The tenth season of American Idol is scheduled to premiere on January 19, 2011, on Fox. This will be the first season for which 15 year-olds may audition. The show has undergone a number of changes since season nine, which include the reduction of the judging panel to just three judges (two of whom are new), a new executive producer and music director as well as multiple format changes. For the first time, Idol will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays as opposed to the previous schedule of Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
