From a job in the mail room at EMI Music Publishing Cowell rose through the ranks swiftly and after becoming a record producer at the firm, left to set up his own company. Following the collapse of his first business and a time at BMG, Cowell went on to pioneer the Popstars TV talent show, and subsequently co-produce Pop Idol and more recently The X Factor. As a music producer he has achieved sales of over 25 million albums, over 70 top 30 records, and 17 Number 1 singles. His band 'Westlife' has achieved an impressive 10 Number 1 hits alone. The Sunday Times Rich List recently estimated that he earned £33.5m in one year alone, thanks to the global success of the 'Pop Idol' brand.  The 10 Secrets of the International Music Mogul are: Work Your Way Up – get to know your industry Don’t Be Defeated – how to overcome set backs in business Grab Opportunities – respond to the market Know Your Market – and consistently produce the product they want Think Differently – take your product and spin it in different formats Get Your Name on the Credits – and reap the rewards Don’t Look Back – learn from missed opportunities but keep moving forwards Say it How It Is – straight talking saves time in business Build a Personal Brand – and be respected for what you do well if nothing else Use Your Contacts – there is no shame to pulling strings in business

Table of Contents:
The Life and times of Simon Cowell. One: Know Your Industry. Simon Cowell's status as one of the most powerful men in the record industry has been achieved on the back of a recent run of TV shows, but he spent many years learning the music business from the bottom up. Two: Know Your Audience. Successful marketing depends on a close and intimate knowledge of your target consumers and what they want. Over the years, Cowell has honed his market research methods. Three: Harness the Power of the Crowd. With X Factor, American Idol and Got Talent, Cowell has harnessed the power of the crowd to find and develop bankable artists. Four: Think Big, Think Lateral. Cowell's latter-day business model is elegantly simple but the execution of his plans has required ambitious thinking and a strategy that spans music, television and new media. Five: Develop International Formats. Successful television formats can be sold around the world and Cowell has been quick to exploit the potential of his own creations. Six: Work with Partners. Despite his public image as a freewheeling maverick, Cowell's business success has been based on long-term collaboration with partners. Seven: Tell it Like it Is. Cowell's talent for plain speaking has served him well as a television personality and it is not an act. The Simon Cowell brand reflects his approach to life and business. Eight: Manage the Talent. The acts signed to Cowell's record label represent some of his most valuable assets. He takes care to steer their careers in a successful direction. Nine: Learn to Roll with the Punches. Cowell has seen his fair share of setbacks but he has always bounced back and moved his career forward. Ten: Get Your Name on the Title. By assuming a leadership role and owning assets Cowell has been able to do things his own way while earning a lot of money. How to do Business the Simon Cowell Way. The Last Word. Notes. Index. About the Author.