Simon Cowell is back on the hunt for the next big boy band with Dublin 'a natural place' to look.
The music mogul and America's Got Talent judge has had great success with Westlife and One Direction.
Simon told The Hard Shoulder the time is right to find the next big thing.
"Louis [Walsh] has done very well putting bands together historically," he said.
"I signed Westlife - they auditioned for me twice in Dublin.
"The first time I said no and I think you need to change the line up.
"Second time he did change the line up slightly and we signed them literally on the spot."
Niall Horan speaking to The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk. Image: NewstalkSimon said he wanted to come back to Ireland as it's a great place to find talent.
"Because I've had success in Dublin that was a good reason to come there again," he said.
"Of course we auditioned Niall [Horan] in Dublin for One Direction and he was so good it felt a natural place to go to do this."
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Asked if artificial intelligence could replace talent in the music industry, Simon Cowell said he believes nothing beats meeting people.
"I think at some point that is going to happen," he said.
"It's already happened I think in terms of people [who] have created solo artists from AI, holograms, whatever.
"But for me there's something about finding someone for the first time, working with them as real people.
"That's part of the buzz of doing this".
Global artists
Simon said he believes people who want be solo artists are better off starting in a band.
"The music business right now is very, very crowded online," he said.
"I think people are finding it harder to get a deal, particularly the last seven or eight years.
"You can see the amount of artists that are breaking globally is getting fewer and fewer.
"If you want to give yourself a better shot at being a successful solo artist, start off in a band".
Simon Cowell arriving to an ‘America’s Got Talent’ event in California, 4-4-23. Image: AFF / AlamySimon Cowell said he believes there is plenty of talented people out there.
"I've always believed, right when we started these shows, that if you find enough people there is always going to be a star," he said.
"That doesn't apply to every year but fortunately over the years I think a lot of people got their careers in the same way.
"You come on a show, people get to know you and that gives you a leg up".
'It's hard enough'
Simon said he believes it's important to be honest with everyone.
"I would never say to someone who I don't believe has much talent, 'Just stick with it'" he said.
"If it was my son and he sang to me, and he couldn't sing very well, I wouldn't say to him, 'Great - be a singer for the rest of your life'.
"I would say, 'Do something else you're going to be successful in'.
"It's hard enough when you're great [but] it's almost impossible if you're not very good".
Simon said he'd like to see Louis Walsh involved with the Dublin auditions.
"I think Louis should be in Dublin while I'm there; I mean it wouldn't be the same without him," he said.
Simon added that the approach of people posting their own content and finding a fanbase "is one in about a hundred million".
Auditions for men aged between 16 and 18 will take place in Dublin on July 28th and 29th.
More details can be found here
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