SIMPLY RED - HUCKNALL BLAMES 'SLIMY COWELL' FOR THE STATE OF U.K. MUSIC INDUSTRY

Former SIMPLY RED star MICK HUCKNALL has slammed music mogul SIMON COWELL and his reality TV programmes for damaging the British music industry. The rocker has accused Cowell - whose Syco production company created U.K. talent show The X Factor - of using the programme for his own financial gain, instead of properly nurturing promising new artists. He says, "Our culture isn't supporting recorded music in the same way it did 10 years ago. "The X Factor's done an incredible amount of damage. It's benefitted one or two individuals - like Slimy (Simon) Cowell - who've made a fortune, but I wonder how much the actual artistes will make or if anyone will know who they are in 10 years? "It's great family entertainment for people who don't give a toss about the recording industry, but for us as artists it's very damaging."