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Cowell: I sell more records than Springsteen
16/03/2007

X Factor supremo Simon Cowell says he is bigger than The Boss.

In an interview to be screened on CBS’s 60 Minutes programme in the US on Sunday, Cowell, who is also a judge on the American Idol series, says he is worth five times more to Sony than Bruce Springsteen.

“I sell more records than Bruce Springsteen, sure,” Cowell says of the 57-year-old rocker, who signed a contract that was reported to be in the neighbourhood of $100m (€146m).

“I mean, in the last five years, I’ve probably sold over 100 million records. If (Springsteen) got $100m (€146m), I should have got €500m (€729m),” he says.

Cowell says he sells all those records because he has signed “the biggest artist on the planet” – Fox network’s American Idol.

“Every single ’Idol’ winner is now signed through Sony BMG,” says Cowell. “And this applies to … all the countries … we sell Idol to, which is over 30 countries.”

Albums by American Idol winners and runners-up are distributed by labels within the Sony system through a deal between Clive Davis and 19 Recordings Unlimited, the label managed by American Idol creator Simon Fuller.

Interviewer Anderson Cooper asks Cowell, 47, whether his deal with Sony is in the same neighbourhood as Springsteen’s.

“A hundred million … that’s a great deal,” Cowell says.

Was he referring to himself or Springsteen?

“For him,” Cowell says, grinning. “For him it’s a good deal.” breakingnews

Louis writes an Xtra chapter

March 16, 2007 Sun

SHARON: COWELL'S A COWARD
EXCLUSIVE: SHARON'S FURY AT LOUIS AND KATE AXING
17/03/2007

ANGRY Sharon Osbourne yesterday accused X Factor boss Simon Cowell of cowardice over the sacking of Louis Walsh and Kate Thornton.

Sharon said Cowell, 46, got a show producer to ditch the pair because he could not face doing it himself.

She said: "After knowing Louis for over 20 years, Simon should have had the guts to tell him to his face that he was going to get fired.

"I was completely shocked. It was a harsh and unfair thing to do. The very least he could have done is to have told Louis and Kate rather than pretend it was all down to the producers."

Glamorous Sharon, who took part in last night's Comic Relief, said fellow judge Louis and host Kate were humiliated by the shabby way they were axed from the ITV show. And she accused Cowell of secretly discussing the sackings with ITV after assuring both stars their jobs were safe.

Sharon, 54, said: "Simon was with Louis at least three days before this happened and he didn't say a word.

"And Kate has been publicly humiliated. Simon should have been up front and told her he didn't think things were working. At least she could then have gone with dignity and her head held high."

Sharon also poured scorn on Cowell's claims that the decision had been taken by ITV bosses, not him.

She went on: "Simon makes all the decisions and what he says goes. All he had to say was 'You know what, we want to shake things up and bring in new faces, no hard feelings'."

Sharon said she suspected for some time Cowell was considering replacing Kate, 34.

But rather than let Kate know he was unhappy he allegedly reassured her that her job was safe at the end of the last series.

Sharon added: "I feel desperately sorry for Kate. Simon hasn't even bothered to call her about it."

Sharon said she is still puzzled at why the show needs to be revamped after three years at the top of the ratings.

She said: "The formula wasn't broken so why fix it? I'll miss Louis dreadfully. We had the right balance and chemistry."

Louis, 54, and Kate were given the boot by X Factor producer Richard Holloway last week after the show's bosses became concerned they were making it dull.

Two new judges and a host will be unveiled later. Cowell has been in talks with I'm A Celebrity star David Gest to take one of the slots.

The X Factor boss insists ITV was behind the sackings. Mirror

Judge Leona
17/03/07

POP diva Leona Lewis is set to make a shock return to X Factor – as a JUDGE.

Executives are “seriously” considering giving the contest winner a VIP role in the next series.

And Leona, who became the fastest-selling female singer of all time with her single A Moment Like This, is keen to give it a go.

DailyStar

DAN'S X-RATED people

Simon Cowell Regrets Turning Down Sex Judge Offer. femalefirst

Simon: I should have told Louis SUN

Randy just dandy for X Factor Sun

SIMON Cowell has picked X-lover Sinitta to replace axed Louis Walsh as an X Factor judge. notw

Simon Cowell desperate to find new male 'X Factor' judge

Simon Cowell is desperate to find a new male judge to join the 'X Factor' panel.

Auditions for the new series of the hit ITV show start in just four weeks and after sacking Louis Walsh from the panel, the high-waisted 'X Factor' boss still hasn't found a replacement.

A source told Britain's Daily Star newspaper: "The countdown has begun and everyone is a bit nervous. All four judges have to be at the auditions, which means Simon's got less than a month to find his man.

"It could be a huge embarrassment as there's been such a song and dance about giving the show a revamp."

LSE

X-cellent news for Donny

DONNY Osmond is in talks to be a judge on The X Factor.

The ex-teen idol, 49, admitted being wooed to join Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Dannii Minogue.

He said: “I’d love to be a judge.” Cowell is to announce the fourth member of the ITV1 panel next week.

Grease judge Brian Friedman is hot favourite.

The SUN

Ofcom Warns X Factor Show

OfcomMedia watchdog Ofcom has rapped The X Factor spin-off show The Xtra Factor for appearing to promote mobile phone company Nokia in one of editions.

Ofcom received complaints about a sketch called The Text Factor, featuring Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh, broadcast last year.

The two judges were seen trading insults via text message, with the face of a Nokia-branded mobile clearly in view.

Viewers questioned whether Nokia, which was sponsoring the programme, had inappropriately influenced the content of the ITV2 show.

Viewers also complained that in contrast, on the previous day on The X Factor show itself, Sharon Osbourne was seen receiving the news on a mobile phone that she had been chosen as the mentor for the over-25 group of contestants. But the Motorola phone being used by Osbourne on the ITV1 show was obscured.

Producers said the decision was made to blur the image because it was a "somewhat prolonged" shot and "not through ill will towards Motorola."

But it added that "with the benefit of hindsight... showing this picture without any blurring was completely defensible."

They said that the texts in The Text Factor sketch were created by the production team who used phones that were to hand during filming.

Channel Television, the ITV company responsible for ensuring the series complied with the Broadcasting Code, said its staff noticed the Nokia branding "but as both the Nokia name and the handsets were in silver, considered they blended into each other, diminishing the impact of the Nokia marque."

Ofcom analysed footage of the two separate Text Factor sketches. It said that the Nokia brand was visible on all 13 shots of the later episode. It concluded that the The Text Factor sketch was in breach of the oadcasting code.
waveguide.co.uk

Church slams Osbourne and Cowell


Charlotte Church wants to replace judges Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne on British talent show 'The X Factor - because they don't know enough about music.

The former classical star is amazed at the pair's ignorance while judging pop hopefuls, and is sure she'd do a better job.

The soprano says: "They just don't know the ins and outs of a voice or music. When I'm watching the show I think: 'You haven't got a clue what you're on about - I should be on there.'

"On the last series Sharon said, 'That was so messy, you were all singing in different keys.' Er yes, they're called harmonies." breakingnews

Kate on life after X Factor

Sun

Kate was the only good thing on that programme she was able to keep it all together in a very proffesional way a big mistake getting rid of her. Mrs O should have gone.