BIZ Who Is 19 Entertainment American Idol's 800 Ton Gorilla

Simon Fuller Carrie Underwood's hot selling album 'Some Hearts' Jordin Sparks 2007 American Idol title winner - American Idol photo Clive Davis David Beckham

by James Loving and Business Wire

When it comes to looking into American Idol, the television programming 800-ton gorilla there's a lot to look into.

Thursday May 31, 2007

WHO ARE THESE GUYS???

When it comes to looking into American Idol, the television programming 800-ton gorilla there's a lot to look into.

For any show that pays one of its judges Simon Cowell US $36 million a year to dissect thousands of AI hopefuls and contestants you know that there is a tremendous revenue stream in the American Idol brand.

On the final show when 17-year-old Jordin Sparks clinched the AI title Sony BMG records Chairman and CEO Clive Davis noted that their company is associated with a number of AI winners while noting that former American Idol winner Kelley Clarkson has sold 14 million albums since winning the title.

In doing so it revealed a link from the creation of the show to what could be a lock on the careers of numerous AI contestants.

A recording contract is one of Sparks prizes that also included winning a Ford car. Ford is the featured sponsor but who is 19 Entertainment and Freemantle Media who are also listed among the program credits?

Simon Fuller is given credit as being the creator of the American Idol show he is also the founder of 19 Entertainment (formerly 19 Management). He founded the company that is headquartered in England in 1985.

Since that time 19 has under contract American Idol participants, Taylor Hicks, Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler, Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, and Fantasia Barrino.

They also have managed Diana DeGarmo, Will Young and Gareth Gates and Annie Lennox as well as other artists that are primarily from the music industry, most notably the Spice Girls and S Club 7.

Grammy Award winner and former AI champ Carrie Underwood is always quick to give Fuller credit for her successful career thus far in which Davis said the she has sold 6 million units of her debut album.

19 Entertainment is also involved in sports. They entered into an exclusive global joint venture with David and Victoria Beckham. They are largely responsible for Beckham's signing a five-year US $250 million contract with the LA Galaxy of the USA's MLS (Major League Soccer).

The 19 Entertainment organization has grown to become a group of over 20 companies and is said to have some of the entertainment industry's top creative personnel.

Some on 19's group of companies include:

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 - coordinates 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 - Utilizes the various 19 Brands

* 19 Touring - handling touring arrangements for some of the world's top performers

* 19 International Sports Management

Their television productions include 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 program for the BBC, featuring former cast members of S Club 8 (2004) and So You Think You Can Dance (2005-present).

Fuller sold the group of 10 companies in March 2005, 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.

Since that time they continued to grow and began handling commercial opportunities for the England national football team (through subsidiary 1966 Entertainment) deal in August 2006 that is 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.

But there's more associated with American Idol…who is Freemantle Media?…. 2 B in our NEXT ISSUE

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