Simon Cowell is now a £460million talent scout

Simon Cowell is now a £460million talent scout: Britain’s Got Talent judge is hired by Universal to find new music acts as he returns to his roots

Simon Cowell is returning to his roots after landing a job as a talent scout for Universal Music Group.

The Britain’s Got Talent judge – who closed down his own business Syco Entertainment earlier this year – has been hired by Lucian Grainge, the chief executive at Universal whose acts include Rihanna, Sam Smith and Take That.

The move puts the 62-year-old, worth an estimated £460 million, in direct competition with his previous employer Sony, where he carved out a career as an artists and repertoire (A&R) executive, signing major acts such as Westlife. 

As the creator of The X Factor, the hugely successful ITV talent show, he discovered One Direction, Leona Lewis and Little Mix. He also backed Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent.

The Britain’s Got Talent judge – who closed down his own business Syco Entertainment earlier this year – has been hired by Lucian Grainge, the chief executive at Universal whose acts include Rihanna, Sam Smith and Take That

A source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Anyone who wrote Simon off when he closed Syco was very silly – he is coming back. This is a dramatic change of fortune for him.

‘Any record label would be lucky to have his knowledge, wisdom and contacts within the industry, and his old mate Lucian has got in there first.’

Mr Grainge, who has been at the helm of Universal since 2005, revealed four years ago that he had previously tried to hire Cowell.

The Britain’s Got Talent judge – who closed down his own business Syco Entertainment earlier this year – has been hired by Lucian Grainge, the chief executive at Universal whose acts include Rihanna, Sam Smith and Take That

The Britain’s Got Talent judge – who closed down his own business Syco Entertainment earlier this year – has been hired by Lucian Grainge, the chief executive at Universal whose acts include Rihanna, Sam Smith and Take That

‘I tried to bring Simon over to UMG on multiple occasions, and each time he left me waiting at the altar,’ he told an awards ceremony. 

‘He’s a brilliant record-maker with phenomenal instincts for crossover hits.’

In January, Cowell, who recently announced his engagement to long-term partner Lauren Silverman, wound down Syco and laid off its staff. He had already closed down the music arm of his empire.

Sources said he wanted to spend more time with Ms Silverman and their son Eric, eight, after breaking his back in an e-bike accident in Los Angeles in August 2020.

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