The tenth season of American Idol premiered on January 19, 2011, on Fox. The show underwent a number of changes from season nine, which include the reduction of the judging panel to its original number of just three judges (two of whom are new), a returning executive producer, a new music director as well as multiple format changes. For the first time, Idol will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays as opposed to the previous schedule of Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Nigel Lythgoe returned to the senior production team as executive producer for the series. American singer Steven Tyler and American singer-actressJennifer Lopez joined the judging panel as replacements for Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, and Kara DioGuardi who all left at the end of season nine. Ray Chew replaced Rickey Minor as the show's musical director and leader of the Idol's live band.
Interscope Records, which is part of Universal Music Group, replaced Sony Music Entertainment as Idol's official partner record label. Interscope's Chairman Jimmy Iovine, a songwriter and producer, was made in-house mentor to work with the contestants on a weekly basis. He is supported by associated producers: Rodney Jerkins, Alex da Kid, Tricky Stewart, Don Was and Timbaland who all help contestants tailor their song choices to their chosen genre of performance, as well as work in producing arrangements for the contestants and offering original material to be performed.
This is the first season in which 15 year-olds could audition. Other changes include online voting, extra rounds such as the Las Vegas and a final solo round, and a return of the judges' wild card choice. More contestants made it to Hollywood in season 10 than in previous seasons. This is also the first season where 11 contestants will go on tour instead of 10.
CHANGES
Simon Cowell, a judge from the start of the show, announced on January 11, 2010, that he would not be returning as a judge for this season in order to focus on launching the American version of his hit British singing competition The X Factor. Ellen DeGeneres officially announced her departure on July 29, 2010, after judging for only one season, because she felt the show was not the "right fit" for her. Kara DioGuardi then announced on September 3, 2010, that she would also not return this season due to her pursuing new projects. On September 22, 2010, it was announced that Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler would join the judging panel.
There were a number of other major changes in season ten, from the judges to the format of the show itself. Nigel Lythgoe returned as the executive producer, and Ray Chew has been hired as the show's new musical director, replacing Rickey Minor, who left the show along with vocal coach Dorian Holley to become the musical director of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Peisha McPhee, mother of season 5's runner-up Katharine McPhee, joined as one of the vocal coaches. In this season, online voting was also offered for the first time for fans with Facebook account and up to 50 votes may be cast.
NEW ROUNDS AND CHALLENGES
Then beginning in November 2010, returning producer, Nigel Lythgoe, revealed that there would be other significant format changes. New challenges include "contests [having] to make the best music video, to promote themselves, and to work with a band and dancers for an awards show-style performance."Entertainment Weekly reported that the challenges would replace the traditional semi-finals portion of the competition meaning that finalists would go on to compete in the top-twelve for the live shows. However it was later revealed that the music video challenge was only ever an idea but there were no plans to make it part of season ten of Idol. The Hollywood round would narrow the contestants down to sixty potential finalists. Those who made the final sixty were then taken to where they were asked to sing songs from The Beatles. It was originally planned that 20 contestants would be left by the end of this phase of competition, and these remaining contestants would perform in two groups of ten in a semi-final sudden death round to find via public votes the ten finalists – five girls and five boys – for the live shows in the finals. Nigel Lythgoe however later revealed that the Top 20 would be extended to a Top 24. Additionally, the judges were given wild card picks.
PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSAL MUSIC
At the end of season nine, Sony Music Entertainment's affiliation to Idol also ended. The partnership was superseded by a new deal with Universal Music Group, meaning that the winner will now be signed to Interscope Records. Interscope's sister labels, A&M Records and Geffen Records, will also be involved in promoting and distributing the albums of the show's finalists.Chairman of theInterscope-Geffen-A&M label group, Jimmy Iovine, will work directly with contestants as the in-house mentor. Additionally, Billboard revealed that a team of Universal Music-associated producers and songwriters, such as Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Timbaland and Alex da Kid, will work alongside the contestants. It was reported that the new creative team would allow contestants to take on original material and arrangements, not just cover versions, when singing live. The Hollywood Reporter also indicated that other changes for season ten will include online voting and finalists releasing music as the season progresses, rather than waiting to record an album. Despite previous reports that Idol producers had axed the weekly music theme, in-house mentor Fair, confirmed that the themes would remain.
