The tenth season of American Idol premiered on January 19, 2011, on Fox. The show underwent a number of changes from season nine, which include the reduction of the judging panel to its original number of just three judges (two of whom are new), a returning executive producer, a new 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.
Nigel Lythgoe returned to the senior production team as executive producer for the series. American singer Steven Tyler and American singer-actress Jennifer Lopez joined the judging panel as replacements for Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, and Kara DioGuardi who all left at the end of season nine. Ray Chew replaced Rickey Minor as the show's musical director and leader of the Idol's live band.
Interscope Records, which is component of Universal Music Group, replaced Sony Music Entertainment as Idol's official partner record label. Interscope's Chairman Jimmy Iovine, a songwriter and producer, was created in-house mentor to function with the contestants on a weekly basis. He is supported by associated producers: Rodney Jerkins, Alex da Kid, Tricky Stewart, Don Was, will.i.am, and Timbaland who all support contestants tailor their song alternatives to their chosen genre of performance, at the same time as function in producing arrangements for the contestants and providing original material to be performed.