Music mogul Simon Cowell has recruited One Direction star Louis Tomlinson to take part in a talent hunt for a new girl group.

The Tv personality launched Be in the Band, a search for female singers in conjunction with Sony Music, in London on Saturday (07Mar15) and the pop star joined him on the judging panel to audition the first wannabes, according to Britain's The Sun newspaper.

A source tells the publication, "(Louis is) rated very highly at Sony and they knew he'd be great to get on board. Louis accepted their offer straight away. He has visions of being a great music boss in the future and has a very good eye for new talent. There are even industry rumours he'll end up as an X Factor judge at some point down the line."

Tomlinson, who found fame on Cowell's U.K. show The X Factor in 2010, mirrored his mentor again recently when he set up 78 Productions Limited, a company which aims to find hot new music talent.