One Direction’s Niall Horan shocks Simon Cowell as he launches solo career with rival label
Irish boybander will take his career AWAY from Syco - despite Simon predicting he'd stay loyal to him
NO amount of Irish charm can save NIALL HORAN from feeling the wrath of SIMON COWELL.
The ONE DIRECTION star has become the latest member of the boyband to ditch his Syco label to embark on a solo career - months after the music mogul predicted he would stay put.
I can reveal Simon is upset at the singer’s shock move which is set to see him sign with Capitol US, a part of rival Universal, and launch his solo career across the Atlantic, where he has a huge following.
A source said: “Simon has made no secret of his expectations for Niall to stay loyal to him and has been desperately trying to keep him as a solo act with plans to turn him into a JUSTIN BIEBER style artist.
“They’ve worked together closely since day one and have always had a strong relationship, but Universal offered a lot of money.
“Simon’s likely to be so frustrated Niall has gone to a rival.”
The X Factor boss told me just last month how he was feeling “confident” the star would put pen to paper with Syco, a branch of Sony, following LIAM PAYNE’s decision to move to Capitol UK.
He said: “Business is business and it has got to be the right deal, but I am confident.”
Making his feelings clear about Liam’s departure, he added: “That is the music business, unfortunately. I don’t think anyone else from the band will do that.”
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But the deal, which I’m told is looking very likely, means every member of the boyband, including ZAYN MALIK, have now abandoned Syco to pursue their solo ambitions apart from LOUIS TOMLINSON - who’s not even focusing on music. A spokesman for Syco declined to comment.
However, there is no bad blood with HARRY STYLES, who has stayed with Sony but will now be working out of the States through the Columbia label in a deal thought to be worth £60million.
Meanwhile, I can reveal the star’s solo career has just been given a massive boost – by RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS legend ANTHONY KIEDIS.
The Californian rocker has revealed he wants to give one of his tunes to the star.
He said: “We’ve got 20-30 songs that didn’t make the album and are on the cutting room floor.
“There’s one that could be great for young Harry.”
That’ll be worth a listen.
Ri's heart to miss
She has kept coy about her relationship with DRAKE but RIHANNA wore her heart on more than her sleeve while she was out in New York.
Clubbers got a surprise when the star turned up to flash nightspot 1OAK dressed in this £10,000 heart-shaped Saint Laurent fur cape.
She was flying solo without the rapper a week after he declared his love for her at the MTV VMAs - and days after they got matching shark tattoos.
I'm looking forward to seeing how he responds to this.
Calvin moving Gon
TAYLOR SWIFT was quick to move on with TOM HIDDLESTON after her split from CALVIN HARRIS.
Now it looks like the DJ is doing the same, having been photographed arm in arm with Mexican actress and singer EIZA GONZALEZ as they left a party in Los Angeles at the weekend.
She has been romantically linked to CRISTIANO RONALDO in the past and was spotted kissing LIAM HEMSWORTH in 2013 – just a day after the Hunger Games actor had split from MILEY CYRUS.
A few weeks ago American singer TINASHE played down suggestions that she was in a relationship with Calvin after they were spotted together on a romantic date.
Keeping your options open, Calvin?
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