Music mogul Simon Cowell has announced that he’s set to launch a nationwide hunt in a bid to find the UK’s next boyband sensation.
Sharing his news with the world, Simon, surprised Londoners on Tuesday by erecting a billboard sign that read, ‘Simon needs you! Future megastars wanted for new boyband. No time wasters.’
His new venture comes 14 years after the launch of his last boyband sensation, One Direction, which was formed on the X Factor in 2010. He helped to form the group – comprised of Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson – and later signed them to his record label, Syco Records, after they finished third in the competition. After signing to Simon’s label, One Direction catapulted to fame, soon becoming one of the best-selling boy bands of all time with four Number 1 singles in the UK Charts.
Of his latest venture, Simon, 64, said: “Every generation deserves a megastar boyband and I don’t think there has been one to have the success of One Direction in over 14 years. The industry tends to focus on solo artists – so it usually takes someone from outside to put a group together.
“Nothing beats the fun of being in a group, touring the world and performing for thousands – and it’s also a brilliant launchpad for a solo career. When you have a great group, it’s like lightning in a bottle but there’s no magic formula and a fair bit of luck involved!”
He continued: “There’s always a high degree of risk and I genuinely have no idea what’s going to happen! We might uncover an incredible group; we might not get there. What if no one shows up to auditions? That could be awkward. There is no guaranteed path to success – anything can happen, but that’s what’s exciting for me and that’s why I’m doing this.”
