Syco Entertainment, often known as simply Syco (and stylised as SYCO), is a global joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment focused on the production and marketing of music, television, film and digital content. It employs a staff of more than 30 in offices in London and Los Angeles and manages a string of high profile television and music brands through partnerships with Sony Music labels and its TV production partner, Fremantle Media. Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment each own 50% of the business which is looking to grow its global portfolio of music and television brands over the next few years. Charles Garland, the former chief executive of Crystal Entertainment and chief operator of Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment is Chief Operating Officer, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company. Retail billionaire Philip Green, who is a close friend of Cowell, serves as an advisor to the company. Sporting executive and Vice-Chairman of West Ham United FC, Karren Brady also serves as an advisor to the company.

Susan Magdalane Boyle (born 1 April 1961) is a Scottish singer who came to international public attention when she appeared as a contestant on the TV programme Britain's Got Talent on 11 April 2009, singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables. Her first album was released in November 2009 and debuted as the number one best-selling album on charts around the globe.

Global interest in Boyle was triggered by the contrast between her powerful mezzo-soprano voice and her plain appearance on stage. The juxtaposition of the audience's first impression of her, with the standing ovation she received during and after her performance, led to an international media and Internet response. Within nine days of the audition, videos of Boyle—from the show, various interviews and her 1999 rendition of "Cry Me a River"—had been watched over 100 million times. Her audition video has been viewed on the internet several hundred million times. Despite the sustained media interest she later finished in second place in the final of the show behind dance troupe Diversity.

Shayne Thomas Ward,born 16 October 1984 in Manchester, England, is an English pop singer who rose to fame as the winner of second series of The X Factor. He has sold over three million records worldwide and has had number one albums and singles in nine countries. During The X Factor competition, Ward was mentored by manager Louis Walsh. The Bookies' favourite to win the show, he defeated duo Journey South and singer Andy Abraham in the final screened by ITV1 by a margin of 1.2% of the vote, out of a reputed 10.8 million phone votes cast by viewers. His first single, "That's My Goal", was released in the United Kingdom on December21, 2005 and became the last number one of 2005, hitting the top spot on 31 December. It sold 313,000 copies on its first day of sales, making it the third fastest selling single of all time, behind Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" and Will Young's "Evergreen", which sold 685,000 and 400,000 copies in their first days of sale respectively. Ward's prize, as winner, was a recording contract with Simon Cowell's Syco record label, which is co-owned by Sony Music Entertainment. The contract had a stated value of £1 million, of which £150,000 was a cash advance and the remainder was allocated to recording and marketing costs.

Simon Phillip Cowell (born 7 October 1959) is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol. He is also the owner of the television production and music publishing house Syco.

As a judge, Cowell is known for his blunt and often controversial criticisms, insults and wisecracks about contestants and their abilities. He is also known for combining activities in both the television and music industries, having promoted singles and records for various artists, including television personalities. He was most recently featured on the fifth series of Britain's Got Talent and the first season of The X Factor USA.

In 2010, the British magazine New Statesman listed Cowell at number 41 in a list of "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures 2010".

Cowell was born in Lambeth, London and brought up in Elstree, Hertfordshire. His mother, Julie Brett (née Josie Dalglish), is a former ballet dancer and socialite, and his father, Eric Selig Phillip Cowell (1918–1999), was an estate agent developer and music industry executive. Cowell's father was from a mostly Jewish family, though he did not discuss his background with his children (Cowell's paternal grandmother had immigrated from Poland). Cowell's mother was from a Christian background, and is of part Scottish descent. He has one brother and three half-brothers and a half sister; younger brother Nicholas Cowell, half-brother John Cowell, half-brother Tony Cowell, half-brother Michael Cowell and half sister June Cowell.

Carly Rose Sonenclar (born April 20, 1999) is an American child actress, singer and songwriter.

Carly was born in New York City and resides in Westchester County, New York. She began singing at age 2, imitating several of the performers on the early years of American Idol. She took numerous singing, dancing and acting classes, and one of her teachers put her in touch with a New York City talent agency, which signed her. She enjoys softball and has an older brother, Russell.

Carly began her professional career in 2006 in The Night of the Hunter at the New York Musical Theater Festival in which she played the lead role of Pearl. In that same year, she made her Broadway debut in Les Miserables as Young Cosette. In 2009, she appeared in the national tour of Little House of the Prairie the Musical, starring Melissa Gilbert, originating the principal role of Carrie. Carly made her television debut as Gilda Flip, the newest Prankster and protégé of the lovably evil Francine Carruthers, the leader of the Pranksters, in season three of The Electric Company, produced by Sesame Workshop and airing on PBS. In 2011, Carly originated the principal role of Chloe in Wonderland on Broadway and garnered rave reviews including one by The New York Times theater critic Charles Isherwood, who described Carly as a "preturnaturally skilled singer." She is a featured soloist on the cast CD produced by Sony Masterworks and was named the 2011 Best Young Performer by broadwayworld.com. Most recently, Carly originated the lead role of Parsley in The Big Bank, a new musical which was performed at the New York Musical Theater Festival in October, 2011.