Fox renews "American Idol" new season, slated to premiere January 2015. The show is currently in its 13th run and is about to wrap up with the top five finalists.

American Idol's 14th season was confirmed Wednesday, with Ryan Seacrest announcing the show is open for auditions starting June 18 (Minneapolis). Several dates and venues were also revealed as part of the show's usual run of city tours, prior to handpicking its top 24 contestants.

Hometowns of the show's current judges are part of the city stops; Harry Connick's New Orleans, Jennifer Lopez's New York, and Keith Urban's Nashville. Details of the new season were announced in the wake of news that "X-Factor" was cancelled after its third run.

Reception of the current run was favorable, compared to a relatively conflicted 12th season. The roster of judges has also received positive reviews; it's yet to be confirmed if Connick, Lopez, and Urban's stints are to be renewed in "American Idol" XIV, though.

The show's viewership is in a continuous dip over the years, and the ratings reached a new low this season, at less than 2.0 for the adult demographic (18-49 years old). It appears the show is past its peak, but Fox Network is still committed, at least for another run.

In an interview quoted at tvguide.com, executive producer David Hill: "It's never, ever going to achieve the amazingly huge numbers of five or six years ago, but it's going to be a staple on the Fox network for a long, long time."

In related news, Jennifer Lopez is confirmed to headline a police drama (Shades of Blue), which starts production early 2015 (more in this article). The commitment may factor into Lopez's decision to reprise her role in "American Idol" new season. Ryan Seacrest is the producer of the TV series Lopez will star in.

American Idol 13 is nearing the end of its run, about to handpick its top five finalists.