In a candid interview on Stephen Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO podcast, Simon Cowell shared his thoughts on the future of One Direction, expressing skepticism about a potential reunion. He revealed a significant regret: not owning the rights to the band’s name.
Cowell recalled advising the group on their career trajectory, emphasizing the importance of creating a catalog of hits. He aimed for them to have enough success to fill stadiums if they ever decided to reform. When asked if he believed a reunion would happen, he responded, “I doubt it.”
Reflecting on his regret, Cowell stated, “I should have kept the name … I should have owned the name.” The current ownership by the band members—Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Liam Payne, and Louis Tomlinson—means Cowell cannot use the name for any projects without their consent. He humorously added, “If you’re listening, I’ll buy it back from you,” highlighting how owning the name could have allowed him to explore creative ventures like animations.
Cowell also noted the logistical challenges of coordinating a reunion without unanimous participation from the members, saying, “If one of the band members, for whatever reason, say they don’t want to tour, it can stop the others.”
Since disbanding in 2016, each member has pursued solo careers, and Cowell lamented the absence of similar bands in the current pop landscape. He announced plans to search for the next great boy band as part of a new docuseries, stating, “If I don’t do it this year I’m going to really regret it, so let’s just do it.” Auditions are set to begin in July across the U.K.
