Entertainment mogul Simon Fuller's 19 Management said on Tuesday it signed up Universal Music Group as the label for artists in future seasons of its hit TV show, American Idol, unceremoniously dumping its Sony Music partner of the last nine seasons.

The new deal will see Universal market and distribute albums from American Idol finalists and winning contestants starting from the 10th season, the first one without acerbic judge Simon Cowell.

Universal, the world's largest music company, which is owned by French media and telecommunications group Vivendi SA, will distribute the music on its Interscope Geffen A&M label. About The Author: Steven Rogers
Steven Rogers is a senior entertainment reporter for Reality TV World and been covering the reality TV genre for two decades.