Syco Music

Syco Music, originally and formerly S Records, was a division of Syco Entertainment which operated from 2002 until 2020. The label was founded by British entrepreneur, record executive and media personality Simon Cowell, who was formerly employed at Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG).

Early-on, the label oversaw music releases by such acts as Robson & Jerome, Five, Westlife and Teletubbies. Eventually, BMG (renamed to Sony BMG) bought Cowell's share in both Syco Music and Syco Television. In 2010, Cowell and Sony Music entered a joint venture agreement that would see Cowell and Sony each own 50% of the new Syco Entertainment company, which encompassed both the previous Syco TV and Syco Music divisions.

Over its 18-year run, Syco had multiple, globally-known acts signed, such as the girl groups Fifth Harmony and Little Mix (as well as the solo efforts of former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello), British boyband One Direction, and the Latin American boyband CNCO. In July 2020, Sony sold the rights to the television formats and assets back to Cowell, effectively divesting all of Syco's non-music divisions. As part of the venture, Syco Music, its current roster, and back catalogs remain with Sony Music as a wholly-owned subsidiary. However, as of September 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and according to industry magazine Music Week, the label is now defunct—staff either left or were redeployed elsewhere within Sony Music Group.