Simon Cowell and Little Mix’s feud explained as they go head-to-head with new talent shows
LITTLE Mix soared to fame through Simon Cowell's successful X Factor series - which saw them become the first group to ever win the competition. But now the band is launching a rival BBC talent search show called The Search.
And it seems Simon isn't too pleased with his former prodigies stepping into his territory as he is now ditching X Factor: All Stars for a competition to find a pop band. Here's what we know about the surprising feud...
When did Simon Cowell and Little Mix fall out?
Little Mix released their first four albums on Syco but grew frustrated at their treatment.
A row between Simon and the group’s management firm, Modest, saw the band move to RCA, which released their fifth album, LM5, in November 2017.
The move came after the girls directly confronted Cowell in a strongly worded email, raising issues they had with his label.
Simon eventually helped the girls with some of their demands, but by that point his relationship with Modest — who also manage the Spice Girls, Olly Murs and Niall Horan — had broken down.
How did Simon Cowell and Little Mix's feud begin?
The unprecedented fallout started over Little Mix voicing upset over their lack of recognition on single Woman Like Me.
They wanted an additional writing credit alongside Ed Sheeran, Jess Glynne and songwriter STEVE MAC.
The girls had added lyrics but were not asking for any publishing money.
But then a bigger row erupted between the group’s management company Modest and Cowell — who decided to cut all ties with the company’s artists, including Little Mix and last year’s X Factor winners Rak-Su.
Simon insisted that he decided to back the loyal staff members who have worked for his Syco label for a number of years.
Despite giving the band the writing credit they wanted, the damage had been done and they parted ways for good.
Will X Factor The Band be a rival show to The Search?
Yes - X Factor The Band will be in direct competition with the Little Mix BBC1 prime time show The Search, which will launch early next year.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Simon insisted he actually came up with the idea first.
He said: “This is what really happened. I was approached to co-produce that show last year by Little Mix’s management.
“I told them the problem was we have a conflict of interest because we are launching X Factor The Band in 2020. We were told their show was going to launch in 2021."
He continued: “Then we had the fallout and find out Little Mix were bringing their show forward. Was that intentional because we are doing our show? I have no idea.
“But regardless, it was too much fun not to do this year. I would rather it was us doing it first. It 100 per cent makes it more exciting there being a battle.”
It is not yet known if Louis Walsh and Paula Abdul will be judges on the show, after they were rumoured to be taking part in X Factor: All Stars.
Auditions will take place soon at Sony Music in London, with the live finals being held at Birmingham Arena in the week the country goes to the polls in December.
“It’s the week of the General Election. So it will be the perfect antidote to the doom and gloom,” Cowell said.
Simon is hoping to find a new pop phenomenon to compete with Korean K-Pop acts such as the top-selling boyband BTS.
MORE X FACTOR NEWS
How did Simon Cowell and Little Mix meet?
Simon famously created the band on his ITV show in 2011 and they became the first group to ever win the competition.
The group went on to become Syco's most successful act as well as one of the most successful winning acts in the show's history.
They have become one of the best-selling girl groups of all time with 50million records sold worldwide and are The X Factor’s richest winners, having made more than £30million.