After decades dominating the music industry, Simon Cowell appears determined to continue his quest for the next major boy band phenomenon, despite numerous previous attempts ending in disappointment. The launch of his latest group, December 10, through the Netflix docuseries Simon Cowell: The Next Act, has prompted reflection on the mogul's mixed legacy in band creation.
Cowell's Successes and Numerous Failures
Simon Cowell's most celebrated success story remains One Direction, the global sensation he formed on The X Factor in 2010. Alongside them, he created successful girl groups Little Mix, the first band to win the UK show, and Fifth Harmony from the US version. While none of these acts remain together today, their chart-topping achievements are undeniable.
However, for every success story, there exist multiple forgotten failures from Cowell's talent shows and label ventures. As December 10 prepares to release their debut single, music fans are reminded of the precarious nature of manufactured band success.
Rak-Su: The First Male Winners Who Faded
The first male group to win The X Factor was Rak-Su in 2017, mentored by Simon Cowell himself. The four-piece R&B act made history by performing original songs throughout the competition, with their winner's single Dimelo becoming the first self-penned track by winners, reaching number two in the charts.
Despite this promising start, Rak-Su soon parted ways with Cowell's Syco label to become independent artists. Now operating as a trio consisting of Ashley, Jamaal, and Myles, their careers have remained relatively quiet with occasional music releases and performances.
Real Like You: The Forgotten Winners
In 2019, Cowell embarked on a similar mission with The X Factor: The Band, creating girl group Real Like You, later renamed RLY. Despite winning the series with their original song Be Like Them, they became the first UK X Factor winners not to release a winner's single.
The group gradually disintegrated over subsequent years, losing members until their official disbandment in June 2024, when all remaining members pursued solo careers.
Stereo Kicks: The Ambitious Eight-Piece
Simon Cowell and the X Factor team demonstrated ambitious band construction in 2014 by merging solo acts into eight-piece group Stereo Kicks. Mentored by Louis Walsh, the ensemble featuring Barclay Beales, Chris Leonard, Casey Johnson, Jake Sims, James Graham, Tom Mann, Charlie Jones, and Reece Bibby only managed fifth place in the competition.
Member Reece Bibby later found modest success with New Hope Club, touring with artists like Sabrina Carpenter before the band entered hiatus in 2025.
Union J: The Post-One Direction Project
Following two years of major band success, Union J became Cowell's next project during The X Factor's ninth series. Originally auditioning as trio Triple J, they merged with contestant George Shelley at judges' houses under Louis Walsh's guidance.
Despite finishing fourth, Union J achieved post-show success with their debut single Carry You and album reaching number six in the UK charts before disbanding several years later.
As Simon Cowell launches yet another boy band venture, the music industry watches with both anticipation and skepticism, remembering that for every One Direction, there have been multiple groups whose careers failed to sustain initial promise.
