Simon Fuller

Simon Fuller is a British record and television producer who is best known as the manager of the Spice Girls and as one of the creators of Pop Idol.

Related Topics:
British - Spice Girls - Pop Idol

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Fuller is currently the Chief Executive of 19 Entertainment Limited, which he founded in 1985. Prior to forming 19 Entertainment, from 1981 to 1985, Mr. Fuller worked at Chrysalis Music, in music publishing (Chrysalis Music Limited) and A&R (Chrysalis Records). When he discovered Paul Hardcastle in the mid-1980s he set out on his own and propelled Hardcastle to number one with his Vietnam war song, "19". After this success, he decided to name his management company 19 Entertainment. He also managed Annie Lennox, originally from the 1980s pop music group Eurythmics.

Related Topics:
Chrysalis Music - A&R - Paul Hardcastle - 1980s - Vietnam war - 19 - Annie Lennox - Pop music - Eurythmics

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Fuller did not create the Spice Girls but he managed them through the peak of their success. The 'PR svengali' (as 'affectionately' described by the British media) also ventured into sports management in the mid 1990s, where he guided footballer Steve McManaman to Real Madrid earlier and then later managed to land bigwig superstar David Beckham as well. The latter had famously married one of the Spice Girls - "Posh Spice" (Victoria). Under Fuller, the Spice Girls rose to chart toppers status, this despite the increasing number of disputes concerning the alleged financially domineering aspects of Fuller's management. However, the situation deteriorated by the end of the 1990s and Fuller parted ways with the group, who disbanded shortly after his departure.

Related Topics:
Spice Girls - Steve McManaman - Real Madrid - David Beckham - 1990s

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Fuller was not gone long before he was approached to manage former Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham in the launch of their new solo careers. It became apparent to the British public and fans of the Spice Girls that it was actually Geri Halliwell who had insinuated the break up in management from Fuller. Fuller tried his hand at a second attempt though and hoped to create his own Spice Girls in 21st Century Girls; however, that group failed to achieve the level of success he envisioned.

Related Topics:
Emma Bunton - Victoria Beckham - Geri Halliwell - 21st Century Girls

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Nonetheless, Fuller believed in his vision and decided to create a mixed-gender pop group with a twist. He had learned from his previous lessons that he needed to wield considerably greater power in management in order to prevent mutiny. He thus merged the roles of both manager and creator when he created his next bonanza - S Club 7 (he still manages the follow-up group S Club 8) as a result ensuring his control over the situation.

Related Topics:
S Club 7 - S Club 8

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Fuller went even further up the chart himself after the success of S Club, and in 2001, together with co-creator Simon Cowell, came up with one of the definitive television ideas of the 2000s when he created the television show formats of Pop Idol, American Idol, World Idol and other corollary spin-offs in the ensuing years. True to his strategy, he also dictates management rights to the participant or winning participants of these shows. This effectively meant that a number of artists who found fame through the shows including American Idol winners Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino, original Pop Idol Will Young and World Idol winner Kurt Nilsen all came under Fuller's 19 Management.

Related Topics:
Simon Cowell - 2000s - Pop Idol - American Idol - World Idol - Kelly Clarkson - Clay Aiken - Ruben Studdard - Fantasia Barrino - Will Young - Kurt Nilsen

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Since January 2000, Fuller has also ensured he had other tasks going for him, and has been involved in Popworld Limited, a multi-artist pop music brand and online portal, as an investor and director. Fuller is also at work on an Internet portal called I Love Music, where songs will be available for downloading onto wireless devices.

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In March 2005, Fuller sold his company, 19 Entertainment, to Robert Sillerman's CKX, Inc. in a cash and stock deal worth £100 million ($192 million). Mr. Fuller is expected to remain in his role as CEO and has become a director of CKX.

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