Simon Fuller
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Image:Srf3.jpgSimon Fuller (born 17th May 1960) is a British record and television producer who is best known as the manager of the Spice Girls and as the creator of the Idol brand, first seen as Pop Idol and over 50 other versions including American Idol and World Idol.
Fuller is Chief Executive of 19 Entertainment, which he founded in 1985. Prior to forming 19 Entertainment, from 1981 to 1985, Mr. Fuller worked at Chrysalis, in publishing (Chrysalis 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 group Eurythmics.
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 soccer 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.
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.
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
Following the success of S Club, according to an article in Rolling Stone Magazine by Stephen Thanabalan, Fuller took himself out of the realms of mere pop moguls in the mould of Mickie Most, and went even further up the chart himself when in 2001, he 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.
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 brand and online portal, as an investor and director. Fuller is also at work on an Internet portal called I Love, where songs will be available for downloading onto wireless devices.
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). Fuller will remain in his role as 19's CEO and has become a director of CKX.de:Simon Fuller nl:Simon Fuller sv:Simon Fuller