Simon Cowell reflects on managing One Direction and being saved by his son

Simon Cowell, the music mogul, signed the band to his label Syco Music, leading them to become one of the best-selling boy groups of all time. However, he revealed on a podcast that he regretted not owning the One Direction name, which hindered him from continuing its legacy after the band broke up. Cowell admitted that he should have owned the name and vowed not to make the same mistake again. He also shared the advice he gave to the band members about the sacrifices that come with fame. Recently, Cowell was seen putting up a giant billboard of his face to promote his new show, a nationwide hunt for the next big boy band. He has been in talks with various platforms like Apple, Prime Video, and Netflix for the show. Becoming a father has been a transformative experience for Cowell, who felt lost and unhappy after losing his parents. The birth of his son, Eric, brought him happiness and a new perspective on life. Cowell expressed that being a dad "without question" saved him from a downward spiral. Despite his success in managing One Direction, Cowell expressed regret over not owning the band's name, which limited his ability to pursue other projects under the same brand. He emphasized the importance of owning the name to avoid conflicts among band members in the future. Cowell also shared his early advice to One Direction about achieving enough hits to sustain stadium tours if they ever reformed. He is set to launch a search for Britain's next boy band to recreate the success of One Direction.