How I Built This with Guy Raz Simon Cowell: Music Mogul
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Aug 4, 2025 
Simon Cowell, a music mogul and TV personality famously known for his role on American Idol and The X Factor, shares his inspiring journey from the mailroom at EMI to becoming a successful talent creator. He discusses his unique approach to finding hits and how he embraced unconventional methods during his career. Cowell also reflects on the birth of One Direction and the emotional challenges of balancing pleasure and pain in the music industry, all while humorously recounting his experiences judging talent, including young Harry Styles.
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Simon Hustled to Launch Hits
- Simon hustled by promoting records himself to clubs and radio to get them heard and charted.
- He pushed the song "So Macho" multiple times despite low budget and obstacles until it became a hit.
Trust Gut over Music Theory
- Simon never pretended musical skills he lacked; he relied on his gut feeling if he liked a song.
- He judged music by personal appeal rather than technical expertise, focusing on commercial potential.
Rejected, Then Moved To RCA
- Simon pitched unconventional records like Power Rangers and Zig and Zag songs and faced harsh rejection.
- Despite losses, he persisted by moving to RCA, encouraged to keep confidence and produce hits.
