Minaj, Carey fail to boost "American Idol" audience

Judges Randy Jackson (L-R), Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj and host Ryan Seacrest attend a Fox panel for the television series ''American Idol'' at the 2013 Winter Press Tour for the Television Critics Association in Pasadena, California January 8, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

LOS ANGELES | Thu Jan 17, 2013 1:45pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The audience for "American Idol" slumped 19 percent to 17.9 million viewers, its lowest season opener, despite the debut of judges Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban, according to early ratings data released on Thursday.

The two-hour premiere of the show's 12th season on Fox television also lost 19 percent of the 18-49 age group most coveted by advertisers, Nielsen figures showed. Total viewers dropped to 17.9 million from 21.9 million in 2012.

Despite the drop, "American Idol" was still the most watched show by a huge margin on U.S. television Wednesday night, beating all shows combined in the 18-49 demographic on the three other biggest TV networks.

Fox executives also noted that "Idol" beat the 2012 September premiere of NBC singing show rival "The Voice" by some 46 percent in total viewers.

"American Idol," long a ratings juggernaut for Fox, lost its eight-year crown as the most watched show on U.S. television last year to "Sunday Night Football."

Singers Carey, Minaj and country artist Keith Urban joined the show as judges after Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler left last year.

Fox is a unit of News Corp

(Reporting By Jill Serjeant, editing by Stacey Joyce)

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The World Still Loves American Music. But Why, Exactly?

Monday, October 29, 2012
by  paul

It's an age-old question: if music is pouring out of every corner of the globe, why is American music so popular on the world stage?  Especially in a borderless, digitally-liberated media environment?  And even in countries that deeply resent America, or whose cultures are radically different?  

Sitting in a Starbucks in Seoul, South Korea, which is right next to a Dunkin' Donuts, the question is impossible to avoid.  Outside of the obvious language differences, this looks exactly like a Starbucks in LA, almost down to the music.  I'm listening to Norah Jones, Nancy Sinatra, even Bobby McFerrin, but not one Korean singer. 

It's not that Korean music isn't all around.  There's K-Pop and PSY, of course, and also lots of syrupy Korean ballads.  But even the Korean music video channel finds Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, and Britney Spears heavily layered into rotation.  Flip on a Korean baseball game, and it's Nickelback and Earth, Wind & Fire (yes) during the breaks.  Watch the Korean-commentated World Series, and its 30 Seconds to Mars to transition back from the commercials.

This is deeper than just music in the background; American pop culture and music are deeply seeped into this culture - consciously or otherwise.  While searching for my hotel, I was saved by a young woman who graciously guided me through the Seoul maze.  She was wearing a stylized army jacket with Guns n' Roses emblazoned on the back, yet she'd never really heard of the group.  I told her it was mostly an 80s and 90s thing, but a legendary rock group to this day.  "Sort of like Nirvana," she responded.  We left it at that.

You can say this is isolated, but American music - and the celebrities attached to it - travel extremely well.  While lingering around France after MIDEM died down last year, I started to meet some locals.  Once the networking and industry crowds left, the hotel kept playing American pop non-stop; a local limo driver showed me pictures of the time he escorted members of Black Eyed Peas around.  The hotel concierge, who also worked for a yacht reservation company, loved to tell me about Diddy's failed pissing contests with Russian billionaires on the Riviera.  These were highlights... yes, for French people. 

It's even seeped into abandoned junkie houses in Siberia.  Edgy magazine Vice once took their cameras into the region's most depressing, heroine-infested buildings, and the discussion turned to Rihanna.  The junkies were discussing whether they liked the singer, pointing to a magazine cover.  What?

Of course, American music doesn't play well everywhere, and its not like other cultures (like the UK) don't also export well.  But American music oftentimes permeates the most foreign environments, often with little-to-no protection against piracy.  It's almost like an extension of the US itself: decimated and demoralized, major labels still retain the power to break major music superstars, but lack the ability to monetize it properly.  It's hard to say if this is a machine that keeps going, or what happens after it breaks down.

Report by publisher Paul Resnikoff, in Seoul.

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'American Idol' Judges: 10 Picks to Replace Steven & Jennifer

by M. Tye Comer, Sarah Maloy & Perri Tomkiewicz  |   July 14, 2012 12:00 EDT

The news that Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez were both leaving their "American Idol" posts rocked the reality-TV set to its core this week, forcing fans to speculate about who might replace the two popular judges. Considering "Idol's" disappointing season 11 ratings, "The Voice's" ever-growing popularity, and "The X Factor's" ability to bring pop powerhouses like Britney Spears to their table, we're sure the show's producers are checking their rolodexes twice for big names they can call to fill the panel.

'Idol' Exodus: What Now for Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler?

With that said, we thought we'd give Ryan, Randy (if he remains) and the rest of the "Idol" team a little help. Here's who we think would make great judges for the Fox reality show's 12th season. Agree with our suggestions? Vote in the poll below. Got a better one? Let us know in the comments section.

Mariah Carey 

Rumor has it Mariah is already in talks to take over J. Lo's spot, and we think she's an excellent choice. The record-setting diva has spent decades perfecting her platinum-powered pipes, so we're sure she knows "pitchy" when she hears it.  She's sweet enough to be nurturing to burgeoning talents, but feisty enough to keep it real when need be. "Idol" producers, make this so.

Adam Lambert

The "Idol" season eight runner-up is another name rumored to be in talks about sitting on the panel. It makes perfect sense. Having been through "Idol" bootcamp himself, Adam knows exactly what it takes to go from the a cappella audition room to the top of the charts. Plus, Glambert's one-of-a kind flair might give the show the fabulous dash of sass it desperately needs.

Shania Twain

Shania once reigned as one of country music's biggest crossover stars, but the Canadian icon hasn't released an album of new material in more than 10 years. "Idol" would be a great platform for her to get back in the public eye and restart her music career. Might be difficult for Twain to juggle reality TV and her upcoming Las Vegas residency though.

Justin Timberlake

Talk about a no-brainer. JT has the success, charisma, experience and positive attitude to be one of "Idol's" all-time best judges. But lately, Timberlake has given his full attention to making a mark on the big screen. Despite the show's juggernaut status, the "Idol" platform may be too small for Justin's huge career aspirations.

Kelly Clarkson

Who better to sit on the judges' panel than the original "Idol" herself? Clarkson remains the show's biggest success story, and the million-dollar diva can certainly help guide hopefuls through the twists and turns of the rigorous competition. But wise men say you can never go home again -- returning to "Idol" could actually stunt Kelly's career growth.

Marc Anthony

Having J. Lo's ex-husband take over one of the vacant "Idol" seats would definitely be a headline generator. Beyond the tabloid chatter that would instantly erupt, Marc would be a good fit -- not only is the Latin legend an accomplished superstar in his own right, he was also a quiet mentor to the season 10 contestants. It's fun to think about, though we seriously doubt that Marc wants J. Lo's sloppy seconds. 

Nelly Furtado

Nelly has had the kind of success most musicians only dream of. But in pop music, you're only as hot as your last single, and Furtado's 2012 "comeback" track "Big Hoops" didn't exactly set the world on fire. She's got a new album to push this fall, so a spot at the "Idol" table might help this Canadian songstress soar like a bird back to the top of the charts. But we wonder if Nelly bold enough to bring the tough criticism when need be.

P!nk

Over the past decade, P!nk has demonstrated undeniable staying power, sprinkling the charts with numerous top 40 anthems. Not only does this triple-threat singer, songwriter and actress know a thing or two about multitasking her way to success (and staying there), but her celebrated outspoken attitude may just provide "Idol" with a good dose of that deliciously harsh commentary that left with Simon Cowell.

Bon Jovi

With 30 years in the music biz, Jon Bon Jovi knows how to play the game. He's intelligent, friendly and poised in TV interviews, and we bet the New Jersey native could give constructive criticism without making the contestants cry (á la Simon). He may be too busy working on a new album with his band, and the price tag could be a little high -- he was recently ranked second on Forbes magazine's list of the world's highest paid musicians -- but Bon Jovi is a solid choice to replace Steven Tyler as "Idol's" token rock 'n' roll icon.

Queen Latifah

The charismatic rapper-turned-actress is no stranger to the small screen, and she could bring a lot of fun -- not to mention attitude -- to a show that has grown a bit bland over the past few seasons. Queen Latifah has been treading the comeback waters in the past few years -- teasing a new album and recording duets with Missy Elliott and Tony Bennett -- so a gig on "Idol" could be just the push she needs to dive headfirst into the music industry again.

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Steven Tyler votes self off "American Idol"

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith perfoms during the 11th season finale of ''American Idol'' in Los Angeles, California, May 23, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni

By Bob Tourtellotte

LOS ANGELES | Thu Jul 12, 2012 7:32pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rocker Steven Tyler on Thursday bowed out of his job as a judge on top-rated television singing contest "American Idol" for the coming season, saying he wants to dedicate himself to his band, Aerosmith.

Tyler's departure comes as his fellow judge, Jennifer Lopez, also weighs whether to return to the program that once reigned supreme atop U.S. TV ratings but has seen its audience shrink in recent years. Third panelist Randy Jackson seems a likely bet to return this fall for the program's 12th season as either a judge or in a mentoring role.

"I strayed from my first love, Aerosmith, and I'm back," the band's lead singer said in a statement.

"I've decided it's time for me to let go of my mistress ‘American Idol' before she boils my rabbit," Tyler added, in a reference to the thriller movie, "Fatal Attraction." "I got two fists in the air, and I'm kicking the door open with my band."

Tyler, 64, and Aerosmith had amassed numerous hits like "Walk This Way" and "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing" since gaining fame in the 1970s, but the group had reached a lull a few years back when the singer decided to join "American Idol" as a judge.

The addition of Tyler and Lopez to the judging panel in the season that began in January 2011 sparked great interest in the Fox TV network's hit show.

But the most recent season that ended in May had the lowest-rated finale in 11 years with just 21.5 million Americans tuning in to watch Phillip Phillips win the title and recording contract that comes with it. More than 30 million viewers watched the show's finale in its heyday in 2006 and 2007.

Mark Darnell, president of alternative entertainment for Fox, called Tyler "a terrific judge, a true friend, and great mentor" on the show.

"We are very sad that Steven has chosen to focus more on his music, but we always knew when we hired a rock 'n roll legend, he would go back to music," Darnell said in a statement.

Indeed, Tyler's return to performing seemed foremost on his mind in March when Aerosmith announced it would go on a North American tour that began June 16, and release their first album in eight years, "Music From Another Dimension," on November 6.

The flamboyant rocker's departure leaves a big hole on the "American Idol" judges panel as he has been a fan favorite. He helped create one of this past season's dramatic moments when young Jessica Sanchez was voted off by fans, then saved from elimination after Tyler and fellow judge Jackson stormed the stage in her defense. Sanchez went on to the finals.

Still in doubt is the fate of Lopez, another music superstar, who just this morning on NBC's "Today" show seemed still undecided about her next move.

"It's been on my mind a lot, as you can imagine," she said. "You know, I signed on to 'American Idol' to do one year, and ... I wound up doing the two years. And now it's like, 'OK, do we continue on this journey?'"

(Additional reporting by Courtney Garcia; Editing by Jan Paschal)

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'American Idol' Recap: In a Billy Joel State of Mind

In a world where pre-packaged musical artists are becoming more and more prominent every year, there's something to be said for staying true to oneself, as a certain "American Idol" contestant did on Wednesday night (Mar. 21).

Phillip Phillips, "American Idol's" guy-with-guitar rocker of the 11th season, has done very little to change his good ol' boy image since the season began. He's remained a player in the competition due to his handsome stature, raspy voice and advanced guitar playing.

But Wednesday night (March 21) marked the beginning of fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger's appearances on the show. Hilfiger's purpose? Help the budding stars find their fashion sense. While the decision to bring him on as a consultant may not be wholly necessary, it seems to be the nature of the beast these days.

But Phillip was unfazed. Rather than taking Hilfiger's advice, he stuck to his guns. The designer told him not to wear gray, as it's apparently the worst possible color to wear on TV. What did he wear? Gray on gray.

Avoiding the advice of others seemed to work for Phillip on Wednesday night, but quite a few singers actually did take the advice of Hilfiger and mentors Jimmy Iovine and guest Diddy to heart, while others decided to stay with what they know.

What worked for which contestant on a night of Billy Joel songs? Here's a list of the singers, broken into those who will probably stick around another week and those who could be in trouble Thursday night.

Definitely In:

Colton Dixon - "Piano Man"

Colton got the hotly-contested "pimp spot" Wednesday, possibly because he sang the one Billy Joel song everyone knows. Of course, he's also the only contestant that's shown he can play the piano fairly soundly, which helped his cause with the song. His performance of "Piano Man" was updated for the "Twilight" generation, and judging by the chorus of voices chanting his name at song's end, that should mean good tidings for the singer.

Joshua Ledet - "She's Got a Way"

Here's the thing about Joshua's performance: if you've heard the original, it's probably not your bag. If it was your first time hearing the tune, you probably found it to be yet another astounding performance from the singer. So, take your pick. I thought Joshua did the best he could with "She's Got a Way" considering he'd never heard the song before -- not surprisingly, Billy Joel isn't his forte. Jennifer didn't think he felt the lyrics, while Steven thought he sang his life into the song. The performance is polarizing, but I think the general consensus will be positive.

Skylar Laine - "Shameless"

Another solid performance from the country girl. "Shameless" has been recorded by Garth Brooks as well, so her twangy rendition of the song was neither new nor special. But Skylar has shown week after week that she can get the job done with relative ease. Skylar may still need a moment -- and this wasn't it -- but it'll be enough to keep her in.

Jessica Sanchez - "Everybody Has a Dream"

Jessica rebounded from a subpar performance last week to turn in a pretty little ballad, warranting a standing ovation by song's end from the judges. She had to convince Diddy first, after the rapper claimed he didn't believe her when she sang. Frankly, I still didn't once the actual performance happened. Her singing was pitchy in places and sometimes she oversang the song, but she was still near the top of the heap.

Phillip Phillips - "Movin' Out"

I wasn't a fan of Phillip's performance this week, but it's hard to dispute his popularity, so considering him in danger of going home would be asinine. Phillip went against Hilfiger's advice, wearing as much gray as possible. He also went against the mentors' advice, playing his guitar when they told him to try the song without it. So, I guess we can expect him to be doing the exact same thing all season. Could it hurt him? Maybe in the long run. And while "Movin' Out" was a solid song for him and certainly had an aggressive feel, he still needs a big moment to solidify his standing in the competition.

In trouble:

Hollie Cavanagh - "Honesty"

I may catch some backlash putting her down here, but Hollie's starting to tire for me, and I have a feeling America could feel the same way very soon. Hilfiger decided to dress her down, which was a good move, but there's still something missing with her performances. What sets Jessica apart from Hollie is her ability to hit the high notes every single time; Hollie isn't as consistent. Plus, she doesn't have much of a singing presence. Steven said she was over-thinking the song -- that sounds about right to me.

Elise Testone - "Vienna"

Voters let me down last week putting Elise in the bottom three, and I have a very bad feeling this week will be more of the same. This is sad. Why? I thought Elise's rendition of "Vienna" was easily the best of the night. She was in her element taking on Billy Joel, with her rasp coming out in full effect. She was commanding onstage, drawing in the audience and showing remarkable control on the song's vocal runs. We talk about the singers having moments -- well, here's Elise's. So why's she down here on the list? Because she hasn't connected with America before tonight, and I don't think that's going to change.

Erika Van Pelt - "New York State of Mind

As opposed to Phillip, Erika took Hilfiger's advice and went all out with it. She named Pink as one of her favorite artists, and her new haircut -- reminiscent of the superstar's "Missundaztood" days, dyed black and cut short -- helped prove her point. Erika's rendition of "New York State of Mind" shows off her strong voice, and although she didn't go places with the song that I would've liked her to, she turned in a very good performance that I think will leave many wondering where she's been this competition. I put her down here because I don't know if the look change will actually help her enough.

Deandre Brackensick - "Only the Good Die Young"

Deandre got the first spot of the evening, which will never help your cause. With a performance like last night's, it's only going to hurt him more. The song needed a stronger singer, and Deandre's got more of an airy vocal suited to R&B. His fan support may keep him from going home this week, but I'll be very surprised if he isn't in the bottom three.

Heejun Han - "My Life"

Wednesday will be remembered as the night Heejun Han just started trolling everyone. Starting his performance off as he usually does -- i.e., with a ballad -- he turned to the piano player as though he forgot the words to the song. "Way, way too slow for me," he said. "I want to dance!" Then he ripped off his dinner jacket and went to town on the up-tempo "My Life," basically giving a big middle finger to anyone who wants to make him something he's not. It was hilarious, but goodness, was it bad -- nearly on par with Sanjaya Malakar singing "You Really Got Me." Steven told him he should take the music business more seriously. You know he's not going to, though. And that's what we tend to love about him... I think.

Who will be in the bottom three tonight? Did Erika's style change throw you off, and was it the right move? Does Heejun even care anymore? Let us know in the comments and check out the results show tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox.

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`American Idol' finalist James Durbin marries (AP)

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – "American Idol" finalist James Durbin has married longtime girlfriend Heidi Lowe in a New Year's Eve ceremony at the edge of a California redwood forest.

The couple says in a statement that the wedding in a Santa Cruz Mountains chapel was a perfect way to kick off 2012.

The Contra Costa Times ( http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_en_mu/storytext/us_people_james_durbin/44061624/SIG=10mae30ol/*http://bit.ly/vOxulV) reports the 85 guests included their 2-year-old son, Hunter, who was the ring bearer.

Other guests included fellow "American Idol" alums Haley Reinhart, Stefano Langone and Casey Abrams.

The "Idol" season 10 finalist turns 23 on Friday. His debut album, "Memories of a Beautiful Disaster," was released in November.

Durbin is from nearby Santa Cruz.

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American Idol winner Ruben Studdard seeks divorce (AP)

COLUMBIANA, Ala. – American Idol winner Ruben Studdard is divorcing his wife of three years, saying they haven't lived together since last year.

Court records show Studdard filed a contested divorce last week in Shelby County, where he lives in suburban Birmingham. The complaint says he and Zuri Studdard split in October 2010, and she now lives in the Atlanta suburb of Smyrna, Ga.

The complaint cites a "complete incompatibility of temperament" for the divorce, and it asks a judge to enforce a prenuptial agreement that was signed before they wed in 2008.

Studdard was known as the "Velvet Teddy Bear" when he won the second season of American Idol in 2003. Studdard is playing host to a weekend-long event in Birmingham that begins Friday and includes a half-marathon Sunday.

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"American Idol" reject Pia Toscano signs record deal (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – "American Idol" contestant Pia Toscano, whose early exit from the TV show shocked viewers, has signed a record deal with Interscope Records, the company said on Wednesday.

The 22 year-old Toscano, with her dark hair and powerful singing voice, was considered one of the front-runners for the top prize on "Idol" this year. But she was voted off by viewers to finish in 9th place.

Toscano will release her debut single "This Time" -- described as an acoustic guitar and beat-driven track -- on July 12, said Interscope Records. She will release her first album later this year.

Toscano described the record deal as "a dream come true".

This year's "Idol" winner was deep-voiced country singer Scotty McCreery, a former grocery store clerk.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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"American Idol" reject Pia Toscano signs record deal

Performer Pia Toscano poses at the party for the finalists of the television show ''American Idol'' in Los Angeles, in this file photo taken March 3, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni/Files

LOS ANGELES | Wed Jul 6, 2011 5:35pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "American Idol" contestant Pia Toscano, whose early exit from the TV show shocked viewers, has signed a record deal with Interscope Records, the company said on Wednesday.

The 22 year-old Toscano, with her dark hair and powerful singing voice, was considered one of the front-runners for the top prize on "Idol" this year. But she was voted off by viewers to finish in 9th place.

Toscano will release her debut single "This Time" -- described as an acoustic guitar and beat-driven track -- on July 12, said Interscope Records. She will release her first album later this year.

Toscano described the record deal as "a dream come true".

This year's "Idol" winner was deep-voiced country singer Scotty McCreery, a former grocery store clerk.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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J-Lo undecided on second season on 'American Idol' (AP)

LONDON – Jennifer Lopez may come back for a second year as a judge on "American Idol." Or she may not.

"You know, this is the question of the hour. I don't know, I don't know," Lopez said Tuesday in an interview with Scott Mills of the BBC.

Lopez and another new judge, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, brought a gentler attitude to the top-rated show following the departure of Simon Cowell.

"I had an amazing time doing it and I loved it but I have a lot of other things happening and it's gonna come down to making a choice of really what I want to do for the next year," Lopez said.

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