For its first Simon Cowell–less season, American Idol is lowering the minimum age for eligibility from 16 to 15. An executive producer says, “A lot of young, talented people are now seeking careers and representation before they turn 16. Lowering the age limit allows us to tap into this talent pool,†by which she means, “hilariously hair-styled 15-year-olds, please audition en masse to keep Idol relevant.â€