LA Reid to judge 'X Factor', others to come

Simon Cowell on Friday confirmed that influential music executive Antonio 'LA' Reid will join him as a judge on his upcoming TV singing contest 'The X Factor'.

But a week before the first auditions get underway in Los Angeles, there was no word on the one or two other judges chosen for the widely-anticipated television show.

Reid, 54, who stepped down this week as chairman of the Island Def Jam record label, helped launch the careers of Justin Bieber, Usher, Mariah Carey and Kanye West. He is the first person to join the acerbic Cowell as a judge and mentor on "The X Factor" when it makes its US debut on Fox in the fall of 2011.

"L.A. was my number one choice to sit alongside me on the show. In my opinion, he is one of the greatest ever music executives and of course a fantastic writer and producer," Cowell said in a statement.

Reid called Cowell, who also created the "Got Talent" TV show format and launched the recording career of Susan Boyle, "one of the world's most gifted and charismatic talent magnets" and said he was looking forward to discovering "our next generation of superstars" on the new show.

Cowell is offering an unprecedented USD 5 million prize to the "X Factor" winner, as well as a recording contract. Auditions begin in Los Angeles on March 27 and continue in five other US cities through April and May.

Fox said the judging panel would not be available for the March 27 auditions, which will be held initially by show's producers.

Cowell has said in recent weeks that his former "American Idol" partner Paula Abdul is on his short-list for a seat on "X Factor". Singers Mariah Carey and Jessica Simpson are also reported to be in the running.