American Idol has raised the age limit for competitors from 26 to 28, as auditions for season 4 are set to begin in August in Cleveland, according to the Idol site:

REVISED RULES TEXT

"AMERICAN IDOL" SEASON 4

MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

You must be a legal U.S. citizen or a U.S. resident, 16 to 28 years old on August 4, 2004, who is eligible to work in the United States.

You are ineligible if, as of the date of your audition, you have any type of contract for talent representation (for example, a talent agent or manager), a music recording contract, an acting contract, a merchandising agreement, or any other contractual arrangement that would prohibit you from entering into a management contract, recording contract, talent contract, acting contract and/or merchandising contract. You are also ineligible if you made it to the top 30 contestants of Season 1 of "America Idol" or the top 32 contestants of Seasons 2 or 3 of "American Idol."

Employees, shareholders, officers, directors, agents, representatives, and their immediate family members and those living in the same household of Fox Broadcasting Company, American Idol Productions, Inc., FremantleMedia North America, Inc., 19 TV Ltd., AT&T, Telescope, BMG, RCA Records, Arista Records, production personnel for the television program, participating television stations, advertising agencies, corporate sponsors or any person or entity connected with the production, administration or judging of the auditions, or any of their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, agents or representatives are not eligible.

THE AUDITION PROCESS

When to Line Up: ALL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE AUDITIONS IS TENTATIVE AT THIS TIME. AUDITION CITIES AND/OR DATES MAY CHANGE. IF THE PAST THREE SEASONS ARE ANY INDICATION, WE ARE EXPECTING A HUGE TURNOUT IN EACH CITY. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE PLAN ON ARRIVING AS EARLY AS ALLOWED AT THE AUDITION VENUE IN YOUR AREA. CONTINUE TO CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT idolonfox.com FOR FURTHER DETAILS. KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL BE SEEN FOR AN AUDITION.

Locations, Dates and Time: It is anticipated that auditions will start no later than 8:00 a.m. on the first audition day in each city. If you are not in line well before 8:00 a.m., your chances of being seen will be slim to none (unless otherwise requested by producer). Even if you are in line before 8:00 a.m., producers cannot guarantee that you will be seen for an audition. Tentative audition cities are Cleveland, Orlando, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Anchorage on the dates listed below. THESE LOCATIONS, DATES AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please continue to check our website at idolonfox.com for the most up-to-date audition schedule.


AUDITION TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

August 2004:

Cleveland, Ohio
CLEVELAND BROWNS STADIUM
100 Alfred Lerner Way
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Line-up: Begins on the North Patio (off West 3rd Street)
Parking: Nearby stadium parking lots
August 3, 2004: No one will be allowed to line up prior to 6:00AM
August 4, 2004: Actual auditions

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