It’s finally official after weeks of speculation: Simon Cowell has confirmed record-producer Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid as the first judge (other than himself) on the The X Factor. Cowell said of his choice:
“L.A. was my number one choice to sit alongside me on the show. In my opinion, he is one of the greatest ever music executives and of course a fantastic writer and producer. I am thrilled he has agreed to join the show, and for any artist auditioning, they know they have the chance to meet a true star-maker.”
L.A. Reid is a perfect pick as a judge for a singing competition. He has after all helped launch the careers of Bon Jovi, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber and countless others.
“I am proud to stand next to my dear friend Simon Cowell, one of the world’s most gifted and charismatic talent magnets. ‘The X Factor’ provides an extraordinary opportunity for aspiring artists of every age and genre to showcase their unique talents. I truly look forward to discovering our next generation of superstars.”
In case you want to be on the show, auditions for The X Factor begin on March 27th in Los Angeles with stops in Miami, Newark, Seattle, Chicago and Dallas. You just need to be twelve years old or older. The prize? A cool five-million dollar recording contract.
The X Factor premieres this fall on FOX.