Simon Cowell’s boyband search ‘is thrown into crisis as auditions are axed and bosses hire TikTok stars to promote the show’
Simon Cowell’s flashy search for ‘the next One Direction’ has hit the skids again, with two rounds of auditions reportedly cancelled by bosses.
The music mogul recently went on a quest to find the boy band’s successor, after admitting that there hasn’t been a more successful band since. The search is set to be presented in a Netflix documentary called The Midas Touch.
However, it has now been reported by The sun that the first two rounds of auditions in Newcastle, which were due to begin on Thursday July 4, have been cancelled by bosses.
As a result, the number of auditions, previously known as a ‘national hunt’, has been reduced from nine to just seven.
It is also reported that bosses enlisted TikTok stars and influencers to promote the call for auditions in a bid to drum up interest, and are said to have reached out to a number of content creators.
Simon Cowell’s flashy new talent show to find ‘the next One Direction’ has hit a new snag, with two rounds of auditions reportedly cancelled by bosses
The music mogul recently went on the hunt for the next incarnation of the boy band (One Direction is pictured in 2014) after admitting no band had been as successful since
Simon previously surprised the music industry by announcing that he would start his talent search in Newcastle first, followed by Liverpool, Dublin and London.
He then said: ‘There is always a high risk and I really have no idea what will happen!’
“We could discover an incredible group, but we might not get there. What if no one shows up for auditions? That could be awkward.”
Simon previously shared how excited he is about starting his search for a boyband in the northeastern hotspot, where he previously discovered stars such as James Arthur and Cheryl.
He added: ‘I wanted to go to places with nice people, so Newcastle, yeah. I like the people from Newcastle.’
Simon’s representatives previously told The Sun that the Newcastle auditions were never cancelled as there were no venues booked, noting that this was due to ‘travel schedules’. MailOnline has contacted representatives for further comment.
There were already doubts about Simon’s big search for a new talent on Tuesday, when a singer sent a sharp message to the Britain’s Got Talent judges after being approached by a casting director to audition for the “next One Direction”.
In his search for his newest stars, Simon has been spotted on the streets of London holding a sign that read: ‘Simon needs you. Future megastars wanted for new boy band.’
However, The Sun has now reported that the first two rounds of auditions in Newcastle, which were due to start on Thursday, July 4, have been cancelled by bosses.
Meanwhile, his team of casting directors reached out to potential candidates online, but no one was impressed.
Fin Power of Liverpool band STONE claimed he received a message from someone on Simon’s behalf and shared his brutal response.
He explained: ‘I got this message from someone on behalf of Simon Cowell. ‘Hi, Fin. I’m contacting you on behalf of Simon Cowell!’
‘We are working with him to scout singers aged 16-18 for a new boy band, which will be filmed as part of a possible television documentary about his quest.
‘The company that Simon Cowell is following is BTBSC Series Ltd, trading as Box-to-Box Films. I would be happy to give you more information about how you would like to audition for this film, if you are interested.”
Fin responded, “Tell Simon to go to hell.”
MailOnline contacted Simons’ representatives for comment at the time.
Simon recently signed a major deal with streaming giant Netflix for a new series in his bid to find the ‘new One Direction’. He called the series Simon Cowell: Midas Touch.
A source revealed to The sun that Simon is in the process of finalizing the deal with the streamer.
They said: ‘Netflix is ββthe perfect home for his new show and Box To Box, who produce the series, have worked with them before.
‘Simon and his team have worked so hard to get the show off the ground and a final deal is now close to being completed.’
Fin Power (second from left) of Liverpool band STONE claimed he had received a message from someone on Simon’s behalf and shared his brutal response on Tuesday
In his search for his newest stars, Simon has been spotted on the streets of London with a sign that reads: ‘Simon needs you. Future megastars wanted for new boy band’
Simon recently signed a major deal with streaming giant Netflix for a new show in his bid to find the ‘next One Direction’ (Pictured in February)
The name of the show is said to have amused people behind the scenes.
The source added: ‘Simon knows he’s the best at what he does and by calling his show Midas Touch, bragging rights take on a new meaning.’
On Saturday it was revealed that Simon fears that the UK is not finding enough breakthrough talent. According to him, record labels are not signing enough new stars, who are facing too much online competition.
Simon, who has enjoyed worldwide success with One Direction and Westlife, is determined to change that with a new project that sees him auditioning for a new band.
He told The Ny Breaking: ‘At the moment, record labels aren’t signing enough new talent.
‘The number of British artists breaking through globally has dropped dramatically. I think there is too much competition online.
“People don’t knock on your door and say, ‘I have a new band.’ That doesn’t happen. You have to go out there and do it yourself. So that’s what we do.”
Earlier this month, Simon was spotted putting up a large billboard of his own face in a bid to generate publicity for his new show.
He surprised passers-by in London by hanging up a giant poster, marking the start of his nationwide search for the next big boy band.
Simon decided he needed his star turn to promote his next project after Britain’s Got Talent suffered its worst viewing figures in its 17-year history, despite the head judge declaring it the best final he’d seen in a long time.
Dressed in overalls, the chief judge I had to get to work with a bucket and a brush in my hand.
He left Londoners in shock when he smoothed out a giant poster of his own face with the words: ‘Simon needs you. Future megastars wanted for new boyband. No time wasters.’
The last British pop artist to achieve global success was Dua Lipa, who signed with Warner Records in 2014.
In contrast, the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s saw no shortage of world-famous musical acts, such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Wham! and Take That.