American Idol's Simon Fuller Partners With Island Records Founder Chris Blackwell

The new venture � Blackwell Fuller, Inc. � will take the form of a new content company focused on working with artists looking to develop and nourish the connection points between them and their audiences. Fuller and Blackwell have already identified several opportunities to partner with important artists and iconic brands and will be announcing the first of these initiatives in the coming months.

"In the rush to create new media platforms in this incredibly explosive digital age, the business community generally relegates artists to the role of a mere spectator, often at their own expense," said Fuller. "We believe we have a unique opportunity to create new-media partnerships directly with the creators themselves and build a new model that will define the path for artists and creators for the new digital age."

"There has been a need for a new business approach for artists and content owners for many years," said Blackwell. "As the entertainment industry and media companies struggle to find new financial models, the arrangements struck with artists have become more and more restrictive and onerous. Our new approach will give artists the freedom to explore new paths to market with the kind of support and resources it takes to create real scale, control, and reach."

Blackwell Fuller will operate from Fuller's XIX Entertainment offices in London, New York, and Los Angeles.