19 May 2011 week 20 The facelift How American Idol came up with a new jury, warmth and emotion Luxembourg France RTL Group publishes new M6 enriches its corporate responsibility brochure I-Pad app Germany France RTL Interactive launches RTL Radio honours Clipfish Music young journalists the RTL Group intranet week 20 Cover: Montage with Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna (from left to right) who performed on American Idol during season 10. 2 the RTL Group intranet week 20 “Format is king” In the run-up to the American Idol finale, Backstage looks back on the anniversary season of the most watched series in the world’s biggest TV market. Steven Tyler United States - 19 May 2011 Many contestants who audition for American Idol tell moving and emotional stories. Perhaps the most touching of them was told by Chris Medina who performed Breakeven by The Scripts at the auditions in Chicago. He told the judges of his fiancée Juliana Ramos who had suffered a brain injury after a car accident that left her in a wheelchair – able to move only her left arm and little more. After Chris sang, he brought his fian- cée to the audition room at the judges’ request. While Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez intro- duced themselves, Steven Tyler shook her hand saying: “Hi, girl. I just heard your fiancée sing, and he’s so good.” He added in a warm, tender whisper: “That’s why he sings so good, because he sings to you.” The New York Times called the moment “a stellar embrace” and praised Tyler as “deeply practiced and deeply humane” and an “unalloyed genius”. This scene can be seen as a perfect example of what has changed at American Idol. In 2010, after nine seasons as an American Idol judge, Cécile Frot-Coutaz in the Hollywood Reporter Simon Cowell had announced that he would ‘good luck’. Management is on your back every quit the show’s panel of judges to launch a day, you go through lists and you throw in crazy US version of the worldwide hit show X Factor. ideas.” The media reported different names, Both shows – American Idol and X Factor bringing in new rumours almost every day until – are or will be aired by the US network Fox. the final judging panel for season ten was The production feverishly searched for a announced. Simon Fuller, creator and Executive replacement. “That was a very tough few Producer of American Idol, had told the news- months”, said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of paper The Mirror about his approach to finding FremantleMedia North America and Executive new judges: “We wanted to lose the negativity Producer of American Idol, in an interview with and be more motivational. We understand this The Hollywood Reporter. “It felt like a losing show’s success is based entirely on the authen- exercise, as if you’re limiting the scale of a car tic journey of real people with a passion and a crash. And everybody around you – the press, dream, no gimmicks, no spin, no smoke and the competition, the other networks – is like mirrors.” 3 the RTL Group intranet week 20 The top three candidates: Haley Reinhart, Scotty McCreery and Lauren (from left to right) The result: In season ten, multi-talented singer value, credibility and so on. It’s really all about and actress Jennifer Lopez and songwriter, chemistry and likability. It doesn’t matter if multi-instrumentalist and Aerosmith frontman there’s a Mr. Nasty; they just have to be honest Steven Tyler joined Randy Jackson on the panel and care.” of judges. Cecile Frot-Coutaz said: “It’s exciting to have such a diverse cast of industry profes- During the live shows several stars like Rihanna, sionals, each with distinctive passions for music, Jennifer Hudson, Enrique Iglesias or the Black lead the charge in discovering the next American Eyed Peas had guest appearances presenting Idol. From dancing sensation to pop, film and their latest songs. Also, Jennifer Lopez’ latest fashion superstar, Jennifer has experienced a video On the floor premiered on American Idol. It career that exemplifies the American dream, is Jennifer’s first top ten single since 2003. and Steven is a rock icon whose performances, accomplished song-writing and personal style For the first time in the history of American Idol, are as relevant today as ever.” the winner will receive a recording contract with Universal Music. Jimmy Iovine, chairman “The addition of Steven Tyler and Jennifer of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, joined Lopez, real stars who also shared that dream, American Idol as an in-house mentor. Throughout has brought a new level of understanding the season, Iovine is featured working and and empathy to the show”, Fuller told The sharing his expertise with contestants. As part Mirror, adding: “They can identify with each and of Universal Music Group’s long-term alliance every one of those contestants and what it really with American Idol, Interscope Geffen A&M will means to have a dream.” When the team was handle the global marketing, promotion and taping an audition in Milwaukee with the new judges, Executive Producer Ken Warwick sent a text message to Frot-Coutaz just two hours after Jennifer and Steven had taken their seats. It said: “Best judging session ever”. At that point, Frot-Coutaz said, she knew everything would be okay. She told the Hollywood Reporter: “At the end of the day, format, not the cast, is king. If you have a crap panel of judges, then your show’s not going to work. If you have an okay panel of judges and fantastic contestants, you’ll be in better shape than the other way around. But the judges are a really important part of the mix, because they give you entertainment Jennifer Lopez presented her new single 4 the RTL Group intranet week 20 James Durbin went full steam ahead but was eliminated in the top four show distribution of albums by American Idol finalists Chris Medina made it to the Top 40. His song and winning contestants across a broad array of What Are Words about his fiancée was released retail and new media platforms. on 25 February 2011 and made it to number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. On 24 May, Fox In season ten, American Idol is attracting more will broadcast the spectacular season finale of than 20 million viewers each week, 23.2 million this year’s American Idol and reveal who the on average. Overall, the show exceeds next American Idol will be one day later, on 25 Fox’s prime time average audience share by May. In January 2012, the show will return for 164 per cent in the commercial target group of its 11th season – most probably with the same adults aged 18 to 49, making it, once again, judging panel. Randy Jackson and Steven the number one show on US television in the Tyler have multi-year contracts and programme year to date. “Some think American Idol is executives at Fox are currently in talks with corny – yeah it probably is a little bit. But people Jennifer Lopez about extending her one-year like it,” Cecile Frot-Coutaz said. Looking back, deal. “We’re talking to her about her schedule she explained that she was pleased with this for next year,” Peter Rice, Fox Networks Group anniversary season of American Idol, when chairman of entertainment, told the Hollywood she told the Hollywood Reporter: “We had Reporter. “And we hope and expect her to amazing talent, the kids were the best we’d had return.” in years. And then this panel was getting on really well. You can’t ask for more than that.” 5 the RTL Group intranet week 20 Helping, informing, promoting solutions Each year RTL Group companies make a significant contribution to the global fight against poverty, disease and pollution. This year – again – a handy brochure explains how and why. Luxembourg - 16 May 2011 Three pages of the new brochure “Television’s popularity comes with a great In terms of environmental protection, the bro- responsibility,” says Gerhard Zeiler, CEO of chure recaps several environmental action RTL Group, in the opening editorial. “Television days that were held in 2010, building aware- can be a force for good, and ‘help-TV’ ness among RTL Group’s employees of climate programmes raise awareness of serious change issues, and to highlight what action issues that are otherwise often ignored. As they can take to tackle them. With special pro- a mass medium, television is ideally positioned grammes like Destination RTL on RTL Radio in to champion charitable causes.” France, N-TV’s Energy Day or Vox’s Planet Blue, RTL Group’s profit centres also raise awareness This is what the new brochure is all about. It with their broadcasts. describes that RTL Group not only raises huge sums of money with the Idol gives back, the The new edition of the brochure How RTL-Spendenmarathon or the Télévie initiatives, RTL Group pays back to society is available but also aims to raise awareness of social and on RTLGroup.com. Printed copies can be environmental issues through the programmes it found at the Reception of broadcasts and produces. RTL Group’s Corporate Centre in Luxembourg What’s new in this year’s brochure is a special or ordered via the part about RTL Group’s employees who are per- Order Documents Order or download sonally committed to doing their bit – whether on form on the web- the brochure on: or off screen. In Hungary, Antónia Erös had been site.