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Simon Cowell

(1959-), Record producer and music company executive, broadcaster

Sitter in 1 portrait
Music Producer. Cowell began his career in 1979 as a mail room clerk for EMI Music Publishing, and worked his way up to record producer. In 1989, he became a consultant for BMG and signed a number of pop acts to the label, including Sonia, Westlife, and Robson & Jerome, before creating his own record label, S Records. Cowell became a judge on the first season of the ITV musical talent show Pop Idol in 2001, and American Idol in 2002. In 2004, under his production company Syco, he created the The X Factor, on which he appeared as a judge with Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh.

Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below

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Simon Cowell, by Fergus Greer - NPG x126869

Simon Cowell

by Fergus Greer
bromide fibre print, 2003
NPG x126869

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