Simon Cowell, Syco Entertainment, Universal Music Publishing Launch SYCO Publishing
Simon Cowell, together with Syco Entertainment and Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), has announced the creation of SYCO Publishing, a boutique publishing company focused on signing, developing and supporting global songwriting talent. The venture brings together Cowell’s experience in finding and nurturing pop artists with UMPG’s global administrative reach and infrastructure for publishing, aiming to create a dedicated home for songwriters and catalogs that can be actively developed across multiple media platforms.
Under this collaboration, SYCO Publishing will sign songwriters and acquire catalogs that UMPG will administer and support exclusively. The arrangement is designed to provide writers with the creative and commercial resources of a major publisher while also tapping into Cowell’s extensive entertainment network to open up opportunities across television, film, and other media formats tied to Syco Entertainment projects.
“There is nothing more important than a great song,” said Simon Cowell. “I started my career in music publishing. Mike (McCormack) and Universal have given me the chance to build a music publishing company. They are a brilliant company and share my wish to work with amazing songwriters.” This statement underscores the priority SYCO Publishing will place on song-driven development and the hands-on role Cowell expects to play in supporting writers.
SYCO publishing is already home to Lucy Spraggan and owns rights to Fifth Harmony, James Arthur, Grace VanderWaal, and Camila Cabello catalogs
SYCO Publishing’s initial roster and catalog holdings include songwriters such as Lucy Spraggan and John Samuel Gerhart, along with publishing rights connected to major hits associated with acts like Fifth Harmony, James Arthur, Grace VanderWaal, and Camila Cabello. The new company also controls rights to songs performed by artists including Machine Gun Kelly, Major Lazer, Ed Sheeran, Mark Ronson, and Shawn Mendes. By bringing these catalogs under the SYCO Publishing umbrella, the team intends to actively develop both songwriter careers and catalog value through creative placements and global exploitation.
Mike McCormack, Managing Director of UMPG UK, commented on the partnership and Cowell’s role: “Simon has been a good friend for decades, and I’m thrilled he has finally decided to launch a publishing business with UMPG. His track record is incredible — he’s always had great instincts and passion for outstanding songs and brings incredible value to every songwriter, producer, and catalog he works with.” McCormack emphasized that UMPG’s global team will support SYCO Publishing in providing international development, administration, and creative promotion for its writers and catalogs.
This publishing initiative follows a recent songwriting-focused collaboration between Syco Entertainment and Universal Music Group. The companies previously launched StemDrop, a creative platform aimed at musical collaboration, curation, and artist discovery, which was developed to provide new ways for creators to interact and for emerging artists to be found and nurtured.
Simon Cowell congratulates One Direction for 1B Spotify streams, promotes Lucy Spraggan’s new album
Simon Cowell also used social media to congratulate One Direction on a major streaming milestone: their hit “What Makes You Beautiful” surpassed one billion streams on Spotify. Cowell thanked everyone involved and the fans who helped achieve the landmark, highlighting the continued commercial life songs can have years after release.
At the same time, Cowell is supporting songwriters on SYCO Publishing’s roster. He promoted Lucy Spraggan’s new album, Balance, which was released this week. Lucy first gained public attention as a contestant on X Factor and later left the show. In recent interviews she disclosed a traumatic experience during her time on the program that played a role in her departure and in subsequent struggles with mental health. Cowell has since worked to make amends, and Lucy moved forward with a publishing relationship under the SYCO umbrella.
SYCO Publishing positions itself as a boutique partner for creators, combining the creative advocacy and A&R instincts often associated with smaller publishing houses with the scale, administrative services, and global licensing capabilities of a major publisher. For songwriters, that means tailored creative support alongside wide-reaching opportunities for sync placements, international exploitation, and cross-media collaboration tied to Syco Entertainment’s projects and networks.
As SYCO Publishing develops its roster and catalog, the company aims to be an active presence in writers’ careers, pursuing both commercial placements and creative development. With the combined resources of Syco Entertainment and Universal Music Publishing Group, the venture hopes to identify and elevate songwriting talent while ensuring catalogs are managed strategically to maximize long-term value.