19 ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES SEARCH FOR THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN IDOL HIT MAKER Open Online Submissions for Songwriter Competition Begin
Wednesday, April 4th
Are you the next big songwriter and think you have what it takes to make your mark in music history? Just when you thought you’ve seen everything, the AMERICAN IDOL juggernaut begins its search for the best songwriter in America. Show creator and executive producer, Simon Fuller announced today the American Idol Songwriter competition, giving Idol fans their first chance to write the next American Idol’s hit single. Additional details and online submissions, which open on Wednesday, April 4th 2007, can be found at
American Idol: Official FOX Site.
Fuller and his 19 Entertainment A&R staff will select the initial Top 20 songs from all the entries. Beginning May 2, fans will then be able to go online, listen to and vote for their favorite songs. The song chosen by the nation will then be performed live in front of millions of viewers on the season’s finale. But that is only the beginning, as the song will be recorded and released by this year’s American Idol. The winning songwriter will receive a music publishing deal with 19 Entertainment; a cash advance on royalties; and the thrill of watching their song belted out by AMERICAN IDOL finalists on the show’s final episodes.
"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. “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."
Key Dates for American Idol Songwriter Competition
April 4 – Launch contestant submission phase on
American Idol Songwriter 2007: Home
April 17 – Submission phase ends
May 2 – Online voting commences
May 8 – Online voting closes
May 22 - The songwriting winner announced on American Idol finale
About 19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (NASDAQ: CKXE), was founded by Simon Fuller 21 years ago and acquired by CKX in March 2005. The company is recognized as a leading creator, provider and promoter of globally successful, music-based entertainment, or "Entertainment Brands."
Simon Fuller, who serves as Chief Executive Officer of 19 Entertainment, is the creator of AMERICAN IDOL in the United States, “Pop Idol” in the UK, as well as versions of the IDOL format in more than 30 countries around the world. Fuller is also the co-creator of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, which aired in the U.S. on FOX during summer 2005 and was the top-rated television show in its time slot.
Fuller has made music history in the UK and the U.S.A., producing a stream of No. 1 hits
and managing multi-platinum-selling acts. Fuller recently became the world's most successful manager – breaking a record set by the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein in the 1960s – when three of his artists occupied the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 positions on the U.S. single chart as well as the No. 1 position on the album chart.
19 Entertainment has been involved in the creation of 109 No. 1 singles and 87 No. 1 albums in the UK alone, with an impressive tally of 296 Top-40 albums and 465 Top-40 singles.