The Top 12 contestants, back row (from left) Gina Glocksen, Chris Sligh, Jordin Sparks, Phil Stacey, second row (from left) Melinda Doolittle, Haley Scarnato, Lakisha Jones, Stephanie Edwards and Sanjaya Malakar, and front row (from left) Brandon Rogers, Blake Lewis and Chris Richardson, on the Fox network television reality series "American Idol" pose at a party celebrating the Top 12 in Los Angeles, California, March 8. - REUTERSLOS ANGELES (AP):
The hit Fox show American Idol is adding a songwriting contest to give the winning singer a winning first single.
The online contest was kicked off on Wednesday's show. Aspiring songwriters can submit their work to be judged by American Idol creator Simon Fuller and his 19 Entertainment company.
The 20 songs Fuller and his staff pick can be heard and voted online. The top vote-getter will be performed on the show's season finale by the two finalists and recorded by the winning singer.
Publishing deal
The songwriter will receive a music publishing deal and cash advance on royalties, 19 Entertainment said.
"Having an undiscovered songwriter create the winner's single seemed like a natural next step for our show," Fuller said in a statement Wednesday. "Not only do the fans pick their American Idol, but also his or her first single."
Gina Glocksen became the latest casualty in viewer voting Wednesday, leaving the number of finalists at eight.
In the past five seasons, the show has called on industry professionals to create original songs for the finalists, with the winner or even the runner-up consistently scoring best-selling records with the tunes.
Forgettable
But the songs, such as last season's Do I Make You Proud, sung by winner Taylor Hicks, have been criticised as forgettable or worse.
Fuller has said he would like numbers that were better matches for the singers.
The contest is open to those who are at least 18 and do not have an exclusive publishing deal. Songs can be uploaded online through April 17, with voting set for May 2-8. The winning number will be announced May 22, the first day of the two-day season finale.
