Simon Cowell to release charity record for Haiti

Simon Cowell is pictured in Las Vegas, Nevada in this April 19, 2008 file photo. Cowell will release a charity single to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake, he said on Thursday.

LONDON (Reuters) - British music mogul Simon Cowell will release a charity single to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake, he said on Thursday.

The record label boss and "Mr. Nasty" judge on popular television talent shows like "The X Factor" is expected to recruit stars signed up to his own company, including Susan Boyle and Leona Lewis, as well as a raft of top U.S. singers.

Fellow X Factor judge Cheryl Cole is also likely to perform on the track, joining the swelling ranks of celebrities seeking to boost donations for disaster relief.

"I don't know who is available but I will get a record out ... many good people are possible," Cowell told Sky News.

"(Prime Minister Gordon Brown) called me a couple of days ago and said if I put a record out he'd waive the VAT. It is not the best time. Logistically we're all over the place, but we'll make it happen."

Music channel MTV is hosting a two-hour "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon on Friday that will feature stars including U2's Bono, rapper Jay-Z, actor George Clooney and singer Justin Timberlake.

MTV is hoping to reach hundreds of millions of viewers by broadcasting the event on its own and other major television networks as well as websites like YouTube and MySpace.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)