‘You’re seeing stars like Justin Bieber, a lot of younger artists do it,’ Randy Jackson tells MTV News of expanding eligibility to age 15. By James Montgomery Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson at the Do Something Awards on Monday Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images It may seem like the ninth season of “American Idol” just wrapped (probably because it did ), but production has already started on the 10th season, with auditions getting under way in Nashville last week. So when MTV News caught up with “Idol” judges Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi Monday night on the red carpet of VH1’s Do Something! Awards in Los Angeles, we asked them how season 10 was shaping up. How did they think producers’ decision to lower the minimum “Idol” age requirement to 15 (from 16 years old) would impact the search for the next pop superstar? “I think different people will show up this time,” Jackson said. “You’re seeing stars like Justin Bieber, a lot of younger artists do it , you know? So you want to take advantage of that … there’s a lot of kids that are getting better earlier. It’s great.” While critics of the show argue the lowered age requirement is just a way to exploit the current popularity of teen phenoms like the Biebs, DioGuardi pointed out that young superstars have been helping to keep the industry’s engine running for decades now, adding that “Idol” won’t just be searching for a Bieber clone. “I mean, take LeAnn Rimes, at a very young age she was singing very deep country songs, and she had that old soul and it worked,” she said. “It could be a kid who’s really young, who didn’t even know he was that talented, or it could be someone that’s a little bit older that, for whatever reason, it hasn’t worked out yet. That’s what’s exciting about the show: It’s about that dream and helping people realize it.” Both Jackson and DioGuardi said that “Idol” had been mulling a modification in the age restrictions — by season four, eligibility was expanded to a maximum age of 28 — for a few years now, but concerns about whether younger singers could handle the big stage had kept them from pulling the trigger. But after witnessing the meteoric rise of Bieber (and a host of other young stars), they decided it was time to make the change. And both judges say the Fox show will be better for it. “Yeah, we thought about it for a minute, but when you’re seeing the success of so many young kids today, that are so talented, it’s about finding those great ones,” Jackson told us. “I’m very excited” DioGuardi added about the new age limit. “That’s what I love about the show — you never know what you’re going to come across.” Are you glad “Idol” is expanding its eligibility to include 15 year olds? What do you think the age requirement should be? Tell us in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas Attend The 2010 Do Something Awards
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‘American Idol’ Lowered Age Limit To Find The ‘Great Ones,’ Judges Say
