LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Simon Fuller, who created "American Idol," is adding a new dimension to the hit Los Angeles TV talent show -- adding a songwriting competition.
In past years, Fuller has hired professional songwriters to write an original composition for "Idol" finalists to perform, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Emmy-nominated Fox show has been tremendously popular, with the finale scoring 36.3 million viewers. "Idol" winners are now recording, appearing in movies, on Broadway and in summer concert series.
But British producer Fuller aims to transform the entertainment industry by changing the ways in which talent is discovered and developed, the Times said. The marketing guru who first gained recognition for promoting the Spice Girls has other deals with NBC and HBO.
"We want to define a new approach to entertainment," Fuller said. He wants to cultivate new talent that might encounter difficulties breaking through the star system.
"What really excites me is fulfilling my vision," Fuller said. "I now have the resources to do everything I want to do."
