Dr. Luke Officially Joins "American Idol" as 3rd Judge
by Bruna Nessif
Sat., Aug. 24, 2013


Keith Urban and Jennifer Lopez have a new seat partner on the "American Idol" judging panel.

E! News can confirm that music producer Dr. Luke has officially signed on as the 3rd judge for the Fox reality show.



Rumors that the musician, real name Lukasz Gottwald, was "close to signing" for the spot began hitting the Internet earlier this week, after it was revealed that Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am turned down the gig.

It was reported that will.i.am declined the "Idol" job to return as a coach on "The Voice U.K." for season three.



Regardless, Dr. Luke's got some pretty awesome chart-toppers under his belt, making him a great addition to the show.

The songwriter-producer is responsible for hits such as Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone', Kesha's 'Tik Tok' and Katy Perry's 'California Gurls'.

http://www.eonline.com/news/452130/dr-luke-officially-joining-american-idol-as-third-judge

Dr. Luke Will Not Judge "American Idol" (Exclusive)
8/26/2013
by Shirley Halperin


Despite reports to the contrary, hit-maker Dr. Luke will not be joining "American Idol" as a judge on season 13, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The songwriter and producer was among the last candidates standing after a months-long search for a third judge to join returning panel members Keith Urban and Jennifer Lopez (the latter has not officially been announced).





However, as THR wrote on Aug. 24, Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, was bound to run into a snag with Sony Music. The music giant signed Luke to a lucrative label deal in 2011 (his Kemosabe imprint is home to songwriter-turned-solo artist Bonnie Mckee, rapper Juicy J and pop-urban act Becky G, who herself said at last night's MTV Video Music Awards, "I think Idol is going to happen" for Luke, but Sony's competitor, Universal Music Group, holds the exclusive rights to "American Idol" recordings.

Allowing Luke to spend months of the year judging and nurturing talent then developing said artists for another label makes little business sense for the company that invested so deeply in his own hit-making power.



L.A. Reid faced a similar obstacle when he was in the running for the "Idol" gig prior to season 10. It was, in fact, what helped lead the veteran executive to Fox's other singing competition, "The X Factor", which has a recording partnership with Sony.

Reid left after two years on the show.





For Luke's part, says an insider close to the situation, the hit-maker came to the realization that the commitment would simply demand too much of his time. "He really loves his artists and wants to build up the label," a source tells THR, adding that Kemosabe is "on the cusp" of breaking Becky G, a top priority for the imprint and the company overall.

Beyond the label's current projects, "Luke wants to build an entertainment company ... after a lot of conversations, both Luke and Sony Music CEO Doug Morris came to the mutual agreement that taking Dr. Luke out of the Idol running was the best thing for all parties."





Who's left on the short list? Among the contenders is Justin Bieber manager Scooter Braun, an eleventh-hour suggestion by Lopez. The charismatic ex-party promoter and marketing whiz is seemingly open to the idea and has his own label deal with UMG, putting him on the right side of the Idol loyalty fence.

But with a roster than includes newcomer Ariana Grande, K-Pop sensation Psy and boy band The Wanted, Braun, like Luke (who owns a publishing company in addition to his hands-on work in the studio), is spread thin.





"Idol" is soon to enter its 2014 season in earnest. In years past, auditions would start in September.

Fox declined comment.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/dr-luke-will-not-judge-614543