No, this isn’t a Wunderground article. Though we wish it were. The sad fact is, Simon Cowell’s dance music-based talent show is actually happening, and that prop-jock Steve Aoki has been confirmed as a judge.
Called Ultimate DJ for some reason, the show will be broadcast via Yahoo’s live streaming service. Like other talent shows, viewers will be able to vote for their favourite acts. Though in an attempt to tap into the social media savvy youth market, voting will be done through Tumblr.
According to Variety, Yahoo chief marketing officer Kathy Savitt described the show as “very much like the World Cup of EDM — country against country, DJ against DJ, fanbase against fanbase.” Whatever that means.
The winner get the chance to headline a major electronic music festival and will be offered a record contract with Ultra Records and Sony Music.
A similar show was due to run in 2012 but was shelved. Many DJs spoke out against the idea, including Fatboy Slim who claimed the industry told Cowell to “fuck off,” saying, “Simon Cowell was talking about doing a show and everyone in the business, he kind of started approaching us, and we were like, ‘Fuck off, no – that’s a terrible idea!'”
And who can forget Steve Lawler’s brilliant DJ X Factor spoof video from the time: