Simon Cowell Follows Dr. Dre Into Headphone Market

TV personality Simon Cowell says he can make better-sounding headphones than Dr. Dre.

Cowell, a producer and judge on “The X Factor” singing competition, unveiled the X Headphones today as part of a collaboration with Sony Corp. (6758) The partners will offer the product line through their Syco Entertainment joint venture.

The effort will compete against Beats Electronics LLC, the maker of Beats by Dre devices. That business, founded six years ago by music producer Jimmy Iovine and rapper Dr. Dre, has said it has 30 percent of the premium headphone market, citing figures from NPD Group Inc.

“I chose to make a set of headphones with Sony because I simply wanted something better than what is in the market today,” Cowell said in a statement. “I’ve tried all of them, literally every single one. Sony and I set out to create the best headphone in the world.” 

To contact the reporter on this story: Nick Turner in New York at nturner7@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Nick Turner at nturner7@bloomberg.net