Simon Cowell Addresses Little Mix's Syco Exit, Sharing His Side Of The Story

He said there was a falling out with the band's management company over a songwriting credit.

Simon Cowell has shared his side of the story, after it was revealed that Little Mix were parting ways from his record label after six years.

Over the weekend, it was reported that the music mogul’s label, Syco, would no longer be working with acts represented by Modest Management, meaning Little Mix and last year’s ‘X Factor’ winners Rak-Su would be jumping ship to RCA.

While the band’s management declined to comment at the time, when contacted by HuffPost UK, Simon has now told The Sun what led to the end of their professional relationship.

Open Image Modal
Dymond/Thames/Syco/REX/Shutterstock

He told the newspaper the split came about after a row with Modest Management over a songwriting credit on ‘Woman Like Me’, the latest Little Mix single.

“It was just embarrassing but, funnily enough, I was more annoyed, again, not about me, but about the fact people who had worked so hard in my company were being misrepresented,” Simon revealed. “Why do artists think they’re more important than staff members? They’re not. They’re the same.

“The irony was the record they were arguing about, which is Woman Like Me, they didn’t want to record. This was one of those ironic times that we were having a hit and nobody was happy.”

Insisting the decision “wasn’t down to money”, he continued: “Basically, they said we’d done a terrible job. I had agreed not to talk about this publicly because I thought it was a private matter. I said, ‘We can’t work with the management, it’s as simple as that’.”

Open Image Modal
Little Mix backstage at the EMAs earlier this month
Tristan Fewings/MTV 2018 via Getty Images

He was also quick to dismiss the idea that there was any bad blood between himself and the individual members of Little Mix, adding: “Everyone’s like, ‘There must have been something massive and that’s why it collapsed’. Well, I can show you all the correspondence between me and the girls over the years, there’s never been an instance when we’ve fallen out.

“As I said in my email to them, I stand by the fact they are the hardest working bunch of girls I’ve ever worked with. They deserve everything they’ve got.”

Simon also claimed he’d be meeting up with the group later this week, so they can discuss the subject in person.

Little Mix were previously the most successful act in the UK on the Syco roster, which still features acts including ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ runner-up Susan Boyle, former Fifth Harmony singer Camila Cabello, ‘X Factor’ judge Louis Tomlinson and LSD, a collaborative project comprised of Labrinth, Sia and Diplo.

The label’s biggest success story was probably One Direction, who made a huge splash internationally after achieving fame on ‘The X Factor’, eventually going their separate ways in early 2016.

On Friday, Little Mix will release their fifth album, ‘LM5’.

1. Their Comments About Female Empowerment
Brian Rasic via Getty Images
They told Wonderland magazine last year: "Girl power is what we're about. It's what we stand for as a group. We want to do everything we can to make women feel better about themselves."
2. When They Stopped A Song To Comfort Perrie
Perrie was in the middle of a worldwide promo tour when her break-up with Zayn Malik was announced, leading to this emotional moment. Fortunately, she had her BFFs at her side.
3. When Leigh-Anne Refused To Let The Paps Get A Pic Of Perrie Looking Sad
Chiva
When your friend's going through a break-up, you'll do all you can to make sure their ex doesn't see them looking sad, right?
4. And The Accompanying Prom-Themed Photoshoot Was Just As Brilliant As Their Comments
This is a limo we want to ride in.
5. Even If The Prom Itself Isn't All That...
Still, at least they have each other to dance with, right?
6. When They Proved They're Not Afraid Of Telling A Bad Joke...
Even if no one else is laughing, clearly.
7. ...And They'll Laugh Even If They're Not *All* In On It
Oh, Leigh-Anne.
8. When Jesy Said She She'll Be Having The Other Girls As Her Bridesmaids
Paul Archuleta via Getty Images
She told MailOnline last year: 'I wouldn't have anyone else.'
9. ...Which Is Hardly Surprising, Given How Jade Gushed When Jesy And Jake Got Engaged
'Whenever I see them, I literally watch them like some sort of pervert...' Amazing.
10. When They All Clearly Found This Moment As Hilarious As We Do
Seriously, what is she saying?!
11. When They Celebrated Their Number-One Single With A Sleepover
What we'd give for an invite to one of these get-togethers.
12. When They Hit The Red Carpet With Their Mums...
Mike Marsland via Getty Images
Here they are with their mothers on the red carpet at the Brit Awards. Adorable.
13. ...And Then SLAYED When They Actually Hit The Stage...
Managing to out-stage Adele, Rihanna and Coldplay is no mean feat, but the girls managed it.
14. ...But They Still Sound Great Stripped Back
Take away the bells and whistles, and you still can't fault those harmonies.
15. When They Stick Up For One Another
Danny Martindale via Getty Images
When Katie Hopkins slagged Jesy off on Twitter, Jade spat back, telling HuffPost UK: 'I just think she [Hopkins] is a really sad person... I think it’s really sad that she has to try and find some kind of limelight by slating everyone else."
16. When They Went All Out For Halloween
David Jensen/EMPICS Entertainment
They're clearly not afraid of a group costume - though we never had them down as Kiss fans.
17. When Jade Proved She Was The Biggest Little Mix Fan Of All
Check those bed covers - they're Little Mix print!
18. In Fact, We Think Perrie Said It Best...