American Idol judges face the axe

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, center, poses with judges, from left, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, Nicki Minaj and Randy Jackson, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012 in New York. Source: AP

AMERICAN Idol judges Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and Nicki Minaj may all be replaced next season, according to a source.

Season 12 of the US show has seen ratings decline and there are suggestions all the judges have their heads on the chopping block.

"All four are gone," a show insider told the New York Post.

"They (the show’s producers) feel they've lost their core audience and they want it back."

Viewership for the singing competition show have been in steady decline and the show's ratings are already down 22 per cent this season.

The show hit a record low last week when it attracted just 11 million viewers.

At the show's peak in 2007, it was pulling in 30 million viewers a week.

E! Online reports the first of the four judges to go will definitely be Mariah Carey, who is making a reported $US18 million ($17.67 million) for the current season of American Idol.

The fate of the other three judges is less certain as Fox will only make decisions based on who they can get to replace them.

For more details read the New York Post.

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