19 Entertainment
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19 Entertainment, based in the United Kingdom, is a leading creator and producer of entertainment properties, including American Idol in the United States, Pop Idol in the United Kingdom, as well as versions of the Idol series in more than seventy countries around the world and the United States television show So You Think You Can Dance. The company was founded in 1985 by Simon Fuller, and has since created 106 number one singles, 83 number one albums in the UK, 281 Top 40 albums, and 430 Top 40 singles.
The company has recording contracts with and/or manages or has managed former American Idol and Pop Idol participants, such as Taylor Hicks, Kellie Pickler, Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Kelly Clarkson, Diana DeGarmo, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Fantasia Barrino, and Will Young, as well as Annie Lennox. It has also managed many other artists, primarily from the music industry, most notably the Spice Girls and S Club 7.
The company has also entered into an exclusive global joint venture with David and Victoria Beckham. As well as pop acts, 19 represents many songwriters and producers including Cathy Dennis, Steelworks, Simon Ellis, and Absolute.
Traditionally an artist management company, in recent years 19 has diversified, (as shown in the group name change from 19 Management to 19 Entertainment) to become a group of over 20 companies and has some of the entertainment industry's top creative personnel including:
- 19 Television formed in 1997. Headed by Nigel Lythgoe, former Head of Comedy and Entertainment at LWT alongside Mal Young, 19 TV's head of Drama. Mal previously held the position of Head of Drama at the BBC. 19 TV produces or co-produces some Idol television shows, So You Think You Can Dance and All American Girl in the U.S., as well as television projects for 19 artists.
- S Club 7 series (1999-2003), and its spin-off film Seeing Double (2003)
- Spiceworld film (1998) - starring the Spice Girls
- Pop Idol (2001), American Idol (2002-present) and the Idol series, and its spin-off film, From Justin to Kelly (2003)
- I Dream - children's talent programme for the BBC, featuring former cast members of S Club 8 (2004)
- So You Think You Can Dance (2005-present)
- 19 Management - still an important part of the group, headed by 19 Creative Director and Pop Idol judge Nicki Chapman, has handled the management of some of music's top artists for over two decades
- 19 Merchandising - co-ordinates merchandising deals for 19 artists and brands with many of the worlds top companies
- 19 Recordings - Independent record company alongside music rights companies 19 Music and 19 Songs
- 19 Brands - Utilises the various 19 Brands
- 19 Touring - handling touring arrangements for some of the world's top performers
- 19 International Sports Management
Alongside the core 19 group are several partnership companies including Native Management, TLS Management, Ambush Music, Shy Records, Beckham Brand and Brilliant 19.
In March 2005, 19 Entertainment founder Simon Fuller sold the group to Robert Sillerman's CKX, Inc. in a cash and stock deal worth £100 million ($192 million). Fuller has remained in his role as President of 19 and has become a director of CKX.
19 has recently been expanding more into sport and in August 2006 began handling commercial opportunities for the England national football team (through subsidiary 1966 Entertainment) in a four year deal. From the 2007 Formula One season onwards, 19 will partner with the Honda Racing F1 team. The new long term creative partnership will focus on the development of the Honda Racing F1 Team as a sports and entertainment brand across the world.
On 5th September 2006 19 Entertainment's founder Simon Fuller and French born fashion designer Roland Mouret announced a joint partmership, under the banner 19 RM. The partnership will merge the entereneurial skills of Fuller and the marketing skills of 19 alongside the design skills of Mouret, an internationally renowned designer.
