Bassline Smith, she released "One in a Million" (2013), which peaked at number 53 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Fire Under My Feet" is a song by British singer and songwriter Leona Lewis from her fifth studio album, I Am (2015). It was released as the lead single from the album on 7 June 2015 by Island and Def Jam. An uptempo song with gospel influences, "Fire Under My Feet" was recorded at Kite Music Studios in Los Angeles and was written by Lewis with Toby Gad, who also produced the song.
The X Factor: The Band is a special edition of British reality talent competition The X Factor, which premiered on 9 December 2019 on ITV. The format for the series was announced on 4 November 2019 as a last-minute replacement for a planned All Stars spin-off series, which was originally supposed to air following The X Factor: Celebrity in late 2019. The format is an accelerated version of The X Factor whereby solo artists auditioned in front of Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger to try to win a place in a boyband or girlband. The new bands would then compete for a chance to join Cowell's record label and launch their careers.