In a recent appearance on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, music-mogul Simon Cowell dropped a provocative statement: he admitted that if Bob Dylan auditioned for one of his talent shows, he “would have gone, ‘Forget it.’”
Cowell, whose new Netflix series Simon Cowell: The Next Act premieres December 10, was asked about “unconventional voices” — artists like Dylan, Frank Ocean, and others whose style, according to some, wouldn’t fit the typical commercial mold.
Reflecting on Dylan’s version of Make You Feel My Love (a song later popularized by Adele), Cowell admitted he didn’t initially realize Dylan wrote it — and said that had Dylan “walked in and sung that version,” he wouldn’t have passed audition. “I’m not gonna lie … I would’ve gone, ‘Forget it.’” Cowell said.
He followed that blunt verdict with a frank admission: “I’m not a fan of Bob Dylan.” Yet Cowell acknowledged that he understands opinions vary — “if people like him, then they like him, and if you don’t, that’s fine.”
This isn’t new territory. As early as 2007, Cowell called Dylan “boring” and claimed the singer-songwriter’s style would have “devastated” a season of his show.
But Dylan isn’t the only controversial mention — Cowell’s dismissal of “unconventional voices” raises questions about the value of raw artistry in televised competitions. Some industry figures argue that such shows — by design — might systematically exclude artists whose strengths lie outside radio-friendly vocals.
Whether you love Dylan or loathe him, Cowell’s comments echo a larger debate: does true musical greatness fit inside the narrow lanes of pop-star auditions — or does it belong somewhere darker, deeper, and harder to measure?
