Budding songwriters have only a week to submit — winning tune to be sung on “Idol” grand finale
By Alex Ben Block
Sanjaya could sing your song in finale
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 4/10/07 – Sanjaya’s fate isn’t the only controversy that will be settled soon on “American Idol.” Producers have changed their tune on a parallel songwriting competition this year and the contest is on, but there is only a week to qualify. If you’ve got a song in your heart, a computer and $10, it turns out you can enter the “American Idol” song fest if you can whistle up a tune before April 17.
If you want to judge the 20 finalists, or rally your pals to vote for you, it’s free and you can vote as many times as you like.
Since we reported the online songwriter competition was off two weeks ago, a new tune is being heard. “Idol” producer Simon Fuller says the rap came about because of a misinterpretation of remarks by executive producer Ken Warwick to TelevisionWeek.
When Warwick said that they were putting the songwriting competition on the back burner for this year, he just meant that plans to produce an additional special with former “Idol” stars singing the finalists songs in early May were cancelled for this year, according to spokesman Eric Green, who works for Fuller and the producers.
“There was always going to be an online competition,” says Green. “It was never not going to happen. He was just saying the special wasn’t going to happen this year.”
The plan is to make the songwriting contest an annual event, and there could be a special or two related to it in future years, says Green.
“’American’ Idol has been the vehicle for discovering so many great new artists over the years and now, with the launch of ‘American Idol Songwriter,’ we are searching for great songwriting talent,” stated Simon Fuller about the contest. “Having an undiscovered songwriter create the winner’s single seemed like a natural next step for our show. Not only do the fans pick their ‘American Idol,’ but also his or her first single. This show has always been, and will continue to be, all about fulfilling dreams.”
Songs can be entered over the Internet through April 17 by following the rules at http://songwriter.AmericanIdol.com. That is also the place to register to be a judge, with the judging period running from May 2 to May 8. The top 20 finalists will be chosen before final judging begins by Fuller, his A&R director Iain Pirie and the team at their production company. 19 Entertainment., which is a subsidiary of CKX Inc.
Those who register will be able to stream songs to listen, but may not be able to download to a MP3 player or Ipod, at least not initially, because of issues over the legal rights. Green said the decision of which song wins will ride entirely on the fan’s online votes. Fans will be free to listen to as many or few songs as they wish; and vote as often as they like.
The winning song will be sung by both of the top two Idol finalists on Fox when the season finale airs May 22 and 23. A version sung by the Idol winner will then be released through the 19 Recordings/RCA which has a distribution deal with Sony-BMG. In the past RCA topper Clive Davis has played a role in deciding which label would release the music. For example, past winners Kelly Clarkson’s song was on RCA, Fantasia Barrino on J Records and Carrie Underwood on Arista (with special country distribution).
The winning songwriter is expected to be introduced on the final show but not perform. The winner will receive an unspecified amount of money as an advance against royalties for the music publishing rights. There is no larger deal involved to write any other songs, but the exposure is expected to help launch a career.
The producers have said they hope that the contest will allow them to match up the final performers with the right songs, which hasn’t always been the case in the past when songs were created in advance by well known songwriters and music producers.
To enter a song, there is a $10 fee for administrative expenses and copyright registration. It is designed to create enough of a barrier to entry that it should discourage what Green calls “prank submissions like burping noises.”
The special was cancelled for this year because the producers are busy with this weeks show featuring Jennifer Lopez, an upcoming charity special which airs April 24 and 25 and the grand finale ending May 23.
Fuller is a personal manager as well as a producer. His format for “Idol” type competitions is now on the air in 30 countries. He is also busy with plans to produce a reality show for NBC featuring former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, focusing on her move from the U.K. to America, where he husband, soccer star David Beckham, has signed a $250 million, five-year contract to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy of the Major Soccer League.
Fuller manages both Beckham and his wife, and played a role in negotiating Beckham’s big deal, which includes his activities both on and off the field for the club.
Fuller is also prepping a new season of “So You Think You Can Dance,” which kicks off its third season in May on Fox Broadcasting; and is producing a pilot for a 30 minute drama that could air several times a week on Fox next season crossing a tele-novela with a nighttime soap opera like “Dallas” featuring an ensemble cast including former gossip columnist A.J. Benza.
According to 19 Entertainment, Fuller has been part of creating 109 number one singles and 87 number one albums in the UK as well as 296 Top-40 albums and 465 Top-40 singles.