Simon Fuller

Simon Fuller
Background information
Born	17 May 1960 (1960-05-17) Hastings, East Sussex, England
Occupations	Talent manager, television producer, creator of the Idol franchise
Years active	1981–present
Labels	19 Entertainment(1985-2010) XIX Entertainment (2010-)
Associated acts	David and Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Claudia Schiffer, Andy Murray, Annie Lennox, Spice Girls, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Amy Winehouse, Cathy Dennis, Carrie Underwood, Will Young, Lisa Marie Presley, David Cook, S Club, Adam Lambert, Lewis Hamilton and others
Website	xixentertainment.com

Simon Fuller (born 17 May 1960) is a British artist manager, television producer and creator of the Idol franchise, first seen as Pop Idol in the UK. Fuller is also the co-creator and executive producer of the Fox TV reality show So You Think You Can Dance and other U.S. and European TV shows.

He is currently the manager of performers and entertainers including David and Victoria Beckham, Annie Lennox, Lewis Hamilton, Andy Murray, Carrie Underwood, David Cook, Will Young, Emma Bunton, Lisa Marie Presley, Cathy Dennis, the Spice Girls, Aloe Blacc and has previously managed the likes of Rachel Stevens, Adam Lambert, S Club and Kelly Clarkson. He is in partnership with the duo Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony.

In 2007, Time magazine named Fuller one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Fuller received the 2,441st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 23 May 2011. His brother is comedy writer and director Kim Fuller.

Personal life

Simon Fuller was born in Hastings, East Sussex, England, on 17 May 1960. Having spent some of his childhood in a British Overseas Territory on the island of Cyprus, where his father, a Royal Air Force pilot, had established a school, the family moved to Accra, Ghana where his father was the headmaster of an RAF school. The family moved back to Hastings, East Sussex, where Simon's father became headmaster of the school he attended. He has two brothers, Kim and Mark. He married his long term girlfriend Natalie Swanston in May 2008, and they had a baby daughter together. Fuller has a portfolio of real estate including properties in Europe, North America and South America. The 2010 Sunday Times Rich List values Fuller at £350m; the sixth richest music millionaire in Britain.

Business

Fuller was Chief Executive of 19 Entertainment, based in London, Los Angeles, and New York City, which he founded in 1985. Prior to forming 19 Entertainment, from 1981 to 1985, Fuller worked at Chrysalis in publishing (Chrysalis Limited) and A&R (Chrysalis Records). In 1983 he was responsible for signing Madonna's first hit 'Holiday' to the company. When he discovered Paul Hardcastle in 1985 he started his own management company aged 25. Hardcastle went to #1 in the UK and #15 in the US with his Vietnam war song, "19".

In March 2005, Fuller sold 19 Entertainment to CKX, Inc. in a cash and stock deal worth over $200 million. At that point 19 Entertainment employed 180 people based in London, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and in Europe. In 2008 the company delivered a profit of $92 million into the parent company. Fuller remained in his role as Chief Executive of 19 and became a director of CKX, a position which gave him creative control over all CKX's assets including the Elvis Presley Estate, Muhammad Ali’s business interests, and other iconic rights properties, until January 2010 when on approaching the end of his 5 year contract with CKX signed when the company bought 19, he opted to start a new firm, XIX Entertainment, while continuing to work with CKX / 19 as a consultant and Executive Producer of 19's shows, continuing his close relationship with his former business.

In February 2008 Fuller was presented with the PGA Award by the Producers Guild of America in Hollywood. At the event he was praised for his creativity, entrepreneurship, and charity work by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and HRH The Prince of Wales who also thanked Fuller for his support of the Prince's charity The Prince's Trust.

TV work

Fuller's first venture into TV took place in 1999. He auditioned over 10,000 people to form S Club 7 which became a No.1 pop group and a BBC TV show which was seen in over 100 territories around the world. The group has since split up with former members Rachel Stevens, Jon Lee and Hannah Spearritt going on to enjoy solo success in music and film, although Jo O'Meara attracted controversy during the TV series Celebrity Big Brother in 2007. He also created an offspring of the show 'S Club Juniors' its spinoff TV drama series 'I Dream' and a magazine show in 2000 starring 7 TV hosts called 'S Club TV'.

In 1998 Fuller founded the television show formats of Pop Idol, American Idol and other spin-offs. Pop Idol broke TV records when it was broadcasted over two series in the UK, as well as uncovering Will Young. Fuller sold the show to the Fox network in the States, and American Idol quickly became a No.1 rated show. The show has made stars of its presenter Ryan Seacrest as well as judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, as well as many of its performers. And later the show has featured many more high profiled judges including Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. In Australia, Network Ten purchased the format and to this day Australian Idol is one of the most "original" Idol shows from around the world. In Canada, the show, like in Australia has become an original format.

American Idol is claimed to be the most valuable TV format in the world with a value of over $8 billion, made up of revenue from sponsors, merchandising, telephone, music sales, broadcast and advertising sources. Over 30 million viewers saw David Cook win the seventh season of American Idol in May 2008. Fuller re-launched the show in 2011 for its 10th season and saw ratings climb 20% for the finale event. 122.4 million votes were cast, a record for a reality TV show. According to the Sunday Times the show has made Fuller the most powerful man in American TV.

In 2005 Fuller, along with co-creator Nigel Lythgoe, launched So You Think You Can Dance on the Fox network in the USA. The show has grown over four seasons to become a regular summer hit. In 2007 Fuller has signed a deal to represent comedians Matt Lucas and David Walliams with regard to developing their award winning BBC TV show Little Britain for the United States, called Little Britain USA.

In April 2011 Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment announced a new joint venture with Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Q'Viva! The Chosen.

Music

Fuller has managed the career of Annie Lennox since the release of her multi platinum, award winning album Diva in 1991. Lennox has sold 80 million records and has been called "the greatest white soul singer alive" by VH1.

Fuller manages the careers of a number of hit songwriters and producers, most notably Cathy Dennis, who first met Fuller as the singer of D Mob in the 1980s. Under Fuller's guidance Cathy Dennis has become the UK's No.1 female songwriter with a string of global hits for artists including Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Pink, Will Young and others. Fuller tells how his relationship with Cathy Dennis started in 1986 in Music Week dated 15.12.07.

In 2002 Fuller's company discovered 19 year old Amy Winehouse, produced her first award winning album and signed her to Universal Music. Winehouse left 19 Management in spring 2006 and signed to Raye Cosbert / Metropolis Music.

Fuller managed the Spice Girls through the peak of their success. The "management svengali" (as "affectionately" described by the British media) is widely credited with masterminding their most creative period with hits including "Wannabe", as well bringing them a number of globally lucrative sponsorship deals with Pepsi, Polaroid, Walkers, Cadbury, Asda, Elida Faberge (Unilever) and others. He famously introduced Spice Girl Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) to her future husband David Beckham. Under Fuller, the Spice Girls rose to chart topper status and went on to sell over 37.5 million records in less than three years. In November 1997 the girls decided to manage themselves and they parted company with Fuller. The group later disbanded and it was not long before Fuller was approached to manage the career of former Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham. In 2008 Geri Halliwell worked with 19 and Fuller in an attempt to break back into the American Market as a solo act.^{[citation needed]}

Fuller's interests in music make him one of the most powerful figures in the global entertainment industry. 19 Recordings holds exclusive recording rights for Kelly Clarkson, Kris Allen, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Chris Daughtry, David Cook, Will Young, David Archuleta. Adam Lambert and others, as well as stars from Germany, Australia, Canada and other countries. The label has sold over 50 million copies of American Idol music in North America alone since the show was first broadcast. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 the biggest selling music acts in North America (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Daughtry) were all managed by Fuller.

Fashion

In August 2006, Fuller entered the fashion business through 19RM a joint venture company between Fuller and critically acclaimed fashion designer Roland Mouret, the man behind the Galaxy dress made famous by Scarlett Johansson and other Hollywood celebrities. Ladieswear was initially branded RM by the designer Roland Mouret due to Mouret's previous business partners owning the Roland Mouret brand, but in October 2010 it was announced that Fuller and Mouret had bought back the rights to the Mouret name along with rights to all of Mouret's past designs including the notorious 'Galaxy' dress. Menswear from Roland Mouret is branded MR by Roland Mouret. During London Fashion Week February 2011, Mouret and Fuller opened "Maison Mouret", a 6 floor headquarters in Carlos Place Mayfair, comprising retail, design and Atelier in one building.

Fuller is also responsible for masterminding the Beckhams' fashion and lifestyle merchandising which includes perfume and denim ranges, which has become one of the most successful celebrity lines in the world with a retail value in excess of $200 million. In 2008 Fuller masterminded the Victoria Beckham Dress collection, which has been critically applauded and has since become the best selling high end label of the season.

During his time at 19 Entertainment Fuller brokered a deal for 19 to purchase a majority share in Storm Model Management, the celebrated British agency that has Kate Moss, Emma Watson, Jourdan Dunn, Cindy Crawford, Lily Cole, Eva Herzigova and Alek Wek and many others on their books.

Sport

A lifelong football fan and Manchester United season ticket holder, Fuller first ventured into sports management in the mid 1990s, where he guided England and Liverpool footballer Steve McManaman to Real Madrid. Fuller later formed a joint venture partnership with David Beckham, and masterminded Beckham's $250 million move to LA Galaxy in 2007. He remains Beckham's closest advisor. Fuller co-founded a sports company named 1966 with Beckham's sports agent Terry Byrne to help improve the public image of the England Football team players' interests. He founded the player's charity which has since raised almost £1,000,000. 1966 is now owned solely by Byrne.

Fuller's 19 Entertainment was the first company to successfully persuade a Formula One racing car to promote the environment. His "Earth Car" created for Honda Racing F1 competed throughout the 2007 Formula One season driven by British driver Jenson Button and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello and Fuller went on to win a leading Green Award in the UK for his contribution to environmental awareness. Fuller, Beckham and Barrichello are at work on a project in Natal, Brazil, Cabo São Roque, which will incorporate Fuller's World of Sport concept with a resort and land preserve, being designed by Hart Howerton, a New York architectural firm which specializes in large-scale land use. Hart Howerton previously worked with the Disney Company in the 1960s, developing a master plan for Disney World near Orlando, Florida.

In 2009, Fuller took on personal representation of world tennis No.3 Andy Murray, and his Wimbledon-doubles winning brother Jamie Murray.

On 14 March 2011, it was announced that Fuller would be the new manager of British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton.

Awards and citations

• 2011 Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
• 2011 Humanitarian Honoree, Save the Children Awards LA
• 2011 Humanitarian Honoree, Malaria No More Awards NYC
• 2011 Emmy: Outstanding Reality/Competition Program - Nominee
• 2010 Emmy: Outstanding Reality/Competition Program - Nominee
• 2009 Top 100 New Establishment, Vanity Fair
• 2009 Businessman Of The Year, Harpers Bazaar UK
• 2009 Emmy: Outstanding Reality/Competition Program - Nominee
• 2008 Humanitarian Honoree, Black Ball Keep A Child Alive for HIV / AIDS work NYC
• 2008 Peter Grant Award, Music Managers Forum
• 2008 Visionary Award, Producers Guild of America
• 2008 Emmy: Outstanding Reality/Competition Program - Nominee
• 2007 Top Trend Setter, Forbes Magazine
• 2007 Green Award
• 2007 Emmy: Governor's Award: Idol Gives Back
• 2007 100 Most Influential People In The World, Time Magazine
• 2007 Emmy: Outstanding Reality/Competition Program - Nominee
• 2006 Entrepreneur Of The Year, GQ Magazine
• 2006 Emmy: Outstanding Reality/Competition Program - Nominee
• 2005 Emmy: Outstanding Reality/Competition Program - Nominee
• 2004 Emmy: Outstanding Reality/Competition Program - Nominee
• 2003 Grammy: Album of the Year - Nominee

External links

• "Impresario Simon Fuller shows off talent with $75m performance" The Times (4 March 2009)
• "The most powerful man you don't know!" Zoo Magazine (13 February 2009)
• "The 20 most powerful celebrity makes" The Observer Magazine (22 June 2008)
• "The unlikely impresario" Financial Times (24 May 2008)
• "Spice Girls mastermind to win Roll of Honour award" Music Week (17 May 2008)
• Music Week "Simon Fuller tops Music Week Top 50 most influential people in UK music industry chart" (15 July 2003)
• Daily Telegraph "The Star Maker" (28 September 2002)
• Evening Standard "The Man Who Wants To Rule The World" (18 April 2002)
• Metro "Fuller Rules The US Charts" (19 June 2003)
• Blender "The Idol Maker" March 2004
• The Observer "Pop Idol scores a $1bn hit in US market" 7 September 2007