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Stunned George Sampson dropped by Simon Cowell
By Alistair Foster, London Lite Last updated at 12:51pm on 16.09.09Britain's Got Talent winner George Sampson has parted company with his mentor Simon Cowell.
We're told things just weren't working out between the young street dancer and the X Factor mogul.
Out of step: BGT star George Sampson
After 14m viewers saw George's victory on the ITV talent contest, the teenager's career never took off as Simon would have liked, and he is now no longer working with Cowell's Syco label.
A source said: “George just didn't prove as marketable as Simon had hoped. When acts like George win the show, it's much harder for them to forge a successful and money-spinning career compared with a singer, like Susan Boyle.”
And George, 16, who dazzled BGT audiences with his Singin' In The Rain routine, did the relationship no good when he bad-mouthed Cowell last month, claiming the impresario wasn't giving him any support.
He claimed he somehow ended up making a loss on his DVD, Access 2 All Areas, despite it being a successful seller. George, who went on to star in the West End hip hop musical Into The Hoods, said: “Things aren't going so well with me and Simon. I suppose he's realised he can make more money out of other people.
Bad-mouthed: Simon Cowell
“But I thought we were tight. I had one of the best-selling DVDs at the start of the year. We sold loads of copies. But I've just found out that Simon's company takes 90 per cent of the revenue. I get 10 per cent, but I have to pay the production costs out of that. So I ended up owing them money. I'm not quite sure how it all works, but that can't be fair, can it?”
A spokeswoman for Syco insisted things were fine between George and Simon, and that their relationship was good. She added: “They could work together again in the future. The door is very much open for any other projects that come up.”
We bet George has everything crossed...
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Reader views (5)
Get some A levels and a proper job
- Scott, london, uk
Even Leona Lewis is regretting signing with Cowell as he never finds her any gigs. The girl simply never performs live
- Keith Price, Luton England
"Simon's company takes 90 per cent of the revenue..I get 10 per cent..... I have to pay the production costs"
Who said downloading is 'Killing Music' !!!
- Hansel, London
You've served your purpose kid, and you ain't making Cashcowell any more money.
Next.
- Blue Baby, London
Surley all of these acts know that this is just a money making execrise for Simon Cowell and anything they get is the crumbs off the floor.
He gets paid to produce the program, a big cut of the phone call revenue, a slice of the advert revenue and total rights to all of the acts. The show itself is a free advert for the acts and they get audience/customer buy in from day one... He then runs concerts and shows, makes records / albums and dvd's paying them sod all and rakes in all of that cash too.
Both here and the states.....
The money to him comes from so many channels that he must be dizzy with counting it all.
Never mind city bankers, this guy could teach them all how to get ahead on other peoples efforts...
- Mark, St Albans
