Simon Fuller - Impact in Music Culture

Impact in Music Culture

In 2008, Simon Fuller was certified as the most successful British music manager of all time by Billboard magazine, having produced over 500 No.1 hit singles globally and over 240 No.1 albums; his reputation for supporting new music talent is well documented. He has managed the career of Annie Lennox since the release of her multi platinum, award winning album Diva in 1991. Lennox has sold 80 million records and has been called "the greatest white soul singer alive" by VH1. He has managed the careers of a number of hit songwriters and producers, most notably Cathy Dennis, who first met Fuller as the singer of D Mob in the 1980s. Under Fuller's guidance Cathy Dennis has become the UK's No.1 female songwriter with a string of global hits for artists including Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Pink, Will Young and others, and Simon Fuller spoke of his relationship with Dennis in Music Week dated 15.12.07. In 2002 Fuller's company discovered 19 year old Amy Winehouse, produced her first award winning album and signed her to Universal Music. Winehouse left 19 Management in spring 2006 and signed to Raye Cosbert / Metropolis Music.

Fuller managed the Spice Girls through the peak of their success. The "management svengali" (as "affectionately" described by the British media) is widely credited with masterminding their most creative period with hits including "Wannabe", as well bringing them a number of globally lucrative sponsorship deals with Pepsi, Polaroid, Walkers, Cadbury, Asda, Elida Faberge (Unilever) and others. He famously introduced Spice Girl Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) to her future husband David Beckham. Under Fuller, the Spice Girls rose to chart topper status and went on to sell over 37.5 million records in less than three years. In November 1997 the girls decided to manage themselves and they parted company with Fuller. The group later disbanded and it was not long before Fuller was approached to manage the career of former Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Victoria Beckham.

Fuller's interests in music make him one of the most powerful figures in the global entertainment industry. In 2012 he announced a new working partnership with Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records and owner of Bob Marley catalogue. The new venture is named Blackwell Fuller. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 the biggest selling music acts in North America (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Daughtry) were all managed by Simon Fuller.